Water connects us ALL

Shannon Seneca, PhD, REHS/RS, EIT (Haudenosaunee Environmental Engineer)

Assistant Faculty, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

Friday, May 5, 2023 | 11 a.m. | 223 Jarvis Hall

Abstract

Women wearing a dress shirt and smiling.

The wellbeing of Indigenous communities is directly connected to the health of the environment as traditional lifestyles are focused on maintaining a reciprocal relationship with nature. The key to future work with Indigenous Nations is through decolonizing research methodologies where we collaborate with Indigenous communities not “on” Indigenous people. Beyond the importance of relationship building, the Indigenous knowledge that can supplement western science is invaluable. As Indigenous knowledge and western science are fundamentally different, both knowledge systems can be brought together in a meaningful way, respecting each system’s strengths and weaknesses. Peoples across cultures are connected through water and even in the expansiveness of the world, the same water is cycled globally. Indigenous people globally have an inborn respect for water, and it is cornerstone to their culture. As Indigenous peoples understand the importance of water, from the ocean faring to desert dwelling, they have built their lives, stories, and traditions around this source of vitality for all. All around the globe, Indigenous peoples have fought to protect our water and have even prescribed rights to nature to waterways to assist in our efforts in this modern day. First Nations suffer the greatest as their communities have been wrought with water quality, water quantity, and delivery problems. As we come together to protect, rebuild, and replenish the waters around the world, we will grow stronger as our minds become one if we begin with those that are suffering the greatest now.

Bio

Dr. Shannon Seneca is a Haudenosaunee environmental engineer with her Bachelor of Science in Physics. Her master’s work was focused on drinking water treatment while she gained expertise in geochemistry, contaminant hydrology and groundwater remediation during her doctoral studies. Dr. Seneca obtained ecosystem restoration training and experience through the University at Buffalo’s National Science Foundation IGERT Ecosystem Restoration through Interdisciplinary Exchange (ERIE) program. She was the first female Native American to earn her PhD in Engineering at UB in 2012. For almost a decade, Dr. Seneca worked with the Seneca Nation and most recently served as the Seneca Nation Health System's Environmental Health Director. She recently joined the Center for Indigenous Cancer Research at Roswell Park Cancer Institute as an assistant faculty member to respond to Indigenous community desires to see more active environmental health cancer research. She brings in much diversity as an indigenous person and an environmental engineer delving into environmental health to tackle the impact of environmental contaminants on human health. Dr. Seneca strives to be a part of many interdisciplinary teams as each individual brings unique backgrounds to the table to solve large scale problems together.