Yá'át'ééh!

I am an Associate Professor at Diné College and just wrapped up a National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship. My research focuses on Indigenous Research Methodologies and Methods, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Indigenous Relationships with Human and Non-Human Animals, and Epistemological Imperialism. My latest project transitions my dissertation on Navajo sheep butchering into a book project. You can follow that progress on my blog!

Education

Ph.D. Native American Studies, University of California, Davis
M.A. Spanish Language and Literature, University of Maryland, College Park
B.A. Spanish Language and Education, Rowan University

Resume

Latest Podcast

I joined Dr. Farina King of Native Circles in this podcast to chat about my chapter, "Wołí Bee," in the book "COVID-19 in Indian Country"

Plus- there is lots of tea-
-how the navajo cultural arts program came to be - community determination
-how I got my job as grant manager- i got guilted
-how the toll of students death impacted me - compartmentalized it and then felt everyone
-how I resigned - I got bamboozled
-how I watched programing flounder after i left - Let wołí be do its thang
-how I know the cultural arts will continue with or without an academic program - My nálí told me so

Dismembering the Blog

Check out my blog - This blog captures a lot of my field notes as I work on the final data collection period that transitions my dissertation into a book manuscript (YAY) and a lot of other kinda but not directly related thoughts of the day ;)

Dismembering the Blog

Latest Lectures/Talks

Diné College Kinyaa’áanii Library Special Collections Series: Diné Bich’iyáán
Leading with Fire: Diné College Library Sources:  This series, which is funded through the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, highlights essential special collections resources at the library that define the educational and self-deterministic legacy of the college. Dr. Ami discussed the role of these collections in her forthcoming publications on Navajo sheep butchering and the Navajo cultural arts.

The thumbnail on this YouTube lecture speaks to my personality. lol

Teaching and Curriculum Design

Here is a little about the NAS and Navajo Cultural Arts classes that I teach.

Teaching

Curriculum Design

CPAMI Arts, LLC

I am fortunate to be surrounded by Native Entrepreneurs - from students to my very own family members. Check out this link to learn more about my husband's jewelry and 2-D art business.
Featured piece for sale: Monsoon - for more information about this spiny oyster shell overlay pendant with 24 inch hand made beaded necklace, check out this page.

Ami Entrepreneurship

Sand Springs, Arizona