University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu Associate Professor of Mathematics Kamuela Yong was part of a team that founded and launched last month the website, Indigenous Mathematicians, a community for people who identify as indigenous in the mathematical sciences.
Yong encourages people to learn more about and visit the site, which highlights the works of indigenous mathematicians, including Native American, Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian, and Chamorro mathematicians.
“As the first Native Hawaiian to earn a Ph.D. in Applied Math, I did not have many mentors who looked like me,” Yong said. “In fact, it wasn’t until a few months ago did I learn that Edwin Moʻokini was the only Native Hawaiian to earn a Ph.D. in math until me. There are many people who share similar stories of not knowing other people with their background and because of this, we created Indigenous Mathematicians.”
The website seeks to put together all the known information about indigenous mathematicians — beginning with those with a doctorate and later expanding to those with other degrees as the new website grows.
According to the site: “We recognize that Native People have been doing mathematics (and hence have been mathematicians) for millennia. However here, we use ‘mathematician’ to mean someone formally trained in mathematics in the Western academic system and/or someone who practices mathematics in their profession. Thus we may potentially include those with non-terminal mathematics degrees.”
“This community is meant to bring together mathematicians who identify as indigenous peoples, inspire students so they can see themselves represented in the mathematical sciences, and to educate people about indigenous mathematicians,” Yong said.
He noted that the site’s Profiles of Indigenous Mathematicians section includes Marissa Loving and Ashlee Kalauli (UH Hilo alumnae), and Kyle Dahlin (UH Mānoa alumnus).
Yong elaborated on why such a community is needed in an article he wrote, “From One, To Many, For All: Building a Community for Indigenous Mathematicians,” which was posted Dec. 3 for the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) in the digital publishing platform Medium.com.
Additionally, Yong was a guest speaker at “Indigenous Math: Teaching, Sharing, and Building Community,” a webinar held Dec. 9 and hosted by SACNAS. The webinar featured three Indigenous Mathematicians who discussed their teachings and courses, the importance of sharing knowledge and Native language in their teachings, and information about starting the Indigenous Mathematicians website.
Comments or questions about Indigenous Mathematicians can be emailed to indigenous.mathematicians@gmail.com.