Community & Cross-Cultural Engagement
Learning from Indigenous and local communities has shaped both how I understand conservation and how I move through the world as a traveler.
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My work with Indigenous and local communities centers collaboration, respect, and learning from place-based knowledge systems. ​
These experiences have reinforced the importance of listening, relationship-building, and intentional cross-cultural exchange. Sustainable solutions must be grounded in community priorities and informed by those most connected to the land.
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Sections:
Indigenous Community-Based Research​
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Ngöbe
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Ojibwe & Haudenosaunee
Indigenous Community-Based Engagement
Indigenous Community-Based Research
Ngöbe – Bocas del Toro
Marine Protected Area Recommendation — Salt Creek Indigenous Community
Developed a management recommendation for a proposed Marine Protected Area in Salt Creek that balanced ecological protection with community priorities. This project emphasizes sustainable resource management strategies rooted in community-based stewardship.​​
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Indigenous Permaculture Farm Reflection
Engaged with an Indigenous-led permaculture farm to explore sustainable agriculture, traditional knowledge, and land stewardship practices.
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Barriers in the Cost of Living in Bocas del Toro
Conducted interviews to examine how tourism, housing pressure, and economic inequality contribute to cost-of-living challenges for local and Indigenous communities in Bocas del Toro.​​​​
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Indigenous Community-Based Research
Ojibwe & Haudenosaunee Contexts
PFAS in Ceded Territories – Independent Project
Presented research at a symposium examining PFAS distribution in lakes and tree sap across the Ceded Territories to assess contaminant patterns and potential exposure risks for Indigenous communities reliant on these resources.
Link to Final Poster
Link to Final Paper
Cultural Significance of the White Pine – Iroquois Study
Explored the cultural, historical, and symbolic importance of the Eastern White Pine within Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) tradition. This study emphasized the deep interconnection of ecology and Indigenous knowledge.
Link to Final Presentation
Link to Final Paper
Indigenous Community-Based Engagement
Kids' Group – Popa Uno, Popa Dos & Big Creek
Facilitated activities for children in the Indigenous communities of Popa Uno, Popa Dos, and Big Creek every Saturday morning (January–May 2025), including organizing a field day where we had a soccer tournament and other group games. Getting to know and spend time with the kids each week was an absolute joy!
All-Women Artisan Group - Shark Hole
Visited the Shark Hole all-women artisan group to learn about and try their traditional bag making technique. This was such a meaningful experience to spend time in the Shark Hole community. Being welcomed and surrounded by such a supportive group of women gave me an even deeper appreciation for women-led entrepreneurship and cultural preservation within a heavily touristed region.
