CHEYENNE I. REUBEN-THOMAS

Shékoli! Kanyʌhtowa•nʌ ni:yukhats.
Onʌyoteˀa·ka· wakenyʌhtʌ niwakiˀtalo·tʌ. 

Hello! My Oneida name is Kanyʌhtowa•nʌ and my English name is Cheyenne Reuben-Thomas.
I am an enrolled member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, Turtle Clan,
and of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation.

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I am a PhD Student in Dr. Corrie Moreau's lab at Cornell University in the department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. My work is supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and Cornell University's Dean's Scholar Fellowship.

Investigating the Impacts of TEK on Insect Biodiversity with a LandBack Framework
I am broadly interested in investigating the impacts of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)-Practice Systems on insect biodiversity, population genetics of social insects, and applying Indigenous data sovereignty & supporting Indigenous self-determination in ecological research.

Specifically, I am investigating and comparing the effects of Cultural Fire and agency-led prescribed fire on overall biodiversity of insects and genetic diversity of a particular ant species.
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I'm incredibly passionate about community-driven research and outreach. I spend much of my free time leading local workshops and presentations, educating folks of all ages about various topics such as Indigenous Science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge, insects, and fire ecology!

I am also involved in a few Indigenous-led initiatives that center Indigenous Science. I serve on the research team for the Summer Internship for Indigenous Peoples (SING), where we emphasize sovereignty and data governance in place-based research at community workshops. If you are interested in learning more about this, please see the Indigenous-Led Workshops tab for more.