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Robin Maxkii

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Robin Maxkii
Robin Maxkii in February 2016
Born (1990-11-08) November 8, 1990 (age 34)
Occupations
  • writer
  • filmmaker
  • activist
Years active2014–present

Robin Maxkii (born November 8, 1990) is a Native American technology activist, filmmaker, and writer.[1] Maxkii is known primarily for her work on broadening the participation of Native Americans in education and technology.[2][3] She co-starred in the Microsoft-funded[4] PBS series "Code Trip"[5] showcasing diversity within the technology industry. In 2016 Máxkii organized and directed the first national American Indian collegiate hackathon,[6] focused on addressing the digital divide and access to technology in rural and under served communities. Two years later, Google launched a documentary about her journey in technology.[7]

Personal life

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Robin Máxkii is of Stockbridge-Munsee, Navajo, Mohican and Spanish descent.[8] Maxkii taught herself to code using public library computers [9] from the age of eleven[10] and began running various websites utilizing free Web hosting services. In 2014 Maxkii graduated [11] from Diné College, a tribal college, and later Salish Kootenai College located on the Flathead Indian Reservation.[12]

Career

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2014–2018: Early work

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In 2014, her blogging network "Blood Quantum Reform" was shortlisted to join the United Nations Global Partnership for Youth. Maxkii used her blog to raise awareness on issues within Indian country primarily related to blood quantum, education access, and tribal sovereignty.[13]

Around 2014, while still a tribal college student, she co-produced and narrated a segment[14] of the Navajo Oral History[15] project which is now archived in the Smithsonian.[16]

In 2015, she was invited to introduce Dr. Jill Biden at a national Conference.[17][18][19] Dr. Biden praised Maxkii's writing, encouraging people to read her work.[20]

Maxkii had participated in a number of hackathons before being cast in the Microsoft funded documentary series Code_Trip,[21] which premiered nationally in 2016. She, along with two other people, traveled across the country interviewing people in the technology industry.[22] Maxkii used this platform to gain support for events focused on American Indians in technology.

In November 2016, Maxkii successfully directed the first national American Indian Collegiate hackathon,[23] focused on addressing the digital divide and access to the Internet by rural and underserved communities.[24]

2018–present

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In 2018, Google produced and launched a documentary[25] about her journey in technology for their 20th anniversary.[26] Marking only the 2nd time a living Native American featured on the Google Homepage.[27]

Highlighting diversity in technology and celebrating sisterhood, Maxkii appeared on the Girls Who Code "Sisterh>>d" album,[28] which also featured tracks by Lizzo, Tiffany Gouché, and DJ Khalil. It launched on October 11, 2018.[29]

The American Indian College Fund and work with Indigenous rights

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Maxkii was named an ambassador to the American Indian College Fund (AICF) in 2016,[30] and began work with the 'Think Indian' campaign. The AICF 'Think Indian' campaign seeks to "tell the story of how America’s 32 accredited tribal colleges and American Indian students are combining traditional Native solutions with modern knowledge to solve contemporary problems."[31] She has spoken out on education disparity, including speaking before the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and has advocated for equal opportunity among students of color, Indigenous students in particular.[32] She also appeared in a series of ads for the College Fund which included a billboard spot in New York's Times Square.[33]

Literary works

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Contributor to Tribal College Journal,[34] The Chronicle of Higher Education,[35] Michelle Obama's Better Make Room[36][37][38] campaign, and various online publications. She was a recipient of the Native American Journalists Association Award in 2018.[39]

Awards

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Her work has also earned various awards including invitations to events at the White House under the Obama Administration.[40] In 2016 she was nominated to attend the United State of Women Summit hosted by the White House as a changemaker.[41]

References

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  1. ^ Landry, Alysa (March 14, 2015). "Native Student Attributes Success to Community College". Indian Country Today. Indian Country Today Media Network. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  2. ^ Yurth, Cindy (September 14, 2015). "Trippy Techies". Navajo Times. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  3. ^ Brown, Toyacoyah. "Inspiring Natives to Take Computer Science Classes". PowWows. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  4. ^ "Roadtrip Nations Code Trip Sponsored by Microsoft Youthspark is on the Move". Microsoft. July 31, 2015.
  5. ^ "CodeTrip Official Website". 2015.
  6. ^ "Inspires and Excels". KPAX. Archived from the original on 2017-01-04.
  7. ^ "How a self-taught coder became an advocate for her community | Google". www.google.com. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  8. ^ "Mohican News". Stockbridge-Munsee.
  9. ^ "Hacking her way past Google". IndianCountryToday.com. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  10. ^ Devlin, Vince (September 14, 2015). "Latest Detour Takes Her Across America". Missoulian. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  11. ^ "Dine College 2014 Graduation Ceremony". Dine College. May 1, 2014. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  12. ^ "Steering Her on Her Journey". American Indian College Fund. October 1, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  13. ^ "Global Call on Youth". United Nations. February 20, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  14. ^ Tom Grier, Kee Etsicitty - Navajo Code Talker - Living History, retrieved 2018-12-09
  15. ^ "Preserving the Wisdom: The Navajo Oral History Project". Tribal College Journal of American Indian Higher Education. 2014-02-07. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  16. ^ "Clarifying connections: Navajo Oral History – Smithsonian Libraries Unbound". Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  17. ^ "Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Dr. Jill Biden". whitehouse.gov. February 20, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2016 – via National Archives.
  18. ^ Landry, Alysa (March 14, 2015). "Native Student Attributes Success to Community College". Indian Country Today. Indian Country Today Media Network. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  19. ^ "National Science Foundation". 2015. Archived from the original on 2017-01-04.
  20. ^ "Achieve the Dream Speech". YouTube. 2015.
  21. ^ "Microsoft Blog: CodeTrip The Road Trip of a Lifetime". 2015.
  22. ^ Landry, Alysa (November 3, 2016). "Summer of Exploration". Indian Country Today. Indian Country Today Media Network. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  23. ^ "American Indian Science and Engineering Society". 2016.
  24. ^ "Student Serves as Inspiration to Others". KTVQ. November 11, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  25. ^ Google, Ep 7: Between Worlds | SEARCH ON, retrieved 2018-12-09 {{citation}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  26. ^ "How a self-taught coder became an advocate for her community | Google". www.google.com. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  27. ^ "Finding community this Native American Heritage Month". Google. 2018-11-09. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  28. ^ "Girls Who Code Shares Soundtrack to Female Empowerment With 'Sisterh>>d' Visual Album". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  29. ^ "Girls Who Code Drops a New Digital-Visual Album to Celebrate 'Modern Sisterhood'". www.adweek.com. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  30. ^ "2016 - 2017 Annual Report". Issuu. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
  31. ^ "Think Indian public service advertisement campaign launches". American Indian College Fund | Native American Scholarships. 2009-01-26. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
  32. ^ "Help Combat Anti-Indigenous Racism By Becoming An Ally". www.indigenouspeoples-sdg.org. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
  33. ^ American Indian College Fund, American Indian College Fund in New York Times Square, retrieved 2018-12-10
  34. ^ "Tribal College Journal: Authors". Tribal College Journal. June 14, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  35. ^ Máxkii, Robin (2017-09-17). "Why I Attended Tribal College". The Chronicle of Higher Education. ISSN 0009-5982. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  36. ^ "How Tribal College Education Became My Medicine". Better Make Room. 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  37. ^ "The First Lady Announces 'Better Make Room' Campaign". Black Enterprise. 2015-10-19. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  38. ^ "Michelle Obama Recruits TV, Digital Heavyweights For 'Better Make Room' Campaign". Variety. 2015-10-19. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  39. ^ "NAJA announces 2018 NAJF class - Native American Journalists Association". www.naja.com. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  40. ^ Beeks, Kathi (December 21, 2016). "Blood Quantum Who Says Who You Are". Valley Journal. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  41. ^ "The 2018 USOW Summit". The United State of Women. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
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