Nu’ Mary  Crystal yan bahaan maatsiwta. Nu’taawa wungwa nit’ makwa indodem. Nu’Moencop’ep kiita nit’ chachabaaning indoonjibaa.

Hello, my english name is Mary Crystal. I come from the Sun and Bear Clan. I am a Hopi/Ojibwe from Moencopi, AZ and Chachabaaning, MN. I personally am not a STEM student. I currently am an Indigenous Leadership major at the Leech Lake Tribal College, but my 4-year degree will be in International Law with a Certificate in Peace and Conflict Studies at CU-Boulder. One thing that drew me to this Namepin (Wild Ginger) internship is part of the reason why I want to pursue a career in Law. When you view the world through an Anishinaabeg point of view you start to realize that Land is Law. I want to understand the land from a scientific view along side cultural views, and how these two things connect with each other because as we’re taught everything is connected. We have been colleting data and plotting our area in this past couple weeks when the weather allowed us to be out in the field.  As you can see we’ve had some pretty dark thunderstorm clouds roll our way that kept us away from the field, but there’s beauty in everything. Whether your watching a storm come in or your trekking through the swamp and you stumble upon a beautiful Swamp Iris that’s just waiting for someone to fawn over it. I am very excited to see the work you have all been doing and hope you enjoy our work as well.