Dr. Katie Archer Olson is a multi-racial scholar with deep roots in the South, Atabey (Mother Earth), and her ancestral homeland of Boriken (Puerto Rico). As a member of the Guainía Taíno Iukaieke (tribe), she passionately advocates for blending Indigenous knowledge with Western educational practices. With over a decade of experience in refining Indigenous Instructional Design and supporting Alaska Native/Native American learners, she is guided by a profound respect for Etuaptmumk (the Mi’kmaw word for Two-Eyed Seeing) coined by Mi’Kmaq elder Albert Marshall which states as researchers/educators we must see out one eye with the strengths of Indigenous Ways of Knowing and see out the other eye from the strengths of Western knowledge. Blended, we can weave a stronger foundation in a broader context for application in our classrooms and professional fields. Her work aims to address the harmful impacts of colonial educational systems that have historically sought to erase Indigenous languages and ways of knowing as valid tools for instruction.
Dr. Katie holds an Ed.D. in Instructional Technology from the American College of Education. Her doctoral research focused on developing culturally responsive teaching strategies for Indigenous Alaskan first-generation college students, utilizing decolonization and feminist research methodologies. It was recognized as the Dissertation of Distinction among her doctoral class. Her unique upbringing, navigating life between two worlds, provides valuable personal insights into her professional endeavors.
Fun Facts: I LOVE storytelling. My Daddy would say, “It doesn’t have to be a true story; it just needs to be a good story.” I love challenging myself to do/learn new things (section hike of the Appalachian Trail at 51, subsistence training in Mekoryuk with friends, and cultural training with my Iukaieke). I LOVE to try new foods (herring eggs and raw white fish liver) and laugh while connecting with friends and family.
