Year of Award

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Name

Individualized Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program

Department or School/College

Interdisciplinary Studies Program

Committee Co-chair

J.B. Alexander Ross, J. Stephen Lodmell

Commitee Members

Richmond Clow, Tony Ward, Curtis Noonan, Garon Smith

Keywords

Biomedical Science, Environmental Justice, Food Systems, Indigenous Health and Wellness, Native Indigenous Agriculture, Wellbeing Data Sovereignty

Abstract

This body of work adds to a recent shift in the academic landscape, valuing interdisciplinary research and Indigenous worldview. Predominant is the reversal of extractive research norms within Indigenous populations and the biosystems they steward, instead claiming Piikani (Blackfeet) led community-needs-based research valuing Indigenous data sovereignty, research methodologies, ethics, equity, and Indigenous empowerment. This research proffers requisite historical information providing the ‘why’ context, followed by three of the author’s studies: in toxic dumping, food sovereignty, and Piikani well-being. Under an environmental justice framework, the first study presents a cursory investigation of decades-long illicit toxic waste disposal reports linked to observed cancer clusters. The research preserves generations of community memory combined with quantifiable western science to strengthen arguments for further rigorous research and remediation. A second study details implementation of work prioritized by Blackfeet Nation’s community-based strategic planning, identifying systemic barriers and impactful solutions for achieving food sovereignty. After measurable negative impact from land dispossession and incomprehensible federal policies, solution-based integration of traditional Piikani understandings to improve economic futures, community health, and creation of a translational model of sustainable agriculture, is returning control of food production and distribution to the Blackfeet. Regenerative, sustainable agriculture prioritizes intergenerational well-being and Indigenous economic development rather than extraction or external commercial interests. The final research project describes the first comprehensive well-being index for the Blackfeet Nation combining quantitative and qualitative data, this index is grounded in Piikani cultural values and traditional Indigenous knowledge. It provides a framework for measuring community health across several key "pillars": Human Health and Well-being, Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Cultural Systems and Traditional Lifeways, Social and Educational Systems, Environmental Stewardship and Land Tenure, Governance and Economics. Geospatial mapping makes visible the relationships between land health and human health while providing a tool for Tribal leaders to make informed decisions promoting long-term sustainability and resilience. This shifts the focus from "deficit-based" statistics to strength-based metrics, defining what "success" and "health" look like when not measured by external, often colonial, standards. These studies prioritize Indigenous community-needs-based work ensuring the Blackfeet Nation defines its own pathways to resilience and Nitapipatapitsin “Living a Good Life".

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© Copyright 2026 Misamsai’piaakíí Longtime Charging Woman Kimberly Lynn Paul