Meranda Owens (Northern Paiute/Mexican American) is a post-doc at the Field Museum working on the renovations of the Native American Hall. She recently earned her PhD in Native American Studies from the University of California, Riverside. Her research has focused on examining how Native American women from several tribal communities in California and Nevada use ancestral forms of basketry to maintain their tribal histories, languages, and cultures. Her dissertation, Resiliency of Native American Women Basket Weavers: California and Nevada, is already under consideration for a book contract.

  We are very proud of Dr. Owens, and look forward to seeing what she will accomplish. Find her here, and watch for the Fields’ interview for more about her work.