In the episode, the IRC team speaks with JoRee LaFrance (Apsáalooke). She is a PhD student in the Department of Environmental Science at the University of Arizona. She comes from the Crow Reservation located in southeastern Montana. Her Apsáalooke name is Iichiinmaaáatchilash (Fortunate with Horses) and she comes from the Greasy Mouth clan and is a child of Ties in the Bundle clan. She uses the intersection of her background in earth sciences and Native American studies to focus on water quality issues on her reservation.

JoRee's PhD research aims to understand the contaminant behavior in the Indigenous Food, Energy, Water Security and Sovereignty (Indige-FEWSS) nexus in the Little Bighorn River watershed. More specifically, she will address the contaminant concentration-discharge relationship in the river to further determine any implications and to characterize exposure routes unique to Apsáalooke people.

The episode begins with Ellen BigSam (Salish) singing a Snqaqaá. The Nqaqaá was performed in anticipation of the departure of a war or hunting party. In the Nqaqaá a small group of people sang the Snqaqaá from teepee to teepee as the war or hunting party made their preparations for departure. By the time the singers had completed the circle the warriors had departed silently.

JoRee and the IRC Team continue by discussing the importance of our tribal communities and landscapes as a source of inspiration for our research and academic aspirations. The discussion centers on how our time away from our tribal communities helps to shape the research we envision while attaining academic knowledge. The conversation shifts to the importance of communicating our academic knowledge back to our Tribal Communities. 

The second half episode begins with Grant Bull Tail (Apsáalooke). During the creation of humankind and the Earth, it is said in some version of the creation story that the Creator sang this song. 

JoRee and the IRC Team continue the discussion on the purpose of writing in Western academics. The discussion center on advice for current and emerging Indigenous scholars on how to make our academic writing be a purposeful product for our respective Tribal communities. The discussion shift to the complexities of economic development on Reservation and how Tribes can move toward sustainable and renewable economic ventures.   

Have answers? Suggestions? Agree? Disagree? Join the conversation at one of our social media sites. Your input is valuable to advance our understanding.

Guest: JoRee LaFrance
Learn more:
https://environmentalscience.cals.arizona.edu/person/joree-lafrance
https://climas.arizona.edu/about/people/joree-lafrance
https://dartmouthcollegefund.org/story/way-home

Hosts: Aaron Brien, Kamiah Dumontier, Salena Hill, Shandin Pete, Brenda Shepard

Website http://irc.skc.edu   
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