Kianna Big Crow

Kianna Big Crow is Oglála Lakȟóta from the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. In May of 2026, she earned her Master of Public Policy from the University of Maryland, building on her B.A. in Economics and Native American and Indigenous Studies from the University of Minnesota-Morris. 

During her time at Morris, Kianna worked closely with the Pine Ridge-based, Očéti Wakȟáŋ curriculum, supporting efforts to bring Lakota/Dakota/Nakota history, cultures, and perspectives into classrooms across South Dakota. This experience shaped her commitment to Indigenous education and strengthened her belief in the importance of preserving and advancing Indigenous knowledge through educational and institutional spaces. 

That commitment has continued to guide her work as a scholar and advocate. Her graduate research for the National Indian Education Association examined the implementation of the Johnson-O’Malley program and the ways federal Indian education policy, funding, and tribal governance intersect and affect Native students and communities. Across her work, Kianna is passionate about tribal sovereignty, self-determination, and ensuring Indigenous communities have the opportunity to shape the decisions that affect their futures.