Calling All Psychology Researchers: Collaborate with Section 6!

Are you passionate about psychological research?

Interested in co-authoring papers, presenting at conferences, or pursuing research grants with a collaborative team?

Section 6 wants to connect and support you!

We’re building a vibrant network of researchers who are eager to:

Collaborate on innovative psychology research projects
Co-author papers for publication and presentation
Apply for institutional, regional, or national grants
Share ideas, resources, and mentorship

Whether you're early in your research journey or bring years of experience, we believe that collaboration strengthens science, and we're here to make it easier, more inclusive, and more impactful.

🔗 Join us. Let’s write, present, and pursue funding together.

🌿 Join Our Monthly Circle for Indigenous Women Psychologists 🌿

We gather once a month on Sundays via Zoom to share space, connect, and support one another in a sacred circle rooted in Indigenous values, wisdom, and professional care.

Whether you're seeking community, solidarity, or simply a place to breathe and be seen, you are welcome here.

✨ This is a space for Indigenous women psychologists to gather, grow, and ground together. ✨

🌀 Want to attend our next circle or learn more?

Join Our Section

Section 6
Alaska Native/American Indian/Indigenous Women

Empowering AN/AI/IW Relatives

Welcome to Section 6 Website

This Section was established in 2010 for the purpose of creating a forum where Alaska Native/American Indian/Indigenous women can network, get mentorship and support each other; provide outreach, guidance, and mentoring to Indigenous students of psychology; promote the fundamental objectives of the American Psychological Association and Div. 35; advance understanding of psychology of Indigenous women; and further the development of research methods and models of treatment and intervention that are ethnically, culturally and gender appropriate for Indigenous women.

Skywoman, Spider Woman, Corn Maiden,
White Buffalo Calf Woman, Tonantzín

A description of Indigenous Feminism. This statement is a community offering from the members of Section VI

Indigenous Feminism is inherent in the Native cultures of the Americas. Despite a variety of cultures from over 400 tribes and languages, the similarities in creation stories, women’s roles, and ceremonies are intertwined like a woven rug or birch bark basket. Indigenous Ways of Knowing are inseparable from Indigenous Feminism and include: connection to nature and care for the Earth; permeable connections between people and the rest of Creation; the critical notion that all things in Creation are Sacred; the importance of balance and harmony within and between people and Creation, and a cyclical view of time, development, and existence.

2021 - 2025 Presidents

Past President

Alberta Arviso, PhD (2023–25)

President

Vicky Lomay, PhD (2025–27)

VISION

Indigenous Feminism is deeply rooted in the Native cultures of the Americas, with a common thread running through diverse tribes and languages. It is closely tied to Indigenous Ways of Knowing, emphasizing balance, harmony, and interconnectedness between all living things, the Earth, and the Sacred Feminine and Sacred Masculine. These cultural values reject Western gender roles, promoting a dynamic, fluid, and cooperative relationship between feminine and masculine aspects in every being.
Founded in 2010, this Section aims to create a supportive community for Alaska Native, American Indian, and Indigenous women to connect, mentor, and empower each other. It is dedicated to advancing the understanding of Indigenous women’s psychology, providing guidance to students, and promoting culturally relevant research and interventions. The focus is on nurturing Indigenous women's leadership and their vital contributions to the survival and strength of their communities.
Indigenous women have always been the keepers of stories, histories, and knowledge, often serving as the foundation of family and community structures. Indigenous feminism values mentorship, respect, and the collective nurturing of future generations. It embraces the roles of women as caretakers, cultural transmitters, and leaders, emphasizing the integration of body, mind, spirit, and land in maintaining the health of individuals and communities.
In the face of colonialism and patriarchy, contemporary Indigenous feminism strives to heal and empower by reconnecting with ancestral knowledge, undoing the damage of systemic oppression, and building bridges with others to create resilient, thriving communities.

PURPOSE

To network and get mentoring and support from each other.
To provide outreach, guidance and mentoring to Indigenous students of psychology
To advance understanding of the psychology of Indigenous women to further the development of research methods and models of treatment and intervention that are ethical, cultural and gender appropriate for Indigenous women.
To advance the scientific understanding of features of ethnicity, culture and class among Indigenous women which pertain to the psychology of women.
To accentuate the importance of adequate education and training in service and investigative approaches related to Indigenous people.
To advocate on behalf of Indigenous women psychologist with respect to the formation of policies of Division 35.
To provide a systematic forum for the presentation of police, clinical and research findings in the area of services to American Indian/Alaska Native and other Indigenous women, children, youth and families at APA meetings.

Did you know that our membership is free?
Membership runs from January 1 through December 31.
Any membership starting after August 1 will be applied to the following calendar year.
If you have any questions about membership, please contact the section president.

JOIN SECTION 6 TODAY!!

Section Awards

Nominate a Sweet Grass Award

Nominate a Sage Award

Nominate a Cedar Award

Sage Award

Native peoples use sage to purify and drive out negative energy. It is also thought to be more medicinal than sweetgrass and has physical healing properties. Sage is often used for releasing what is troubling the mind and for cleansing spaces and sacred items. The Sage Award is for the Indigenous Early Career Professional who is emerging as a professional and is an exemplar of Native values in a role of service leadership to the Native community. The candidate for this award should demonstrate values representative of feminist and Native leadership in teaching, service or clinical practice. The feminist leader’s work should focus on the needs of the Indigenous community, which might include but is not limited to: addressing Native student pipeline challenges, health/mental health disparities, environment and health intersections and related topics. Encouragement of publication of research or service activities within feminist and/or Indigenous based publications. The development of a future program for a conference in the subsequent year based on awardees interest/research will also be supported.

Cedar Award

Cedar has many restorative medicinal uses. Cedar is used in a sweat lodge and fasting ceremonies for protection. Cedar branches cover the floor of many sweat lodges and shade the arbors at Sundance. Some say the plant is a guardian spirit and wards off the bad spirits.

The Cedar Award is for the Indigenous graduate student who has completed research or is involved in service focused on the needs of Indigenous communities. The research or service has made a meaningful contribution to Native American/Indigenous Psychology and/or local Indigenous community efforts. The students will have an opportunity to present their work at a subsequent conference with support from the section. Encouragement of publication of research or service activities within feminist and/or Indigenous based publications.

This award honors the Indigenous psychology professional who epitomizes values and virtues through the dedication of outstanding professionalism in service.

Sponsors: Division 35 ; Section VI

Sweetgrass Award

For Native peoples, sweetgrass is a sacred plant that attracts positive energy, beauty and sweetness. In some Native teachings, it is considered the sacred hair of Mother Earth, and its fragrance reminds people of the gentleness, love and kindness mother Earth has for the people. Traditionally, braided in three strands, each strand represents love, kindness and honesty. This award honors the Indigenous psychology professional who epitomizes these values and virtues through the dedication of outstanding professionalism in service such as the following:

Mentoring and support Indigenous women;
The development or adaptation of research methods or models for treatment and intervention that are ethnical, cultural and gender appropriate for Indigenous women;
Advancing the understanding of the psychology of Indigenous women; the scientific understanding of features of ethnicity, culture and class among Indigenous women which pertain to the psychology of women; adequate education and training in service and investigative approaches related to Indigenous people; and
Advocating on behalf of Indigenous women in policy, clinical and research findings in the area of services to AN/AI and other Indigenous women, children, youth and families.

Sweetgrass Award PAST RECIPIENTS 2025 Teresa LaFromboise, PhD Marilyn Begay, PhD 2024 Jacqueline “Jacque” Gray, PhD 2023 Denise Newman, PhD 2022 Kee J.E. Straits, PhD 2021 Dee (Dolores) Subia Bigfoot 2020 Gayle Morse, PhD 2019 Diane Willis, PhD Iva GreyWolf, PhD 2018 Melinda Garcia, PhD 2017 Alberta Arviso, PhD

Sage Award PAST RECIPIENTS 2025 Katherina Arteaga, GS. 2024 Anna Kawennison Fetter, PhD 2023 Maria Crouch, PhD 2022 Julii M. Green, PhD 2021 Melissa Tehee, PhD, JD 2020 Joanna Shadlow, PhD 2019 Wendy Peters, PhD 2018 Glenna Stumblingbear Riddle, PhD 2017 Amoneeta Beckstein, PhD

Cedar Award PAST RECIPIENTS 2025 Vernita Perkins, PhD 2024 Maredyth B. R. Cheromiah Salazar, MS 2023 Sheena Greenstone, MA 2022 Stephenie Wescoup, MEd 2021 Erica Ficklin, MS 2020 Melissa Wheeler 2019 Devon S. Isaacs, BA 2018 Kellylynn Zuni 2017 Amanda Young

Advocacy Priorities

Link Tree

The Department of Justice has prioritized working to address the causes of violence against Native American individuals and communities and to bring justice to victims and their families.

ICWA provides guidance to States regarding the handling of child abuse and neglect and adoption cases involving Native children and sets minimum standards for the handling of these cases.

Secretary Deb Haaland made history when she became the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary. She is a member of the Pueblo of Laguna and a 35th generation New Mexican.

Turquoise Alert System

Arizona Legislature unanimously approves Turquoise Alert System for missing Indigenous people

The creation of the Turquoise Alert System cleared its final legislative hurdle on Wednesday when it passed the state House of Representatives unanimously

The new system, which would function similarly to the existing Amber Alert and Silver Alert notification systems, would coordinate alerts for missing Indigenous or endangered persons through the federally authorized Emergency Alert System.

Read the full bill here: ARIZONA STATE SENATE. Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session. AMENDED. FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2281. missing indigenous person; alert system

Breaking The Silence

Breaking Bosque School’s Silence on Racism Within Its Walls

Dr. Kee Straits is a bilingual licensed psychologist who holds a PhD in Counseling, School, and Clinical Psychology. She is Native American (Quechua) and Latina.

As I tried to address the concerns raised in that letter and other problems, I uncovered a toxic environment leading to staff departures and student unrest.