My research examines how Tribal nations and communities protect, govern, and carry forward knowledge across interconnected domains: water, land, data, research ethics, stewardship, and emerging technologies. Across these areas, I focus on the relationships, responsibilities, and decision-making structures that support Indigenous self-determination and Indigenous futures.
My work on Tribal water security examines water access, water quality, water governance, environmental health, climate resilience, and the cultural significance of water. This research considers how Tribal nations navigate environmental challenges while protecting water according to their own values, priorities, and responsibilities.
I study how Tribal nations govern knowledge, information, and data through Indigenous data sovereignty, Tribal Institutional Review Boards (TIRBs), Indigenous research ethics, informed consent, data governance, and the protection of community knowledge systems.
I examine Indigenous knowledge systems, knowledge plurality, environmental stewardship, and approaches to working across Indigenous and Western knowledge traditions. This work asks how Indigenous knowledge informs governance, environmental decision-making, and community wellbeing.
In this area, I focus on theories, methodologies, and methods that align with Indigenous ways of knowing. This work centers relationality, accountability, community consent, reciprocity, self-determination, and ethical approaches to conducting research with Tribal nations and communities.
My emerging work considers the relationships between Indigenous futures, artificial intelligence, information systems, and digital governance. Through AI²AN and related initiatives, I examine how Tribal nations and communities can shape conversations about AI through Indigenous governance, data sovereignty, relational accountability, and future-oriented thinking.
Leadership
Co-Lead of the Pacific Northwest Hub, supporting collaborative efforts that advance Indigenous knowledge systems, ethical research partnerships, graduate education, Tribal engagement, water security, and environmental stewardship. This work contributes to national conversations about the role of Indigenous knowledge in research, policy, and decision-making.
Founder and lead of a collaborative research initiative that brings together AIAN and allied scholars, students, community members, and professionals to examine artificial intelligence through the lenses of Indigenous governance, Indigenous data sovereignty, relational accountability, and Indigenous futures. The initiative supports collective learning, research development, public scholarship, and the cultivation of future collaborations.
Founder and mentor of an interdisciplinary research community that supports student researchers, emerging scholars, and collaborative projects focused on Indigenous health equity. Through directed research groups, speaker series, writing retreats, mentorship, and community-engaged scholarship, this work helps cultivate the next generation of Indigenous researchers and knowledge leaders.