I am an Iñupiaq (Inuit) wildlife and conservation biologist raised between the vast tundra of Utqiaġvik, Alaska and the tall redwoods of northern California. I have lived and worked across the Arctic in an effort to promote how Indigenous Peoples fundamentally shape Arctic biodiversity conservation, from research, to management, to actualizing the dreams of new protected areas.
My role in research is to challenge the colonial legacy of conservation and instead promote partnerships with Indigenous communities, knowledge, and governance to develop ethically-conscious, culturally-relevant, and fully knowledge-based conservation efforts in the Arctic.