Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitSystems Engineer Alisa Hunt-Lowery and I are Native American. More specifically, we are American Indians from the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. And not only are we colleagues, but we are cousins.
We met at a Discovery Summit in San Antonio back when Alisa was a customer – what a fortunate meeting!
November is Native American Heritage Month. It is an opportunity to celebrate the histories and contributions of Native people, and to raise awareness about the challenges Native people continue to face.
I sat down with Alisa (@alisa_h_lowery) to discuss our tribal heritage and how our culture, which emphasizes making connections, has influenced her work with JMP users and with data.
Want to learn more?
This InsideSAS article provides a good overview of the Native peoples of America, as well as an inclusive language guide. There are many Indigenous communities around the world, which you can read about on InsideSAS.
Bonus: A glimpse of Lumbee culture
A celebration of Native American Heritage Month
Feature StoryRe: Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitThank you, Alisa and Jessica, for sharing your story! I loved seeing the family photos and hearing how the community is preserving your cultural traditions and artistry.
Re: Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitThis is so cool. Please be sure to check out @alisa_h_lowery's JMP Public post looking at 2020 US Census data on the population of American Indians and Alaska Natives. Just today, she added a beautiful new visualization focusing on the population in North Carolina.
Re: Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitThanks for sharing your story! It's great to see that you still live the tradition and I'm grateful you shared it with me/us @J_Marquardt and @alisa_h_lowery
Re: Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitAwesome story & thanks for sharing.
Happy Native American Heritage Month to you!
Re: Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitI absolutely love this! Having worked closely with @alisa_h_lowery the past couple of years, I know how passionate she is about her Lumbee culture. I'm not sure how I missed that the two of you were cousins though.
Thank you both for sharing more about your culture and heritage, and happy Native American Heritage Month to you!
Re: Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitWhat a beautiful story. It was wonderful to hear about your families and your traditions.
Re: Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitThanks for sharing your wonderful story, heritage and connection. Happy Native American Month!
RE: Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitAmazing story!
Thanks for sharing.
Re: Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitAunt Mildred 
So cool... Thanks sharing and Happy Native American Heritage Month
Re: Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitThanks for sharing the video @DamianCarville - I've read about that, I think it is referenced in this book or this one.
Re: Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitWonderful story!
Re: Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitThis is delightful, a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing!
I had not heard of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina until a few weeks ago, when this video went viral across the internet - https://youtu.be/3o0Z-RooQ8E . It tells the story of 400 Lumbees fighting back against the KKK, and is told by a Lumbee former special-needs school teacher who is running for Congress. (I have watched it > 20 times!).
(I cannot vote for him, since it's not my district, but I can send him money for his campaign. Just sayin' 
).
Re: Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitWonderful story! Thank you for sharing!
Re: Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitGreat story!
Re: Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitGreat story!
Re: Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitThis was awesome! Such an amazing story!
Re: Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitWhat a great Discovery connection! Happy Native American Heritage Month to both of you and to the Lumbee Tribe!
Re: Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitThank you both for sharing this! Love the connections and reflections on your shared heritage.
Re: Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitGreat story. I love that you met and quickly found out you were related. Go UNCP Braves!
Re: Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitAmazing! Thank you for giving these interesting insights!
Re: Two Cousins and a Discovery SummitThank you @J_Marquardt and JMP for this opportunity to talk about two things I am very passionate about, JMP & my Lumbee culture! We are so fortunate to work for a company where our two worlds can collide, very nicely!
