Barriers: On Becoming a Scientist from a Non-Science Background:
My Journey into the Sciences as a Pomo Indian
I would like to preface this write up by saying that I am speaking from personal experience and observations. My data and claims, unless specifically cited, are based on my experience growing up in the Native American communities of Northern California, primarily using my mother as resource for reference.
Growing up, I noticed that I lived a life very different than my peers in my low income, underrepresented locale. This could be due to the realization that my Native American community was a minority even among other underrepresented groups. I do consider myself a part of a marginalized community because historically and contemporarily Native Americans have been treated as a second thought in many regards, which has created innumerable barriers to education, and specifically the sciences.
Historically, land that was once very rich with culture was partitioned in such a way that the natives who initially roamed the land were forced onto small reservations, whereas the government was free to exploit the rest. At least in my family tribe, this had very startling consequences as my family was promised decent living conditions by the US government, but instead my family was left to fend for itself completely. More recently, natives have been sitting on the American back burning in various situations. One in particular is illustrated by the fact that natives are continuously and consistently the most underrepresented minority in higher education. Based on articles and data I’ve read, universities like UC Berkeley have been struggling to keep up their already low native population of students having origins in North America or the Pacific Islands, whereas other minorities are seeing much better outcomes. This stems from Native Americans not being exposed early on to opportunities and a lack of outreach programs that could potentially mentor young natives to help them realize their educational goals.
Growing up, I’ve noticed the main support to be from the family front rather than a collection of many individuals striving for a cause. The family culture in Native American society is very strong, but the effects are differential, which is strongly dependent on each family, distance, and time. For example, my mother grew up in Crescent City, CA, a town that nearly borders Oregon. In addition, she was raised on the very isolate periphery of this city, which added to the already strong effects of distance. She grew up in a very traditional setting, and as a result, had a lot of family who she could turn to. In fact, any day she would expect to see any of her dozens of aunts, uncles, and cousins. They would aggregate and partake in traditional activities. This strong tie allowed my mother to find a home in nearly any one of our family. However, this tribal life style also had its draw back, too.
My mother, although provided family stability in the long term, she was unable to pursue and kind of educational goals-- in fact, she claimed she couldn’t even imagine furthering her education even past the middle school level. These pressures against schooling were derived from the source which provided her so much support: her family. Despite these sentiments against education, she was always in the top of her class, and never had any trouble obtaining the highest grades in school. Her teachers were astounded, and often encouraged her to further her education in school programs, but these lacked the necessities she was so familiar with within her family. Indeed, it was the lack of resources for Natives in these educational outreach programs that halted her aspirations. This was common within my family, and because of this, she made the decision to end this cycle by pushing her children to pursue higher education, a privilege she was never afforded.
The effects of this, however, were not complete because my siblings all had difficulties trying to balance the tribal culture and educational path. School was often second nature for them, but due to family pressures, they internalized these feelings which had devastating effects. Perhaps, if there were resources available that could balance the Native lifestyle as well as our satiation for education, Natives would be better mobilized in society and the sciences. However, this is difficult because many of my family still have barriers that are preventing them from realizing their true potentials.
Speaking from experience, my tribe has had troubles visualizing college. Out of my 350 member tribe, less than 10 of them have went through college successfully. With rates as low as my tribes, it’s seen as virtually inaccessible to go on to college. In many ways I feel it took the push and support of my entire tribe to send just me onto college. Although this may be seen like breaking through the barrier, there seems to be more ahead. I’m the first in my immediate family to go to college, and I’m also the first in my tribe who decided to pursue science, a field that is very rigorous, and at UC Berkeley known to weed out underprepared students.
So, what is the underrepresented-underrepresented minority to do? In an age when there are many initiatives to help underrepresented minorities gain a voice and fighting chance in the public arena, why are Native Americans still facing barriers concerning these same initiatives of education-- the bridge that facilitates the movement of opportunities? Perhaps this is my chance to step in. As I said before, I had my entire family and most of tribe to support me in reaching my educational goals, specifically those related to science. Although some of the science I am learning is not necessarily important for tribal culture, it does bring about new views, and with that comes new opportunities. Although this is unusual in Native communities, my bridge to science was my family; however, for many other Natives, this bridge is very hard to visualize because their family’s priorities lay elsewhere. Perhaps the key for Natives to successfully enter the sciences is within people like my mother, who eventually pass this key down to other people like myself. Now that I am in possession of this key, I realize that I can have a great effect on younger generations of Natives. People who can inspire have a great responsibility to pass on their knowledge and sense of motivation. I desire to pass my key of knowledge and motivation down to other Natives so they too can be enlightened by sciences.