Lindsay Marzulla

My dissertation research is rooted in understanding how value systems encoded within Indigenous languages have influenced relationships between humans and the rest of the global ecosystem. How might this knowledge be understood and applied to positively transform the way colonialism has altered these relationships? Indigenous peoples have long-established relationships with non-human animals, plants, and other entities that have helped ensure their survival over countless generations. Value systems are unique to each community, having evolved in a specific place, and they are reflected in these established relationships and transmitted through language. Understanding more about these dynamics could help humanity build stronger bonds with the natural world, leading to the creation of more sustainable food systems and less destructive resource exploitation, particularly in regions that are—or will be—heavily impacted by climate change such as the Arctic and the North American Southwest.

After completing the PhD, I expect to continue exploring these questions in more depth at my next appointment through community-engaged research. I am also interested in helping communities and schools create tools to inspire and guide reconnection with land and non-human kin.