About Me

Siyo, my name is Laura Sawney (ᏥᏣᎳᎩ). I am a proud Cherokee woman, mother, and grandmother. I was born and raised on my Tribal lands in Northeastern Oklahoma. These beautiful Cherokee lands neighboring the Tribal lands of my children, the Muscogee Nation. I graduated from an Indian Boarding school managed by my Tribe named Sequoyah High School in Tahlequah, OK. This experience connected me with many life-long friendships with Native people from Tribal Nations throughout Turtle Island.

My entire life has been dedicated to working with and for Tribal Nations and my Native people. I strive to contribute to making positive impacts for the betterment of our people. We have struggled far too long under oppressive and unjust environments, occluding us to merely try to survive. But now is the time for us to rise up together and thrive. Rising like the Phoenix in its epitome of resilience and strength, as our ancestors demonstrated even in the darkest of times. Our protective ancestors pass on these powerful traits to us. So that we can propel from their love, hope, and dreams to see our generation and future generations prosper.

I am deeply committed to dismantling oppressive systems, disrupting unjust environments, decolonizing thought and action, and building inclusive, collaborative relationships.

Expertise

Indigenous Knowings and Being

My current educational endeavor, earning my doctorate in Indigenous Health at the University of North Dakota’s School of Medicine & Health Sciences Indigenous Health Department, provides me with a solid academic foundation. It also offers a vast network of Indigenous scholars, researchers, data scientists/biostatisticians, evaluators, and health/public health professionals to call upon.

The Indigenous Health Doctoral Program at UND is a distance learning program with virtual classes held in the evenings. This schedule allows me to continue to consult and work on Indigenous causes.

What I Proudly & Humbly do

• Focused on helping underserved, disadvantaged, and marginalized groups, with extensive expertise in the Indigenous Population.

• Committed to addressing the impact of colonial stressors and traumas on the mental and physical well-being of Indigenous Peoples.

• Utilizes a strength-based approach incorporating Ceremony, Language, and Cultural revitalization to create an environment conducive to healing and thriving.

• Expert on Indigenous issues and systems.

• Champion of Indigenous Frameworks and Paradigms; Two-Eyed Seeing Approach.

• Tribal Policy, Strategy, and Advocacy.

• Fierce but Diplomatic Advocate and Lobbyist.

• Indigenous Justice Research Scientist.

• Indigenous Evaluator.

• Traditional Knowledge Sharer Advocate.

• Social Infrastructure Innovator.

• Program Infrastructure Strategist.

• Performance and Quality Improver and Facilitator.

• Project Developer, Planner, Implementer, and Manager.

• Proponent for Community-Led and Driven efforts.