Established in 2007, the Guardians of Culture and Lifeways International Awards Program identifies and recognizes organizations and individuals who serve as outstanding examples of how indigenous archives, libraries, museums, and individuals contribute to the vitality and cultural sovereignty of Native Nations. The Guardian Award takes its name from the sculpture that stands atop the Oklahoma State Capitol – the work of Seminole Chief Kelly Haney. Senator Haney’s message to Award recipients and ATALM attendees is to “Dream big. Work hard. Believe deeply…for this is just the beginning. Let us all rise to our potential.”

This year, the Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Dr. Nancy Maryboy. Maryboy (Tsawayuga), is a Cherokee/Navajo astronomer and a shining role model for young Native and non-native museum studies, Indigenous studies and science scholars. She has been an early and powerful force in “Indigenizing the Academy” starting with the completion of her doctorate in 1998 from the California Institute of Integral Studies with her research partner Dr. David Begay.

She continued her professional career working at the Hatathli Museum and teaching at Dine College, where she became an administrator, and later became accredited as a principal while working at Shonto Prep School, a Navajo K-12 school. She now teaches Indigenous Astronomy in the department of physics and astronomy at Northern Arizona University. Dr. Maryboy is the Founding President of the Indigenous Education Institute (IEI), whose mission is preserving, protecting, and applying traditional knowledge.

She has been PI for groundbreaking NSF projects such as “Cosmic Serpent: Bridging Native Ways of Knowing with Western Science” (building a community of practice with 110 science centers and tribal museums), “Native Universe: Indigenous Voices in Science Museums,” which resulted in the innovative programming and exhibit “Roots of Wisdom,” led by Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in collaboration with the tribal museums such as the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute and Tulalip Tribes Hibulb Cultural Center. Her work in building collaboration with integrity partnerships between indigenous communities and science centers has been unparalleled and her gracious inclusiveness has helped to build long-lasting partnerships among museum personnel and local tribes. The innovative NSF-funded IWISE (Indigenous Worldviews in Informal Science Education) culminated in DC this summer, a summit of Indigenous scholars, traditional knowledge holders,native advocates for transformational change and a focus on the perspectives of native youth, presenting directly to federal policy makers and fundraisers. Maryboy also works closely with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and JPL on many projects, including the newly released “See the Skies Through Navajo Eyes,” a full dome planetarium show. The work of Dr. Maryboy and her colleagues has opened a portal for collaborative science programming with traditional indigenous wisdom, which is invaluable for addressing environmental concerns of the present and future. Her pioneering work will leave a legacy for generations.