ABSTRACT
Doreen: Thank you. It is good to be here. My paternal grandmother is Mescalero, Apache and my paternal grandfather is Mexican of Indigenous lineage. My maternal grandparents are “Pennsylvania Dutch.” I am a “first generation college student,” and I have acquired a few of those precious pieces of parchment (I think our degrees are still printed on such.) I have a Bachelor’s in Psychology with an emphasis in Group Dynamics, a Master’s of Science degree in Sport and Exercise Science, a graduate certificate in Women’s Studies and that beloved doctorate. My purpose and ambitions continue to focus on developing long-term relationships between institutional entities and knowledge systems with various Native Nations and Indigenous communities/efforts. I especially want to address epistemological issues of oppression and discrimination while nurturing, recognizing, and providing beauty the space to flourish.
