Allyson Two Bears
Environmental Science major
Sitting Bull College

Allyson's mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother were all medicine women. Knowledge of traditional medicinal plans was handed down to Allyson throughout the generations.

Now that Allyson is a mother of two, she finds herself in the same place as her maternal forebears: she is passing on her knowledge and her peoples' traditions to her children. Her tribal college plays a role in both her science and Native education, Allyson says. In her ethnobotany class at Sitting Bull College Allyson learns more about the native plants she was introduced to by her elder tribeswomen.

Allyson says, "Because of our disconnection with nature and the urgency of global warming, I hope to reconnect others with nature. I would like to develop and teach programs about conservation, nature and wildlife, all while tying in Native American culture and beliefs. I do not want to limit my programs to the youth; I want to teach people of all ages."

Allyson is conducting scientific research projects at Sitting Bull College on turtle populations on the reservation. She also conducted research to study the Loggerhead Shrike and the Brown Thrasher. She has also traveled to Costa Rica to do tropical studies on a wasp species and primate observation, and Alaska to participate in the National Wildlife Society conference.

Allyson has worked as a zookeeper, where she integrated her knowledge and culture into public programs incorporating Native traditional stories about the animals. She says it was a thrill to travel to Costa Rica and see the animals in the wild that she had worked with at the zoo.

In addition to her interest in environmental and animal issues, Allyson has volunteered for the local's women shelters, and works as a peer-tutor for other students at Sitting Bull College. Allyson was named Sitting Bull College 's 2007-8 student of the year.