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Dr. Yekuhsi·yó Rosa King

Founder, Executive Director,
and Head Instructor of Teshakonatnʌtshotalhu 

akaulhá/akowʌ·/she/her/hers

Rosa is a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and a member of the turtle clan and was born and raised on the Oneida reservation. Rosa’s Oneida name is Yekuhsiyo meaning, “she has a nice face”.

thó nú· akliwá·ke 'that's where about me' (Biography)

“Language is medicine and can be used to heal our community.”

 - Dr. Yekuhsi·yó Rosa King's personal philosophy on Indigenous language reclamation.

is the founder and Executive Director of Skaˀnikú·lat, Inc.,  an Indigenous women-led nonprofit dedicated to restoring community wellness through Oneida language-medium education, outreach, and advocacy. Recognizing the deep impacts of settler-colonialism on her community, Dr. King established Skaˀnikú·lat, Inc. to promote healing through language revitalization. She also serves as a head instructor for the Teshakonatnʌtshotalhu Oneida language-medium school which operates within Skaˀnikú·lat. She is a licensed American Indian Language educator through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and also serves as an adjunct instructor at the College of Menominee Nation, teaching Oneida Language, History, and Treaties course. Dr. King is currently a 2024-2026 Changemaker Fellow with NDN Collective, where she advances her philosophy that “language is medicine” as an essential tool for healing Indigenous communities.

She has dedicated nearly 14 years to both teaching and learning the Oneida language, focusing on language documentation, revitalization, Oneida philosophy, cultural reclamation, resource development, teacher training, and language-medium programming for children and adults. Dr. King's teaching experience spans diverse settings, including public schools, Tribal schools, and Tribal colleges, where she has taught in both language-medium and second-language acquisition environments. Her expertise includes an array of skills ranging from Oneida language revitalization to language-medium education, language and decolonial pedagogies, curriculum and program design, community wellness, healing, Traditional Knowledge, ancestral art forms, Indigenous-based research, matriarchal leadership, advocacy, community-building, and Indigenous organizational development. Drawing on her experience as an Oneida language-medium educator, Dr. King combines a deep respect for Traditional Knowledge with innovative pedagogical approaches and community-driven strategies. Her work honors the importance of the Oneida language while leveraging Indigenous-based education methods and research to create effective language-medium programs, responsive curricula, and sustainable pathways for language revitalization. As lifelong learner of the Oneida language, she also integrates academic research, decolonial frameworks, and hands-on cultural practices. All of this combined fosters a holistic approach to create proficient speakers and ultimately reclaim language as a tool for healing and empowerment. It is her personal belief that Indigenous languages contain Traditional Knowledge which can be used as ethical and practical solutions that address global challenges that affect all people. 

Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Arts in American Indian Studies from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, a Master’s degree in Tribal Administration and Governance from the University of Minnesota Duluth, and a Doctorate in First Nations Education from the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. Her doctoral research, titled “Ukwaka·lá·: My Relational Journey of Reclaiming the Oneida Language” which examined the experiences of Oneida language educators and outlined intrapersonal strategies for prospective learners.

Rosa enjoys hanging out with her cat and dog, family, friends, and watching the Green Bay Packers and other Wisconsin sports teams. Rosa enjoys binge watching documentaries on Netflix, working out, boba bubble teas, coffee, and snacks. Rosa regularly attends longhouse ceremonies with the Oneida community and relative communities across Iroquois country. Rosa is also an award winning artist, and has a background in traditional Iroquois arts, specifically sewing regalia, moccasin making, and raised beadwork. 

Contact

Interested in learning more about Skaˀnikú·lat, Inc? Let's connect!

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