Yvette Running Horse Collin is a distinguished Indigenous scholar, geneticist, and cultural leader whose work bridges ancient horse genomics with Lakota traditional knowledge. As a citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation, her journey embodies a powerful blend of Western science and Indigenous wisdom. Through her acclaimed research into prehistoric horse survival, her efforts to give back to Lakota communities, and her contributions to Indigenous cultural preservation, she has emerged as a respected voice in academia and on the global stage.
Academic Credentials
Education and Early Career
Collin earned her B.A. from The Johns Hopkins University and a dual M.A. in Journalism and Latin American & Caribbean Studies from New York University. She completed her Ph.D. in Indigenous Studies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2017, graduating with honors and supported by the Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key International Honors Societies. Her doctoral research, ‘The Relationship Between the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas and the Horse: Deconstructing a Eurocentric Myth,’ investigated Indigenous-horse relationships and challenged conventional historical narratives.
Postdoctoral Research
Following her Ph.D., she secured a prestigious Marie SkÅodowska Curie Individual European Fellowship and joined the Centre for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse (CAGT) in France as a postdoctoral researcher. Her project, MethylRIDE, explores DNA methylation patterns in Ice Age horses, enhancing our understanding of equine adaptation to climate and extinction.
Research Contributions
Dissertation Highlights
In her 2017 dissertation, Collin proposed that Ice Age horses may have persisted beyond their presumed extinction around 6,000 years ago and interacted with Native communities in pre-contact North America. She supported this claim with archaeological finds and Indigenous oral histories, arguing for a nuanced understanding of horse presence in ancient Indigenous cultures.
Genomic and Zoological Insights
Her current research employs cutting-edge genomics to reconstruct the epigenetic responses of ancient horse populations. Integrating archaeology with DNA analysis and Indigenous knowledge, she has significantly advanced our understanding of prehistoric equine ecology.
Indigenous Knowledge and Cultural Leadership
Lakota Traditional Sciences
Collin holds deep-rooted training in Indigenous sciences and environmental practices, taught by Lakota knowledge bearers over a decade. This mentorship is culturally significant, emphasizing responsibility in preserving knowledge for future generations.
Serving Community and Culture
Following her doctorate, Collin served as a Presidential Ambassador for the Oglala Nation and worked with the Black Hills Sioux Nation Council. She returned ancestral horse herds to Indigenous communities and collaborated with elders to revive traditional equestrian practices honoring both biological and cultural legacies.
Professional Roles and Board Memberships
Scientific Leadership
She has held roles as an executive director and principal science officer at the Global Institute for Traditional Sciences (Taku Skan Wasakliyapi).
Nonprofit and Advisory Work
Collin serves on the board of Sacred Way Sanctuary and the Sacred Healing Circle. In January 2023, she completed her postdoctoral work in ancient horse genomics in Toulouse, France.
Public Engagement and Publications
Academic Presentations
Her wide-ranging presentations include:
- Incorporating Traditional Native Knowledge into the Western World (2019, Huntsville, AL)
- Traditional Indigenous Knowledge in Education (2019, Isle of Skye)
- Events with Lakota, Arapaho, Cheyenne elders (2019, Sturgis, SD)
- Workshops on Indigenous-Feral horses (2019, Billings, MT)
- Discussion on the Trail of Tears and horses (2018, Decatur, AL)
- Teacher gatherings on Indigenous identity and culture (2017, Toronto)
These reflect her commitment to ethical collaboration and community-centered research.
Selected Publications
- The Relationship Between the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas and the Horse: Deconstructing a Eurocentric Myth (Dissertation, 2017)
- Protecting the right to exist as people: Intellectual property as a means to protect traditional knowledge and indigenous culture (Conference proceedings, 2019)
- Numerous topics and essays on Native horse histories, Indigenous sciences, and decolonizing research frameworks.
Public Outreach and Media
Media Interviews and Essays
Collin has been featured in Science’s AAAS blog and Sapiens magazine, discussing her insights on blending archaeology, genomics, and Indigenous perspectives in reviving humanhorse histories.
Community Advocacy
Her work engaging with Indigenous communities and resisting colonial narratives has made her an advocate for ethical scientific practice. She actively emphasizes equitable partnerships between Indigenous communities and academic institutions.
Legacy and Vision
Decolonizing Scientific Narratives
Through her research, Collin challenges Eurocentric frameworks in historiography and archaeology, amplifying Indigenous oral histories and ecological perspectives. Her work emphasizes the living legacy of horses and celebrates Indigenous resilience.
Future Aspirations
Dr. Collin aims to continue her research in equine genomics, Indigenous methodologies, and community empowerment. She envisions expanding and strengthening collaborations with Indigenous nations to enhance cultural transmission and scientific justice.
Dr. Yvette Running Horse Collin exemplifies a new generation of scholars who seamlessly combine scientific excellence with cultural integrity. From her groundbreaking genomic research to her dedication to Indigenous knowledge systems and community healing, she offers a model of respectful, visionary scholarship. As both scientist and Lakota cultural leader, she re-centers Indigenous voices in global conversations about history, biology, and conservation illuminating a path forward built on knowledge equality and mutual respect.