Academic and Editorial Contributions
Documentation of Indigenous systems contributes to global discussions on biodiversity, climate adaptation, land stewardship, and Indigenous knowledge systems. Through field documentation, research, and conceptual work, this platform presents contributions to global academic and editorial discussions, including:
Zabriskie, Stephanie (2026) “Separating Access Legitimacy from Utilization Analytics: A Two-Layer Evaluation Model for Philanthropy and Development,” Journal of Nonprofit Innovation: - Forthcoming April 2026
Earth-Responsive Material Transformation: The Chorotega System as a Heritage Ecosystem - Forthcoming October 2026
At the Wells: Water Access, Labour, and Order in Maasai Nomadic Pastoral Life - Forthcoming 2026
Invisible Infrastructure: Operationalizing Sustainable Development Through Indigenous Systems - Forthcoming 2026
Original Books
A children’s book adapted from a traditional Maasai oral story. It preserves Indigenous storytelling traditions while supporting early literacy, cultural representation, and language learning through stories rooted in community knowledge. (Zabriskie & Mollel, 2025)
A traditional Malagasy creation story, shared through oral tradition for generations.In this story, the sky and the earth work together to create people, giving them both body and life. It explains the relationship between land and sky, and why people belong to both. (Zabriskie & Saboaty, 2025)
A children's picture book about belonging, community, and the value of different ways of learning, sensing, and understanding the world. Set in an African village shaped by Indigenous wisdom, the story follows a group of children who each experience life differently. (Zabriskie & Washington, 2026)
Author and Research Lead
The framework and documentation presented on this platform are developed through the work of Stephanie Zabriskie, whose research examines Indigenous systems, governance, climate adaptation, and access within global development contexts. Her publications explore how Indigenous systems inform broader discussions related to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and community-based approaches to development.
Her role includes supporting Indigenous peoples and societies in documenting, organizing, and sharing their knowledge within global forums when they wish to do so, with their approval and in accordance with their knowledge sovereignty. This work seeks to ensure that knowledge is attributed to the appropriate knowledge holders and Indigenous societies, and that it remains held, stewarded, and shared on terms determined by them. ORCID: 0009-0000-9273-1529
Indigenous Systems and Global Knowledge
Indigenous systems represent some of the longest-standing governance and ecological knowledge systems in the world.
Understanding how these systems function is increasingly important as global institutions confront challenges related to climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and sustainable development.
By documenting Indigenous systems and engaging with global research and policy communities, this platform seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of how Indigenous knowledge and governance systems can inform global discussions about sustainability, resilience, and environmental stewardship.