LANGUAGE & CULTURE LEAD

Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ, otahyǫ́:ni: (Wolf clan). Historian and first-language speaker. Stephen grew up in a traditional Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ household at Oswé:gęˀ (Six Nations of the Grand River reserve in Canada). Stephen is our language teacher, historian, and conveyer of the inspiration behind the Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ Learning Project. The inspiration itself comes from the wisdom and strength of all Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ people who came before who maintained language and culture and ties to the land against much adversity.

OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT LEAD

Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ, ganyáhdę: (Turtle clan). Michelle grew up on the Seneca Cattaraugus reservation in Western New York and lived for a number of years in the Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ community at the north end of Cayuga Lake. Michelle has been instrumental in stewarding the GLP since its inception, and her endless zest for people has brought her to the forefront of our Outreach team. Her own learning of standing in two worlds has allowed her to heartfully carry many key partnerships with non-Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ people in the Ithaca area and engagement with other Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ.

PROJECT MANAGER

Profile coming soon. . . .

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER

Sgę́:noˀ Swagwé:gǫhˀ (Greetings/Peace All of You). Jim Wikel ni gya:soh (I am called). I am from Onǫdowáˀga:ˀ Gayogo̲hó:nǫˀ neh:ni Gahnawiyóˀgeh (Seneca-Cayuga Nation of Oklahoma). I currently reside in Salem, OR. I began learning language in 2015 in Oklahoma. As a person in recovery, I found that language and culture was the missing piece of my identity. I have worked in the behavioral health/addiction field since 2008. Working with Native clients I encourage them to learn their own languages. Recovery means getting back something you thought was lost. Ogwa:węh means "It belongs to us." I am reclaiming what belongs to us.

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER

Natalie gyá:sǫh, hnyágwai' niwagesyaǫ́dę' (utuwegeh!) Tgahnawiyo'gehó:nǫ'.

I am Natalie, Bear Clan (northside!) of The People there at the Place of the Beautiful Rapids. I would not be here without my Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ/Cayuga, Wandat/Wyandotte, & Tsalagi/Cherokee relatives who have always encouraged me along this path, like our language family we are one. Since mid-2020 I have joined with others to maintain the long-time grassroots efforts at community access to Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ nigawęnó'dę' , specifically in my maternal community of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation of Oklahoma. After taking regular Gayogohó:nǫ' Learning Project language classes for over a year now, I am proud to be able to help behind the scenes as an Advisory Board Member of the GLP on this next stage of my language journey.

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER

Adrianna was born and raised on Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ lands, of Latvian/Slovenian/German heritage. She is the biomonitoring coordinator for the Community Science Institute and a nature/culture interpreter. Adrianna is a lover of water, trees, plants, rocks, animals, dirt, winds, thunder, and language of the land that she calls home.

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER

Josephine is the associate dean of academics at the Cornell University Graduate School and a social scientist who studies how communication strategies can influence human behavior to promote equitable outcomes and policy for marginalized communities and wildlife. She has more than twenty years of experience in public policy, research, advocacy, and grant writing. Josephine has lived with her family on Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ lands since 2012.

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER

Karen has lived on Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ land for forty years. With a background in music, philosophy and education, she served as the education director of the Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) from 1998-2018 and continues to teach piano and to perform with Music’s Recreation. Of Eastern European Jewish heritage, she has always wondered about the interrelationships of heredity, culture and place and feels honored to learn and support the language that is rooted here.

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER

Noah been a student of Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ nigawęnóˀdęˀ since June 2021. The mission of the Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ Learning Project resonates with him as someone who was born and raised on traditionally held Hodinǫhsǫ́:nih lands and as a descendant of Japanese immigrants who underwent intergenerational loss of language and culture. His past work experience includes grassroots organizing and fundraising on environmental issues and sexual assault prevention, vegetable farming, and research on emerging contaminants. Currently, he serves as technical director of a citizen science-based nonprofit called the Community Science Institute.

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER

Risa immigrated to Ithaca from Japan and started learning about Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ language and culture in June 2021. Risa has always worked in the health sciences field: as a pharmacy technician, pharmacist and researcher (strong interest in sleep research). Living abroad, she realizes that language and culture play a very strong role in her identity and this has motivated her to join the working group. She is also interested in medicinal use of native plants.

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER

Profile coming soon…

ELDERS

At the Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ Learning Project, we are fortunate to have Elders in Consultation, whose identities are not published out of reverence for their role and respect of their wishes. Their perspectives and wisdom ring through the work and the entire Advisory Board and staff of the GLP say i:soˀ nya:wę́h to them for lending their beautiful hearts, minds, and spirits to our work.