Cutcha Risling Baldy

Dr. Cutcha Risling Baldy  is an Assistant Professor of Native American Studies at Cal Poly Humboldt. Her research is focused on Indigenous feminisms, California Indians, and decolonization. She received her Ph.D. in Native American Studies with a Designated Emphasis in Feminist Theory and Research from the University of California, Davis and her M.F.A. in Creative Writing & Literary Research from San Diego State University. She also has her B.A. in Psychology from Stanford University. 

Dr. Risling Baldy's forthcoming book takes an in-depth and often personal look at the revitalization of women’s coming of age ceremonies as a decolonizing praxis that (re)writes, (re)rights and (re)rites Indigenous epistemologies of gender and demonstrates how these ceremonies support self-determination. Her continuing research focuses on #IndigenousHashtagActivism movements to intervene on national discourse. She is the author of a popular blog that explores issues of social justice, history and California Indian politics and culture.  www.cutcharislingbaldy.com/blog   ​

Dr. Risling Baldy is Hupa, Yurok and Karuk and an enrolled member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe in Northern California.  In 2007, she co-founded the Native Women's Collective, a nonprofit organization that supports the continued revitalization of Native American arts and culture.