Skip to Content
Report an accessibility problem
Melissa Nelson

Melissa Nelson

Professor, School of Sustainability, College of Global Futures

Melissa.K.Nelson@asu.edu

480-965-9622

School of Sustainability
Arizona State University
PO Box 875502
Tempe, AZ 85287-5502

Titles

  • Senior Global Futures Scientist, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory
  • Professor, School of Sustainability, College of Global Futures

Biography

Melissa K. Nelson, PhD joined Arizona State University in August 2020. She is a professor of Indigenous Sustainability in the School of Sustainability. Nelson is an Indigenous ecologist, writer, editor, media-maker and scholar-activist. Before joining the School of Sustainability, she served as a professor of American Indian Studies at San Francisco State University (2002 – 2020), specializing in Indigenous Environmental and California Indian Studies. She is a transdisciplinary and community-based scholar dedicated to Indigenous rights and sustainability, biocultural heritage and environmental justice, intercultural solidarity, and the renewal and celebration of community health and cultural arts. Nelson actively advocates for Indigenous Peoples rights and sustainable lifeways in higher education, nonprofits, and philanthropy, and is particularly passionate about Indigenous food sovereignty at local, regional and global levels. Melissa Nelson is Anishinaabe, Cree, Métis, and Norwegian (a proud member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians).

Education

  • PhD, Ecology, emphasis in Ecophilosophy and Native American Environmental Studies, University of California-Davis
  • BA, Ecology, emphasis in Ecophilosophy and Native American Environmental Studies, University of California-Santa Cruz

Expertise

Journal Articles

2019

Nelson, M. K. 2019. Podcasting from the Native Seed Pod: Food sovereignty stories nourish the future. Langscape Magazine 7(2):. (link )

Nelson, M. K. 2019. Wrestling with fire: Indigenous women's resistance and resurgence. Culture and Research Journal 43(3):69-84. DOI: 10.17953/aicrj.43.3.nelson. (link )

2011

Nelson, M. 2011. The future of Native studies: A modest manifesto. American Indian Culture and Research Journal 35(1):39-45. DOI: 10.17953/aicr.35.1.17252383u4r55442. (link )

2008

Luby, E. and M. Nelson. 2008. More than one mask: The context of NAGPRA for museums and tribes. American Indian Culture and Research Journal 32(4):85-105. DOI: 10.17953/aicr.32.4.5912v34g957g4v04. (link )

2006

Nelson, M. 2006. Ravens, storms, and the ecological Indial at the National Museum of the American Indian. Wicazo Sa Review 21(2):41-60. DOI: 10.1353/wic.2006.0021. (link )

2002

Klasky, P. M. and M. K. Nelson. 2002. Storyscapes: Living songs in Native lands. ReVision 25(2):11+. (link )

Nelson, M. 2002. Introduction: Indigenous language revitalization. ReVision Journal 25(2):3-4.

Nelson, M. 2002. Moyla Tuupanga: The moon is in the sky. An interview with L. Frank Manriquez. ReVision Journal 25(2):39-48.

1998

Nelson, M. K. 1998. A psychological impact report for the environmental movement. ReVision 20(4):37-43.

1993

Nelson, M. 1993. Our modern challenge: Exploring alternatives through dialogue and ecological responsibility. Trumpeter 10(2):1-6. (link )

1992

Nelson, M. 1992. An exploration of institution: Its relationship to the deep ecology movement & ecosophy. Trumpeter - Journal of Ecosophy 9(2):83-84. (link )

Books

In Press

Nelson, M. K., J. Hausdoerffer, K. Cummings and B. Hecht eds. What Kind of Ancestor Do you Want to Be?. University of Chicago Press. Chicago, IL.

2018

Nelson, M. K. and D. Shilling eds. 2018. Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Learning from Indigenous Practices for Environmental Sustainability. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, UK. ISBN: 978-1108428569.

2008

Nelson, M. K. 2008. Original Instructions: Indigenous Teachings for a Sustainable Future. Bear & Company. Rochester, VT. ISBN: 978-1591430797.

Book Chapters

In Press

Nelson, M. K. Nourishing. In: Hausdoerffer, J., B. Hecht, K. Cummings and M. K. Nelson eds., What Kind of Ancestor Do You Want to Be?. Chicago University Press.

2018

Nelson, M. K. 2018. Conclusion: Back in our tracks -- Embodying kinship as if the future mattered. Pp. 250-266 In: Nelson, M. K. and D. Shilling eds., Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Learning from Indigenous Practices for Environmental Sustainability. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, UK. ISBN: 978-1108428569.

2017

Nelson, M. K. 2017. Education for the eighth fire: Indigeneity and Native ways of learning. Pp. 49-60 In: Assadourian, E. and L. Mastny eds., Earth Ed: Rethinking Education on a Changing Planet. Island Press. Washington/Covelo/London. ISBN: 1610918428.

Nelson, M. K. 2017. Getting dirty: The eco-eroticism of women in Indigenous oral literatures. Pp. 229-260 In: Barker, J. ed., Critically Sovereign: Indigenous Gendor, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies. Duke University Press. Durham, NC and London. ISBN: 978-0822363651.

Nelson, M. K. and N. Wagenberg. 2017. Linking ancestral seeds and waters to the Indigenous places we inhabit. Pp. 100-122 In: Canty, J. M. ed., Ecological and Social Healing: Multicultural Women's Voices. Taylor & Francis. New York, NY. ISBN: 978-1138193659.

2016

Nelson, M. K. 2016. North America. Pp. 138-147 In: Jenkins, W., M. Tucker and J. Grim eds., Routledge Handbook of Religion and Ecology. Routledge. New York, NY. ISBN: 978-1138789579.

2015

Nelson, M. K. 2015. Indigenous science and traditional ecological knowledge persistence in place. Pp. 188-214 In: Warrior, R. ed., The World of Indigenous North America. Routledge. ISBN: 978-0415879521.

2013

Nelson, M. K. 2013. Protecting the sanctity of Native foods. Pp. 201-209 In: Stark, L. ed., State of the World 2013: Is Sustainability Still Possible?. Island Press. ISBN: 978-1610914499.

Nelson, M. K. 2013. The hydromythology of the Anishinaabeg: Whill Mishipizhu survive climate change or is he creating it?. Pp. 213-236 In: Doerfler, J., N. J. Sinclair and H. K. Stark eds., Centering Anishinaabeg Studies: Understanding the World through Stories. Michigan State University Press. East Lansing, MI. ISBN: 978-1611860672.

2011

Nelson, M. K. 2011. Becoming Metis. In: Deming, A. H. and L. E. Savoy eds., Colors of Nature: Culture, Identity, and the Natural World. Milkweed Editions. ISBN: 978-1571313195.

2010

Nelson, M. K. 2010. Indigenous traditions - North America. In: Jenkins, W. ed., Berkshire Encyclopedia of Sustainability: The Spirit of Sustainability. Berkshire Publishing Group.

2008

Martinez, D., E. Salmon and M. K. Nelson. 2008. Restoring Indigenous history and culture to nature. Pp. 88-115 In: Nelson, M. K. ed., Original Instructions: Indigenous Teachings for a Sustainable Future. Bear & Company. Rochester, VT. ISBN: 978-1591430797.

Nelson, M. K. 2008. Introduction: Lighting the sun of our future -- how these teachings can provide illumination. Pp. 1-21 In: Nelson, M. K. ed., Original Instructions: Indigenous Teachings for a Sustainable Future. Bear & Company. Rochester, VT. ISBN: 978-1591430797.

Nelson, M. K. 2008. Mending the split-head society with trickster consciousness. Pp. 288-297 In: Nelson, M. K. ed., Original Instructions: Indigenous Teachings for a Sustainable Future. Bear & Company. Rochester, VT. ISBN: 978-1591430797.

Nelson, M. K. 2008. Re-Indigenizing our bodies and minds through Native foods. Pp. 180-195 In: Nelson, M. K. ed., Original Instructions: Indigenous Teachings for a Sustainable Future. Bear & Company. Rochester, VT. ISBN: 978-1591430797.

Nelson, M. K. 2008. Rivers of memory, lakes of survival: Indigenous water traditions and the Anishinaabeg Nation. Pp. 67 In: Shaw, S. and A. Francis eds., Deep Blue: Critical Reflections on Natural, Religion and Water. Routledge. ISBN: 978-1845532550.

2006

Nelson, M. K. 2006. Oral tradition, identify, and intergenerational healing through the Southern Paiute salt songs. Pp. 96-110 In: Jolivette, A. ed., Cultural Representation in Native America. AltaMira Press. Lanham, MD. ISBN: 978-0759109858.

2004

Nelson, M. K. 2004. Stopping the war on Mother Earth. In: Ausubel, K. ed., Ecological Medicine: Healing the Earth, Healing Ourselves. Sierra Club Books. ISBN: 978-1578050987.