I can’t remember a time in my life when I wasn’t affected by addiction in some manner. My own father was an addict throughout most of his adult life. I believe this contributed to the fact that he wasn’t always present during my adolescent years. In his stead, my sister’s father took the role of family patriarch, raising me and my three siblings; we all called him “dad.” Unfortunately, he also suffered from addiction, specifically alcoholism. This meant that I was never able to avoid a life affected by addiction. Because of the struggles that both my fathers went through, our home was a frequent stop for police regarding domestic issues and for Child Protective Services to ensure the wellbeing of me and my siblings. To make matters worse, my mother, siblings, and I experienced homelessness a handful of times throughout my life. One of my most vivid memories growing up was twirling around with a fresh gallon of milk in my hands while on a family walk from the supermarket to the homeless shelter. I accidentally dropped that gallon of milk during one of my twirls, and my mom was absolutely devasted because she had to scrape together coins for this purchase. She was a single mom, doing her best without any financial assistance from men facing with their own daily battles. Even at a very young age, I understood the complexities of loving an addict and the everlasting impact it has on family life. It was a constant flux of emotions that ran the gamut of love to hate and back again. Unfortunately, my biological father succumbed to his addictions while I was in the midst of my undergraduate education. I knew his death was inevitable, but it was still earth-shattering. Currently, my sister’s father is suffering from Parkinson’s and dementia. He still struggles with addiction through prescription pills to get through the day. It’s still difficult, just as it always has been. But I have had years of practice in distracting myself from “difficult.” While growing up, my biggest escape was the outdoors. Immersing myself in nature allowed me to distract myself from things like alcoholic outbursts, fighting parents, and general anxiety about what might come next. I did most of my learning in nature, whether it was discipline through hiking, sharpening my identification skills with plants and insects, or inferring animal behavior through childlike curiosity. I maintained this love for the outdoors into my adulthood, and this passion guided me into conservation and community science work, which eventually led me to the graduate program that I am currently in. The quote, “it is said that how we choose to respond to life’s challenges shapes our life,” resonates with me because I find it to be extremely true in this context. Although I couldn’t avoid a life without struggling fathers, I responded to these particular challenges by finding solace in nature. Because of this escape, I have found a passion that will turn into a career. Currently, I am in a graduate program for ecology and evolutionary genomics. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined this position I’m in – especially after my own father’s death and the impact that had on me while in undergrad. Although my father is not here to see it, I know he would be proud of me for pursuing a graduate degree in this field, where I’m able to contribute to research through my fieldwork and research.

Being Native has profoundly impacted my life in several ways. Most notably, I have an intimate relationship to land and a lasting connection and responsibility to my community. These values are personally foundational and have persisted while pursuing my graduate education. In Haudenosaunee culture, our Thanksgiving addresses greet and thank all the things that sustain life. I am enrolled Onʌyoteˀa·ká· (Oneida Nation of Wisconsin); in our Kanehelatúksla (Oneida Thanksgiving address), we greet and thank insect life. Some people might not think deeply about this, but insects can tell us a lot about the world. Specifically, insects contribute immensely to a healthy environment and are strong indicators about what is going on in the world around us, including effects of climate change. In my current field, my perspective is already unique as an Indigenous person with these relations to the world in mind. Currently, I am a graduate student at the University of Rochester, majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Genomics and Conservation. My research will focus on a non-model entomological organism, a neo-tropical paper wasp found in the US, and its genomic resilience to climate change. This widely distributed organism provides significant ecosystem services, most notably predation of nuisance insects on native plants, and pollination. Through my research, I will highlight the disparities that Indigenous people and Tribal Nations face, especially in the face of climate change. I will also acknowledge, collaborate with, and uplift other Indigenous voices throughout my career. This research will contribute to informed conservation strategies that will help sustain biodiversity on tribal lands and promote greater Indigenous food sovereignty. Indigenous people account for less than a half of a percent in STEM fields in academia and the same for graduate students in STEM fields, so it is no surprise that I am one of a few Indigenous people on campus. I use this as a strength to take up space and educate others while advocating for Indigenous communities and culture. Of course I weave Indigenous advocacy into my research, but I am very active outside of my department as well. Being in the academic community allows me to highlight and promote Indigenous culture and teachings throughout my career. This career path also allows me to recruit and become a mentor to future Indigenous students that may seek guidance in these fields and in making a positive impact in our communities. The Chaweka Lynn Fisher Memorial Scholarship will help me pursue my educational goals by funding necessary fieldwork and subsequent genomic analyses, which will serve as the foundation of my doctoral dissertation.