Maka-Sitomniya
Welcome to the Maka-Sitomniya repository, part of the Environmental Data Science Innovation and Inclusion Lab (ESIIL). This repository serves as the central hub for our working group, hosting our project description, proposals, member bios, codebase, and more.
Our Project
The world faces growing threats from multiple, interconnected environmental challenges, including chemical pollution, increasing freshwater demands amid diminishing supplies, biodiversity loss, and the climate crisis. Indigenous communities are particularly vulnerable due to a long history of injustice. However, a holistic worldview, long-standing relationship with the land and water, and time-tested stewardship practices provide essential knowledge for understanding and responding to these challenges. What remains lacking are the resources and technical expertise to integrate Indigenous Knowledges with the latest advancements in Earth Data Science.
Our project aims to bridge this gap by developing a customizable DataCube and workflows tailored to the needs of Tribes. This framework will enable Indigenous communities to access and apply environmental data science (EDS) for vulnerability assessments, mitigation, and adaptation. It will aso serve as a training tool to build Tribal capacity in data analysis and decision-making. This work is critical because climate change and environmental degradation disproportionately impact Indigenous lands and livelihoods. Tribes would like to access the tools to analyze and interpret environmental data, and our project provides a framework to make informed decisions and strengthen inherent sovereignty.
The expected impact of our project is threefold:
- Increased Tribal Access to Data Science – By making EDS more accessible, we support Indigenous-led environmental management and research.
- Capacity Building and Training – The DataCube will serve as an educational tool for Tribal Colleges, students, and community members, equipping them with technical skills.
- Stronger Environmental and Climate Resilience – With better data, Tribes can develop more effective policies and responses to environmental challenges, ensuring long-term sustainability.
Advancing EDS is not just about pushing the boundaries of science—it must also be about expanding accessibility, ensuring its benefits reach communities that would otherwise be excluded. Our project prioritizes soverignty, self-determination, and the integration of Indigenous Knowledges with cutting-edge environmental data tools to create lasting, meaningful change.
Project Proposal
[include the proposal directly in the repository. This should outline the goals, methodologies, anticipated challenges, and projected timelines.][Project Proposal](https://esiil.org/working-groups)
Group Members
[List the names and a brief description of each group member, possibly linking to their personal or professional web pages.]
- Member 1: PI: Phil Two Eagle, Executive Director, Sicangu Climate Center
- Member 2: Co-PI: Elisha Wakinyan Zi Yellow Thunder, Adjunct Faculty, Oglala Lakota College
- Member 3: Technical Lead: Lilly Jones, PhD CIRES Earth Lab, CU Boulder
- Member 4: Robin O'Malley, Principal at Robin O'Malley LLC
- Member 5: Justina White Eyes, Native BioData Consortium
- Member 6: Robert Newman, PhD, Professor of Biology, University of North Dakota
- Member 7: Al Kusilikis, Senior Associate for Strategic Initiatives (retired), American Indian Higher Education Consortium
- Member 8: Jeff Weber, Scientific Program Manager, National Center for Atomospheric Research
- Member 9: Joseph Yracheta, Native BioData Consortium
- Member 10: Camille Griffith, PhD, Faculty Oglala Lakota College
- Member 11: Brian Yandell, PhD, Data Scientist, Professor Emeritus, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Member 12: James Rattling Leaf, Tribal Advisor, CIRES, CU Boulder
- Member 13: Robert Michell Rabin, PhD, Research Meteorologist, NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory
- Member 14: James Sanovia, Tribal Data Scientist CIRES ESIIL Lab, CU Boulder
- Member 15: Patrick Freeland, Senior Tribal Climate Resilience Liaison, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
- Member 16: Paula Antoine, Program Coordinator at Rosebud Sioux Tribe-Sicangu Oyate Land Office
Code Repository
This section of the repository will include all the code developed for the project. You can structure it as follows:
- Analysis Code: Scripts for data analysis, statistical modeling, etc.
- Data Processing: Scripts for cleaning, merging, and managing datasets.
- Visualization: Code for creating figures, charts, and interactive visualizations.
Meeting Notes and Agendas
Meeting notes and agendas will be regularly updated here to keep all group members informed and engaged with the progress and direction of the project.
Contributing to This Repository
We welcome contributions from all group members. To maintain the quality and integrity of the repository, please adhere to the following guidelines:
- Make sure all commits have a clear and concise message.
- Document any major changes or decisions in the meeting notes.
- Review and merge changes through pull requests to ensure oversight.
- Practice Wolakota - be respectful, and follow Tribal protocols to the best of your ability.
- More details can be found in the contributing file.
Getting Help
If you encounter any issues or have questions about how to contribute, please refer to the ESIIL Support Page or contact the repository maintainers directly.