This Math Monday, we’re celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day with profiles of three amazing Native American and Native Hawaiian mathematicians that you can bring into your classroom. Plus - enough profiles to run a Mathematician of the Week for the rest of the school year!

Dr. Kamuela Yong

Dr. Kamuela Yong is a professor of mathematics at the University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu. He is the first Native Hawaiian to earn a Ph.D. in applied mathematics and is the co-founder of the organization Indigenous Mathematicians.

Watch a short video about Dr. Yong’s classroom or read his personal essay “In Over Your Head.” 

Possible Discussion Questions:

• Dr. Yong describes feeling overwhelmed as a graduate student in “In Over Your Head”. What realization changed the way he thought about his math classes?
• One of Dr. Yong’s college students, Victoria Penalver, describes his class by saying “[math is] not just some big abstract waste of time, but it’s actually able to show us and explain to us some of the things we see happening in real-time”. Describe a time you discovered an interesting connection between math and real life.
• Dr. Yong has talked about the importance of representation, community, and cultural knowledge in math. What makes you feel seen (recognized, appreciated, understood) in school?

Mary Golda Ross 

Mary Golda Ross was the first known Native American woman engineer and a proud member of the Cherokee Nation. She made significant contributions to aerospace design, including working on Lockheed’s famous Skunk Works division and NASA’s Planetary Flight Handbook. Throughout her life, Ross was committed to advocating for women and Native American people in STEM fields. (from her biography from the National Air and Space Museum) 

Read this article “Mary Golda Ross: Mathematician, engineer, and inspiration” from Cherokee Phoenix, or watch this short biography from BESE. 

Possible Discussion Questions:

• Why was it particularly significant for Mary Golda Ross to earn her bachelor’s degree in 1928 (and later her master’s degree)?
• What were some of Mary Golda Ross’ greatest accomplishments?
• What do you think is Mary Golda Ross’ legacy?

Dr. Belin Tsinnajinnie 

Belin Tsinnajinnie is a Diné and Filipinx mathematics education researcher. He received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Arizona with a doctoral thesis focused on notions of mathematical identity in the context of Indigenous and Latinx students. (from his bio) 

Watch his interview with MEET a Mathematician! 

Possible Discussion Questions:

• Dr. Tsinnajinnie gives a nuanced answer about whether he considered himself good at mathematics growing up. What do you think it means to be good at math?
• What does Dr. Tsinnajinnie’s research focus on?
• Dr. Tsinnajinnie describes initially approaching his career in math as “trying to be recognized for my mathematics first and my other identities [as Native American, Navajo, and Filipino] secondary”. Reflect on how you’re recognized at school: which identity(ies) are the most recognized at school? The least recognized?

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson

Kathryn (she/her) is excited to join the NGPF team after 9 years of experience in education as a mentor, tutor, and special education teacher. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in policy analysis and management and has a master's degree in education from Brooklyn College. Kathryn is looking forward to bringing her passion for accessibility and educational justice into curriculum design at NGPF. During her free time, Kathryn loves embarking on cooking projects, walking around her Seattle neighborhood with her dog, or lounging in a hammock with a book.

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