Indigenous science is good science. Give them their flowers. Good science will liberate us.

As I sat on the porch of my apartment building this morning, I saw my direct deposit hit before my eyes. 8 months into graduate school and I still am amazed at my steady and solid income. While I took a few sips of my coffee, a scientist came to mind. Alexandrina Agloro- the community based researcher, artist and doula that had not only told me about fellowships, but spent time editing my essays until they were clear and concise. At the time, I had thought Dr. Agloro’s laboratory would be the only space for me, considering my background in designing wearables matched with her ovulation tracking jewelry. Not only was her work fascinating, but it was developed with the community (known as community participatory research!). On top of that, she was vibrant and kind- two qualities that tend to lack in principle investigators.

While I was so grateful for everything Dr. Agloro had done and excited that my mentorship had come so early, I ended up choosing another university. Multiple faculty had specialized in research areas and funding was much higher. But while I had chosen another university, I had no intentions of forgetting what she had done for me and certainly intend on collaborating with her in the future.

This gratitude had quickly led me into a thought spiral that evaluated my relationship with the indigenous scholars in my life. The activism I love has been consistently fueled by 2 role models that are uncoincidentally indigenous and queer.

Indigenous culture values the land, humanity, and all life. They are the earliest environmental activists. They set the framework of the spiritual and the scientific. Long before the binary concept of gender existed two spirit individuals. Indigenous ways of defining gender inform better health care, and hold value for humanity. When I had come across a podcast talking about Black and Indigenous solidarity, the cultural connection was turned on for me- and couldn’t be turned off. We are both people of the land. We are connected to the earth where Black bodies tilled 16 hours a day in the heat. Subject to erasure, we have fought to define and redefine our cultures every day. We are the backbone of resistance. We are the scientific backbone of the United States.

The next indigenous scientist I want to honor is my dear friend and mentor, Jorge Jimenez. Jorge is of Central American diaspora with a direct lineage to indigenous Mayan communities of rural highlands in San Rafael La Independencia, Huehuetenango, Guatemala. Jorge spent more time reviewing my application than anyone else. Jorge does research on drug delivery systems to improve the treatment of rare corneal disease. Not only do they do the wet lab work but teaching is an important part of Jorge’s work. Public health considerations are a large part of Jorge’s instruction and they also mentor in the Latinx community. Jorge’s desire to mesh bioengineering with improving the health of marginalized populations fully depends on their identity. They have taught me what it looks like to be an active ally both on the streets and in the lab. Jorge’s joy is what inspires me the most though. Their spirit keeps me reaching out towards the stars. They deserve all of their flowers. 😊

The final scientist I’d like to celebrate is my therapist Onika Reigns, a rest doula and licensed clinician. Specializing in rest for Black and Indigenous people, she has created Black Dream Escape, a therapeutic practice that focuses on Black and Indigenous rest/sleep/dreams. She also is experienced with helping LGBTIA+ individuals and sex workers. Onika’s sessions are trauma-informed, complemented by her excellent listening and validating skills. She has made me more aware of my subconscious patterns and behavior that reflect the most intimate parts of myself. While therapists are typically regarded as part psychologist part counselor, there is another element to Onika’s work that I cannot describe.

All of the investments of these people make me so grateful for the love and compassion in my life. To me, allyship is simply love in action, and to have these role models is to know a certain kind of love. What is most scientific is the use of intellect to study the natural world. When our medical devices are F.U.B.U., drug delivery teaching aims at caring for the oppressed, and well-being is trauma informed, our innovations cradle our communities.

Good science will liberate us.

Disclaimer: This article was created with the personal experience from being around loved ones and is meant to honor them. This is not meant to be a complete story or thorough presentation of any group. If any of this material is inaccurate or poorly portrays a community, please contact me so that I can alter the material accordingly.