My dissertation examines how Indigenous farmers, Native-led organizations, and agricultural enterprises are responding to climate change through adaptation and mitigation strategies that support Indigenous food sovereignty, ecological sustainability, and community resilience. Specifically, this research focuses on the impacts of climate change on Dine food systems and investigates the adoption of contemporary agricultural technologies that may increase agricultural productivity and environmental stewardship, and long-term sustainability within Indigenous communities.

Through this research, I plan to understand how different Indigenous communities are navigating these transitions and what practices are emerging to support sustainable and resilient Indigenous food and data futures. By learning from the strategies, concerns, and innovations within these communities, I hope to contribute to pathways where technology becomes a tool, that honors ancestral knowledge, supports local needs, and sustains the relationships that have nourished our peoples.    

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Public Health and a Master of Public Health in Health Promotion, both from the University of Arizona. My life’s work and passion are rooted in the land, Diné culture, language, and lived experience. From a young age, I learned to care for the land by reclaiming and revitalizing traditional agricultural practices, which helped me nurture a deep relationship with food and ancestral foodways. I have been a farmer, community member, relative, and aunty, which has made me understand the interconnectedness of ancestral foods, the land, water, animals, and her community. 

My current focus and heart work are in Indigenous food sovereignty, health, and data sovereignty/governance. I’m committed to community-led research that uplifts Indigenous knowledge and food systems. I want to advance health and well-being through culturally grounded, collaborative approaches. I’m deeply dedicated to building ethical, reciprocal research relationships with Indigenous communities. My research centers on Indigenous food sovereignty, food security, environmental justice, and the interconnections of Indigenous FEWS.

Remember that your roots are your strength. The land, your language, your teachings, and your community will carry you forward. Education can open doors, but it is your Indigenous identity and your relationships that will guide you through them with purpose. 

Take care of yourself the way you take care of the land. Rest, nurture, and balance are part of the work. The community is your compass. Let your work be guided by reciprocity, responsibility, and intentional relationships. Bring your cultural teachings with you, let it guide you. They will shape your research, your questions, and your solutions in ways that honor your community, land, and deities. Your lived experience is knowledge. What you gain from your family, community, your fields, and your ceremonies, is valuable knowledge. Hold them tightly.

Healthcare access, attitudes and behaviours among Navajo adults during the Covid-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

Brown, H. E., Begay, R. L., Sanderson, P. R., Chief, C., Lameman, B., & Harris, R. B. (2024). Healthcare access, attitudes and behaviours among Navajo adults during the Covid-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study. BMJ Public Health, 2(1). 

Indigenous perspectives on biobanking, specimen storage, and data governance: A scoping review.

Curley, C. A., Fernandez, A., Lameman, B., Watson, A. A., Garba, I., Hiratsuka, V. Y., Taitingfong, R., Yracheta, J. M., Hudson, M., Garrison, N. A., Ellenwood, C., Jennings, L. L., & Russo Carroll, S. (2026). Indigenous perspectives on biobanking, specimen storage, and data governance: A scoping review. Genetics in Medicine, 28, 102641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gim.2026.102641

Nurturing Plants Project: Co-creating and Advancing a Sustainable Diné Way of Life Through a Diné Hydroponic Project.

Lameman, B, Diné Advisory Board, Diné Introspective, Navajo Ethno-Agriculture, De Vore, C., Carroll., S., Cordova-Marks, F., Curley, C., Yuan., N. (2026).  Nurturing Plants Project: Co-creating and Advancing a Sustainable Diné Way of Life Through a Diné Hydroponic Project.