Shecota R. Nalwood Nez, BS
Diné & Hopi
Pronouns: she/they
Positions(s):
IndigeLab Data Manager, Udall Center, University of Arizona
Ya’at’eeh, I was given the name, Shecota Rae Nalwood Nez, by my mother. I grew up just outside of Cuk Ṣon (Tucson, AZ), bordering the Shuk Toak District of the Tohono O’odham Nation. As a Diné person growing up in between a border town and the sovereign borders of the Tohono O’odham Nation, all of which consists of their traditional lands, I understand the importance of respecting the land you occupy and appreciating the beautifully complex system that sustains the desert. I attended Arizona State University, which occupies the land of the Akimel O’odham and Pee Posh communities, and obtained a degree in Human Systems Engineering. For my senior Capstone project, I delved into the field of Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDSov) by conducting a literature review and interviews with Indigenous researchers. I learned how IDSov is crucial for cultural revitalization and land restoration efforts. Ádaa’áhólyá ⋆˚࿔
Projects(s):
✿ Wrote data agreement between institution(s) and IndigeLab Network
✿ Wrote data protocols template for IndigeLab Network working groups
✿ Echoes of Water: The Santa Cruz River’s Legacy — As a climate reporter with the Desert Research Institute, I researched and wrote about the Santa Cruz river restoration projects.
✿ Indigenous Sovereignty-Aligned Data Tools — co-author
Email: shecotanez@arizona.edu