Ajia Avina, Anthropology Ajia is a second-year student studying Anthropology with a minor in Borders and Languages. Ajia was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She knew her calling was to be an Anthropologist, because she has a high interest in learning about unheard stories and perspectives. This ultimately led to her interest in the Tribal Water Media Fellowship.
Mariah Avina, Psychology Mariah Avina is a Psychology student with a minor in Sociology whose passion lies in telling untold stories and uplifting underrepresented communities. As a Tribal Water Media Fellow, she works to highlight the connections between culture, community, and the environment. Mariah hopes to one day apply her storytelling and advocacy skills toward a career in immigration welfare, supporting and empowering marginalized families.
Matthew Bahnimptewa, Environmental Studies Matthew Bahnimptewa comes from the Village of Hotevilla located on the Hopi Reservation. He is Patkiwungwa, or water clan, and is a junior studying Environmental Studies and Anthropology. He has a certification in Permaculture Design and is a traditional textile weaver. Striving to incorporate his Traditional Knowledge into modern solutions by acknowledging his ancestors, he hopes to keep them alive through the landscape.
Mia Charley, Cellular and Molecular Biology Yá’át’ééh! Mia Charley is from Cornfields, Arizona located on the Navajo Reservation. She is a junior at Fort Lewis College studying Cellular and Molecular Biology. Her TWMF project shares her frustration with past colonization which led up to lack of representation for Tribal water. Mia hopes to bring an Indigenous lens into the STEM world regarding water.
Nels Christensen, Environmental Conservation and Management Nels Christensen is an Environmental Conservation and Management major at Fort Lewis College. He is from Fairbanks, Alaska where he primarily resides outside of the school year. Nels is a musician, farmer, and writer who enjoys spending time outdoors and reading dilapidated books from thrift stores. He hopes to work in fisheries one day.
Sophia Daniel, Environmental Science Sophia Daniel is a second-year environmental science student at Fort Lewis, focusing her studies on hydrology and hydrologic issues. She grew up in the front range of Colorado and has since moved to Durango for college. She believes that water is in everything- and that goes beyond the physical. Her goal in life is to make sure everyone knows how tied they are to water socially, physically, and spiritually, through the ground they walk on and through the unexpected.
Nicole Gonzalez, Native American and Indigenous Studies Yá'át'ééh, shí éí Nicole Gonzalez yinishé, Dził t'ahnii nishłį, Nakai bá shí schiin, T'otsohnii da shí chei, Nakai da shí nalí. Nicole Gonzalez is of the Mountain Cove Clan, born for the Mexican people. She is a Diné/Chicana woman residing in Durango, CO and a senior at Fort Lewis College. She is majoring in Native American and Indigenous Studies, with a minor in Geology. She believes looking at water through an Indigenous lens will foster a relationship with our non-human relative – water.
Ella Hall, Environmental Conservation and Management Ella Hall is a second-year student at Fort Lewis College studying Environmental Conservation and Management with a minor in Writing. She grew up on the Front Range in Denver, Colorado which is where she grew to love the mountains and outdoors. For Ella, understanding how deeply connected everything is to water has been extremely important and rewarding, and being a part of this fellowship has allowed her to explore both water and writing. Continuing her education, she hopes to get more hands-on experience in conservation work and make a difference where ever she goes.
Audrey Leonetti, Environmental Conservation and Management Waqaa wiinga atka Ataneq, wiinga Yupiuga. Audrey’s Yup’ik name is Ataneq which roughly translates to leader; she is Yup’ik. Audrey Leonetti is from Anchorage, Alaska with family and ancestral ties to Bristol Bay, specifically, Dillingham, Alaska. She is currently in her third year at Fort Lewis College and is double majoring in Environmental Conservation and Management and Native American Indigenous Studies with hopes to return home and work with Indigenous communities who are on the forefront of climate change.
Hailey Stines, Environmental Conservation and Management Hailey Stines is a junior at Fort Lewis College, she is majoring in Environmental Conservation and Management and working on the River Studies and Leadership Certificate. Hailey was born and raised in Jackson, Wyoming where she grew up on the Snake River rafting and kayaking with her parents. Rivers have played a very large role in her life. She has spent the past two summers guiding in Jackson and has rowed over 2,000 miles commercially where she enjoys sharing her passion for rivers with people from all across the world! Hailey hopes her piece inspires people to want to preserve and protect waterways everywhere!
Truman Wallace Truman Wallace is a music lover and competitive cyclist from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He's in his second year at Fort Lewis College. When Truman is not racing bikes or in class, he spends his time in nature, watching movies, and DJing radio shows at KDUR.
Lucinda Young, Environmental Conservation and Management Lucinda Young is a senior at Fort Lewis College studying Environmental Conservation and Management and Native American and Indigenous Studies. She is learning to be a good relative in all aspects of life and is happiest when lost in nature. Her film is a glimpse of her journey into conservation and finding culture and identity.