Nina Wampler & LaBelle Urbanec

Vision Statement

The Indigenous Women in Science Network (IWSN) creates a community of mutual support for women scientists from all places. Honoring the wisdom of our elders, IWSN promotes the integration of cultural values with science to achieve harmony and balance for all generations. IWSN members are committed to empowering emerging scientists and celebrating women making contributions to science and community.

Membership is Free – JOIN

History

The IWSN was originally designed as an outreach project of the ADVANCE IT award to  the University of Montana-Missoula (UM), the PArtnership for Comprehensive Equity (PACE).

One of the major components of the PACE program. This effort was led by the PI, Penny Kukuk, and the Outreach Leader, Iris Heavy Runner/PrettyPaint (Blackfeet). Initially, several talking circles (similar to focus groups) were held in 2004 & 2005 in locations across Montana to listen to the experiences and needs of Montana’s American Indian women scientists. From these talking circles it became clear that American Indian women scientists’ primary need is the opportunity to network and share their unique and yet common experiences with other American Indian women scientists. They need the opportunity to mentor and support one another.

The knowledge, information and support needed by individual American Indian scientists so they will flourish in their careers is rooted in the knowledge and experience of other indigenous women scientists. PACE then began an attempt to develop a network of indigenous women scientists beyond Montana, a national network, that would provide the opportunity for Native American women scientists to share knowledge and experiences plus provide role models for early career scientists in academia, industry and government agencies. We began activities to determine if such a network would be embraced by other American Indian women scientists across the US and to determine it if was sustainable. Our vision was that if PACE provided the opportunity for American Indian women scientists to meet, they would create their own, unique support and communication network.

First planning meeting took place prior to the AISES meeting in Anaheim, California on October 20, 2008 at the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) National Conference. This meeting focused on highlighting and celebrating the contributions of indigenous women to STEM disciplines. At the meeting, the group initiated discussion of a mission statement for the IWSN, set goals for the first year of the IWSN and formed its structure. This group discussed priorities and functions of IWSN that was transmitted to the full membership for consideration at future meetings.

The second planning meeting took up the all important work of continuing to develop a vision for the group. It took place prior to AIHEC meeting on March 26-27, 2009 in Missoula MT, 2009. Through careful discussion, led by Iris PrettyPaint, the group developed a mission statement that is a guide future activities.

The Indigenous Women in Science Network (IWSN) creates a community of mutual support for women scientists from all places. Honoring the wisdom of our elders, IWSN promotes the integration of cultural values with science to achieve harmony and balance for all generations. IWSN members are committed to empowering emerging scientists and celebrating women making contributions to science and community.

The group also discussed areas of priority for IWSN activities which included; mentoring, annual meetings, increasing membership, choosing a central office, making use of communication technologies, developing a code of ethics, choosing officers and a board of directors, forming a business plan, and identification of funding opportunities.