Weaving Heritage and Science: Doctoral student connects passion for research with Native American heritage
Tuesday, May 28, 2024
Media Contact: Sophia Fahleson | Digital Communications Specialist | 405-744-7063 | sophia.fahleson@okstate.edu
When Harleigh Moore-Wilson thought about her future, she knew being an Oklahoma State University Cowboy was in the cards.
“It was Bullet, the OSU Spirit Rider’s horse,” Moore-Wilson said. “At the age of 6, I said I was going to OSU because of Bullet. I never had any other thought of where else I would go.”
Moore-Wilson enrolled at OSU to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in biosystems engineering from the Ferguson College of Agriculture and went on to earn a Master of Business Administration. Now, she is a doctoral student in food science with a specialization in food safety.
Moore-Wilson, originally from Burbank, Oklahoma, grew up on the Osage Nation reservation. However, her family had cultural disconnects she worked to overcome in her later childhood, she said.
“My family was not culturally involved,” Moore-Wilson said. “My mom tried very hard to get me involved as far as attending ceremonial dances and taking finger weaving and beadwork classes.”
After receiving a beadwork set for Christmas at 9 years old, Moore-Wilson discovered her love for creating beadwork pieces for herself and others. She started her beadwork business, Salt Creek Beadwork, almost six years ago and has built a network for herself and her business using social media platforms.
“The creativity of building these culturally significant items has really brought me a lot closer to my culture,” Moore-Wilson said. “This has really opened a lot of doors for me.”
Her beadwork includes finger-woven belts, beaded moccasins, belt buckles and keychains as well as other handmade items.
“I learned at an early age that individuality, creativity and self expression are essential to loving yourself,” Moore-Wilson said.
Jessica Goodfox, Moore-Wilson’s cousin, said Moore-Wilson’s efforts and dedication in what she does shines through her work. She is an independent woman always finding ways to be productive, Goodfox said.
“She has dreamed of going to OSU since she was a little girl,” Goodfox said. “She grew up around agriculture and was bound to flourish in that career choice.
“She takes pride in her higher education and where she received it,” Goodfox added.
While growing her business, Moore-Wilson also is making progress in her research.
As the former natural resources and food sovereignty director for the Osage Nation, Moore-Wilson’s work helped connect her education in food safety to her heritage.
“In middle school, she had to take a Native American class,” said Joyce Moore, Moore-Wilson’s mother. “That helped bring out her curiosity about her Osage heritage.
“She has excelled in learning how to do Native American beadwork and learned how to do finger weaving,” Moore said. “She creates belts and streamers worn for Native regalia.”
Passionate, willing and eager to learn are all qualities seen in Moore-Wilson, Moore said. She is a person who listens and is not afraid to get in and do the little jobs, Moore added.
“She loves her people,” said Colt Wilson, Moore-Wilson’s husband. “She’s very passionate about anything that has to do with the Osage Nation.”
Moore-Wilson uses her knowledge in food sovereignty and safety from her education at OSU in developing a new opportunity to give tribal members the experience of coming one step closer to their ancestors while giving back to her community.
Moore-Wilson’s connection with the Intertribal Buffalo Council and the National Bison Association allows her to collect data for her doctoral research.
“Our team helped improve and increase the Osage Nation’s food sovereignty and security, utilizing the bison to help heal the land and connect Osage tribal members to their ancestors,” Moore-Wilson said. “The bison help feed our people and bring a culturally significant food source back into the community.”
Oklahoma has not had a bison hunt for more than 100 years, Moore-Wilson said. Allowing the tribe to build a relationship with the bison herd is a way the members can bring back significant historic culture into tribe members’ lives today, she said.
Moore-Wilson’s work experience gave her a stepping stone to continue increasing tribal food sovereignty. She has a passion for Native American agriculture and helps provide insight to Indigenous people across the United States, she said.
“No matter where I end up, my plans are to continue to improve and increase Indigenous agriculture,” Moore-Wilson said. “I will host and coordinate food safety educational events to improve tribal businesses and increase the knowledge of Indigenous agriculture.”
Moore-Wilson is eager for new experiences to continue to bring better opportunities to her tribe, she said.
“Oklahoma State has had an incredible impact on my life,” Moore-Wilson said. “I am thankful for the experiences I have been given, and I’m eager to see what comes my way next.”
Story by: Carman Montgomery | Cowboy Journal