A portion of Ms. Bushnell's statement:

"I focus on questions and problems that have been forwarded by community elders and bring knowledge from the academy to join with knowledge from conversations with Indian people. . . . questions that I have been given the task of studying are: 'How is it different to raise our children on the reservation rather than in the city?' and 'I know some elders who have something to say to you people in college, will you write down their words and share them?' These questions need attention at both practical and theoretical levels.

"For years my efforts were engaged in very practical actions--providing health care, working in community gardens, supporting traditional gatherings and political activities.  In the past four years I am moving more into the level of ideas and theory.  From my years of movement work I am now using these networks to spread a web of perspective and information in all the places where my presence is felt.  I am asked to talk at gatherings and meetings about what I have learned from school, from elders and how I put these knowledges together to explain issues we address.

"I hope to provide a better way of centering American Indian women's knowledges and bring them into the academic discourses at a more equal level than where I currently find them. 

"Within the indigenous community I continue involvement in a number of organizations and movements such as Native People's Alliance--a Seattle activist group, United Indian of All Tribes Foundation, Incite! Women of Color Against Violence and Indigenous Women's Network.  My graduate studies give me new knowledges that I can bring to these efforts.  Along with practical experience I share relevant and useful information about the various histories of the oppressions that we fight."