Winds of Change - Spring 2017 - 19

working with students.
"I find it very uplifting
to work with our next
generation of scientists
Fort Berthold Indian
Reservation is home to the
and engineers," she says.
Nueta, Hidatsa, and Sahnish
Finley notes that the
(Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara)
development of
Nations, federally recognized
research departments
as the Three Affiliated Tribes.
All three tribes were agrarians
at tribal colleges like
and had one of the largest
Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish
trade networks in North
College is the first step
America prior to European
contact.
to securing the future
of research on
reservations. She calls it "a step
Finley was also active in
forward in tribal sovereignty,
AISES, teaming up with her
and one desperately needed
friend Twyla Baker-Demaray to
for our tribe."
revamp the University of North
In addition, Finley says, she
Dakota's AISES Chapter.
works with a team of profesAfter graduating, Finley
sionals who truly believe in
went on to earn her MS in
providing quality cultural,
environmental management at
academic, and vocational
the University of San Francisco.
education to the students. "The
Then she returned to North
real impact comes from
Dakota to pursue her career.
working with disadvantaged
Once back in North Dakota,
students with stellar potential,"
it became clear that Finley's
she explains. "We have bright
college connections would play
young minds at our tribal
a powerful role. As Finley puts
colleges, and our programs
it, "When people tell you as an
complement the needs of our
undergrad that it's important to
communities."
network and get involved in
Finley hopes to eventually
student organizations, they
obtain her PhD and continue
aren't kidding."
to contribute to Nueta Hidatsa
She soon reconnected with
Sahnish College. She sees a
Baker-Demaray, her friend
great need for more innovafrom AISES. Together, they
tion in research, STEM
co-founded Northstar Council,
education, community
a nonprofit in Grand Forks,
development, and tribal
N.D., dedicated to encouraging
nation building.
Native American students to get
For young people who want
into STEM fields.
to pursue higher education,
In 2014, Baker-Demaray left
Finley says, "Keep moving
Northstar Council to take a job
forward. Resilience is one of
at the local tribal college, Nueta
the best tools we have, and it's
Hidatsa Sahnish College. Two
literally been passed down
years later, she enlisted Finley to
from generation to generation."
work on some grant projects at
She also encourages
the school, and soon after, Finley
students to get involved with
accepted a full-time job there.
organizations that will
Today, Finley is the director
support their goals, noting
of research and development at
that AISES has played a key
the college. She also serves on
role in her own career
the science faculty, as the
development. "It's like being
student senate advisor, and as
wrapped in a cozy AISES blanan AISES advisor. Day to day,
ket of love and support," she
her job is split between the
says. "It may sound cliché, but
science department and the
I am a product of AISES."
president's office. But her
- Stephanie Mann
favorite part of the role is

THREE AFFILIATED
TRIBES

aises.org

SPRING 2017 * WINDS OF CHANGE 19
http://sciencecareers.org/WoC http://www.lanl.gov http://jobs.lanl.gov http://www.aises.org
Winds of Change - Spring 2017

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