Indigenous Symbols and Practices in the Catholic Church

Dr. Kathleen J. Martin holds an M.A. in Native Religious Traditions and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in culture, language and literacy from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is an assistant professor in the Ethnic Studies Department at California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo and teaches courses in Indigenous Studies that address the realities and stereotypes of Indigenous Peoples in popular culture; philosophy and identity as expressed through narrative, art and media production; and Indigenous perspectives of land, environment and the importance of place; as well as the historical contexts of race, culture and politics. Her research interests are interdisciplinary, and she is author/co-author of articles such as: Why don't they leave? Saving faith and other issues of Catholic missionization; Teaching and learning advocacy for educational equity in a teacher education program; and A middle school strives to achieve team leadership through opposition and uncertainty. She is also co-founder of 'Community of Scholars: Gatherings of American Indian and Indigenous Students and Mentors', an organization designed for the mentorship of American Indian and Indigenous students in secondary and post-secondary institutions.