Written by Jalyn Oxendine
Kalin Despain is a current PhD student at UNC in geography, with a focus on Indigenous ecology. He is part of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and grew up in Oklahoma. Kalin describes Oklahoma as the other “Indian Country” where he has strong familial and social ties.
After completing his undergraduate degree, Kalin found a passion for geography. He decided to get a master’s degree in liberal studies/environmental policy and sustainability management during the COVID-19 pandemic when he felt compelled to do something for his tribal people. He earned his master’s from The New School in New York City. His introduction to Indigenous ecology changed the trajectory of his life including what he wanted to do and experience. After graduate school, he wondered, “How do I do this kind of work,” and that was his lightbulb moment.
Kalin’s educational path stems from his love of teaching. He found this passion when he taught a Native history class. He learned a lot from this class, specifically noting that he wanted control over his own class/classroom.
Carolina was a first-choice school for Kalin when deciding on a PhD program. Many universities don’t have an option for Indigenous ecology studies, but UNC does through its department of geography. One of the advisors for the program talked with Kalin, and that conversation sold him on coming to Carolina. While reflecting on his choice to join geography at UNC, Kalin stated, “They have core values and a desire for equity and environmental justice, we share that knowledge and passion”.
After graduation, Kalin has many options in mind for what he would like to do. He mentions going to either Oklahoma or Colorado to help with their geography departments and gain possible connections. In all, he wants to be in a place where people have a passion for environmental justice and equity.
For Kalin, his end goal is to Indigenize sustainability and facilitate the rematriation of land. He mentions, “We take the reins on our lands, we know the land better. We know how the land interacts with people, and we know how to treat her. The world is failing to do that right now. Indigenous people must drive this issue and advocate for their rights to take care of the land. The government and technology have proved that their best interest isn’t in keeping lands clean and safe”. That’s one reason why Kalin is passionate about including sustainable Indigenous agriculture in his studies and incorporating it into a greater policy.
Kalin’s goals this year include attending a conference being held in Norway. He hopes to spend his time over the next few months focused on preparing the groundwork for and writing a paper for the conference. Other than that, he hopes to strive in his classes and take advantage of the opportunities as a graduate student. There’s a movement on campus he’s looking forward to being involved with called the Landback/Abolition Project.
Reading is a big stress-reliever for Kalin. His favorite genres are fantasy and sci-fi. The Wheel of Time is what he’s reading now which includes 14 fantasy books. He also loves to play soccer with the Triangle community.
When asked about his proudest accomplishments, Kalin says there are two. On the academic side, getting a master’s degree was huge for him. He recognizes how far he has come since being an undergraduate student. He mentioned, “I realigned my values and noticed what was good and great and that’s how I got myself to where I am now.” His performance and achievements were a stepping-stone to the program he’s currently in at UNC. A social accomplishment he’s proud of is marrying his partner. He stated, “We push each other to achieve excellence, and, in that process, we learn a lot together.”
Kalin is mainly involved in Indigenous activism. He’s a part of the Landback movement, and excited to continue working with the Native community on campus. He would like the campus community to know that Native people on this campus are present and always doing cool stuff. He shared that the Landback/Abolition Project is always holding events and is a place for anyone who’s interested in history and social justice. “Just check out the Native students on campus. Just by being Native, we’re politicized and there’s a whole history behind us. We are here and we are doing great things”.