Full Name
Dr. Jill Greendeer
Job Title
Program Manager
Organization/School
Dream of Wild Health
Speaker Bio
My Hocak name is MaZaaHeexWinga (Swan that dances before take-off) and my colonized name is Jill Greendeer. I am an enrolled citizen of Ho-chunk Nation, and Potawatomi and Kaw descendant. I am Deer Clan and have lived in the Twin Cities for over 20 years. As a Hocak hinuk (woman), Nani (mother), sister, and relative, my life purpose resides within the space of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is part of the bridge between Indigenous communities, Indigenous healing and empowerment, data/food sovereignty, cultural wellness, Indigenous representation in academia and healthcare. My life work and lived experience have prepared me for this role. I have experience working in academic, corporate, clinical, and community settings both within Native communities and outside of Indigenous societies. I have lived experience as an Indigenous woman in both urban and rural environments that adds to my diverse worldview and gives me a strong sense of grounded Indigenous narrative to pursue my life purpose of helping to heal and empower Indigenous people.
My experiences pursuing a PhD at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing as an Indigenous woman allowed me to develop a heightened awareness of systemic racism and oppression. I recognize systemic racism and oppression are deeply embedded within healthcare and academia. Far too often, we see non-Indigenous people benefit at Indigenous communities’ expense when they are rewarded as leaders and advocates of diversity and equity. They often publish research articles and misrepresent, misinterpret, and misguide their ‘findings’ within Indigenous communities with adverse impacts on Indigenous communities. This experience gave her life purpose and call to action a deeper sense of need and urgency: the opportunity to stand her ground, speak her truth, share her Indigenous lived experience, and find comfort in uncomfortable spaces, conversations, and initiatives. I am the Program Manager at Dream of Wild Health and Founder of Indigenous Visions Research and Wellness LLC. I understand that we all have tremendous work to do and cannot accomplish this alone. I hope to continue to network with others who want to uplift and empower diverse, and Indigenous voices and perspectives and see the value of protecting the sacred.
My experiences pursuing a PhD at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing as an Indigenous woman allowed me to develop a heightened awareness of systemic racism and oppression. I recognize systemic racism and oppression are deeply embedded within healthcare and academia. Far too often, we see non-Indigenous people benefit at Indigenous communities’ expense when they are rewarded as leaders and advocates of diversity and equity. They often publish research articles and misrepresent, misinterpret, and misguide their ‘findings’ within Indigenous communities with adverse impacts on Indigenous communities. This experience gave her life purpose and call to action a deeper sense of need and urgency: the opportunity to stand her ground, speak her truth, share her Indigenous lived experience, and find comfort in uncomfortable spaces, conversations, and initiatives. I am the Program Manager at Dream of Wild Health and Founder of Indigenous Visions Research and Wellness LLC. I understand that we all have tremendous work to do and cannot accomplish this alone. I hope to continue to network with others who want to uplift and empower diverse, and Indigenous voices and perspectives and see the value of protecting the sacred.
Speaking At
