Colby Community College criminal justice instructor and anthropologist Dr. Linda Davis-Stephens presented her research at the World Anthropological Union 2025 Congress, held November 3–8 in Antigua, Guatemala. She delivered her presentation virtually via Zoom. This marked the sixth time in her career that Davis-Stephens has presented to the WAU.

The theme of this year’s congress was “Unearthing Humanity: Critical and Urgent Epistemic Redefinitions in World Anthropologies,” and more than 100 panels met in person and online. Her paper, titled “Cheyenne Action Anthropology — Doing Justice,” was featured during the panel on Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Development.

Davis-Stephens’ work explored Cheyenne action anthropology, a decades-long effort rooted in cultural identity, student-of-the-community research, and the preservation of Indigenous law, dignity, and land-based traditions. Her presentation highlighted how Cheyenne-Tsistsistas youth carry the weight of historical trauma while also navigating present-day challenges. The research documented efforts toward reconciliation, repatriation, and reparations, and emphasized that justice must be grounded in cultural integrity and community memory.

She brings these lessons into the classroom at Colby Community College with the intention of engaging students to view history and culture through a global lens. Through service-learning projects, her students create personal digital narratives that connect coursework to community engagement and lived experience.

For more information on her research, contact Dr. Linda Davis-Stephens at linda.davis-stephens@colbycc.edu.