Abel Ruiz is originally from the community of Tlachichila, Zacatecas, Mexico and he treats Santa Ana, Califas, as his second home. His research interests include (but are not limited to): the application of Geographic Information System (GIS) for indigenous empowerment, indigenous countermapping, decolonization theory, and NAGPRA.
Robin Thomas
Robin Thomas is a Ph.D. candidate in Native American Studies. She lives in Ukiah, California, which is on traditional lands of Pomo peoples. Her dissertation focus is on Native American student labor at Sherman Institute, as well as the work of families, tribes and communities in reclaiming students from the boarding schools during the first half of the twentieth century. Her research interests include community labor and self-determination; practical approaches to decolonization, repatriation and protecting sacred sites; and land reclamation for Native peoples. She received her M.A. in history from Sonoma State University in 2005.