December 11, 2023
Cheyenne Durant’s journey to a meaningful and rewarding career as a storytelling specialist for the Chickasaw Nation began at Mayville State University. Durant, whose hometown is Ada, Okla., earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Mayville State in 2017. She pursued a major in biology and a minor in sociology.
In her work, which began in June of 2021, Durant researches Chickasaw culture, as well as the symbolism in traditional stories and how they continue to have an impact today. She credits her experience as a research assistant at Mayville State University with helping her find culturally significant information in ethnobiology papers. She says this would have been difficult if she hadn’t had the knowledge of deciphering academic research papers.
“My experiences with speaking at conferences and in poster sessions was vital in my ability to present and share our traditional stories during many of our events,” said Cheyenne.
Durant teaches a culture class involving traditional indigenous histories through the Americas.
As a student at Mayville State, Durant was a research assistant to Dr. Khwaja Hossain, Mayville State Professor of Biology, INBRE researcher, ND-ACES researcher, and current chair of the Division of Science and Mathematics. Through this experience, Durant was able to help with the overarching goal to provide better health for disadvantaged communities by increasing the nutritional value of staple crop plants. In another project, she assisted in providing a potentially ecologically safe plastic.
“I’ve always wanted to help both people and the environment, and Dr. Hossain’s work allowed me to achieve that,” said Cheyenne. “Not only was I able to work in the lab with Dr. Hossain, but I was also given the opportunity to travel across the United States and Canada to present our research findings.”
While a student at Mayville State, Durant also had the unforgettable experience of traveling and studying in Japan, a project led by former Mayville State faculty member Dr. Aaron Kingsbury.
“My confidence in research, interviews, and discussions with people with diverse world views grew from my experiences in Japan. I still talk about it today,” said Durant. “I also was able to travel to Belize with a Mayville State study group and enjoyed helping in the villages there. I’ve always loved the rainforests and the university helped me fulfill my dream of visiting one.”
Cheyenne is grateful to her mentor, Dr. Hossain, who provided opportunities that she had not ever been offered while studying at other universities. She said his training taught her many skills that are integral to her current work, such as how to lead laboratory procedures, write for scientific journals and research proposals, and how to present detailed information to diverse audiences.
“He helped me get into graduate school and earn my master’s degree,” said Durant. “I will always be thankful for his support and guidance. I wouldn’t be where I am now without his faith in me.”
Durant also recognizes Dr. Aaron Kingsbury and current Mayville State faculty members Lona Smith and Dr. Joseph Mehus for their contributions to her Mayville State experience.
“Lona Smith’s knowledge of the societal challenges of the United States and her brilliantly positive outlook helped me to understand and appreciate cultures throughout the world. In addition, the wit and sense of humor of Mayville State’s Dr. Joseph Mehus made my classes even more engaging.”
Cheyenne Durant’s goals for the future include helping spread awareness of the Chickasaw tribe and Southeastern Indigenous cultures. She knows that sharing the knowledge of these cultures can help other fields of research (such as sciences), and thus improve the well-being of people and the earth.
“Cheyenne Durant is making our world a better place, and we are extremely happy to know that her experiences at Mayville State University helped to spur her success and drive to make a difference for others,” said Mayville State University President Dr. Brian Van Horn. “This is a wonderful example of how the personal service experienced at Mayville State has a ripple effect as students graduate, leave the university, and pursue their careers. We thank Cheyenne for her commendable work and look forward to hearing more about the positive impact she is making.”