The birth of a Native scholar

Comic by: Danielle Lucero (Isleta Pueblo) Phd Student: Justice Studies

I am a first-year doctoral student in the Justice Studies program at ASU. I am interested in Indigenous citizenship and identity. As a visual learner, I find myself drawing comics during lectures and making meaning through comics. I love manga and anime. I started drawing comics when I was in middle school because it helped me concentrate, and now it has become a significant form of self-care and stress relief.

This comic is about what it means to be a Native student wanting to do research that is rooted in traditional beliefs and community. It is autobiographical because I struggled a lot with finding a Pueblo voice in academia, and it was my family who would ground me and say I already have that voice; I am that scholar I've been searching for and to be proud of where I started and where I am now.

Maybe there are more sources on the internet... Alright... let me call home to get some answers...

I've checked the library. I've checked the internet. I've talked to professors. WHAT MORE CAN I DO? WHERE ARE MY PEOPLES' VOICE!!?!

Hmm... I can't think of any. Why do you ask?

Heeey! Grandchild!!! You can't find it because you haven't written it yet! That's your calling! So you better get writing! AYE!!!

Hi Mom! I was wondering you know any books or people who have done research of and for our community?

Oh! Sorry dear! Forgot to say you are on speaker phone! We are at chee-ee's (Grandma's).

I DON'T HEAR TYPING! THAT BOOK WON'T WRITE ITSELF!