Choctaw student 'finds her tribe' during year of study at UCC

Native American student Skylee Glass said she made friends for life during her time in Cork

Skylee Glass, a native of Oklahoma, who has graduated with a masters in applied psychology at UCC at the Kindred Spirits monument to the Choctaw tribe in Midleton, Co Cork. Pictures: Eddie O'Hare

A Native American student who worked with an autism charity and Irish Travellers during a special Government scholarship at University College Cork (UCC) said she found her tribe and friends for life here.

Choctaw-Ireland scholar Skylee Glass, 24, from Verden in Southwest Oklahoma, was speaking as she brought her father, Dion, to visit the Choctaw-inspired Kindred Spirits sculpture in East Cork, ahead of her graduation on Wednesday with a masters in applied psychology from UCC.

“It makes me feel seen here," she said. 

Skylee Glass, her father Dion Glass and Dr Sharon Lambert, centre, senior lecturer at the school of Applied Psychology.

"Where I come from, I’m the minority so coming here and seeing how minority groups come together was very interesting to see.

“We in the Choctaw Nation have our own government but we are still treated poorly by the federal government.

And when I met women from the Traveller Visibility Group and heard about their stories, their history, I felt that was like our story, our history.

“I have also made great friends during my time here, I have met friends for life, like a new family.

"One of my great friends, Aoife Temple, and I reckon my ancestors may have helped her ancestors in Cork during the Famine, and that's just incredible to think about. We are like kindred spirits.” 

Scholarship programme

The Choctaw-Ireland scholarship programme, which includes tuition and expenses for a full year of study for two Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma students each year, was launched by the Irish government in 2017 to recognise the act of generosity and humanitarianism shown by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma towards the people of Ireland during the Great Famine of the mid 19th-century.

The Choctaw were barely a decade off the Trail of Tears — the forced relocation of about 100,000 native Americans in five tribes from their indigenous lands to territory west of the Mississippi River, during which an estimated 15,000 people died — when they heard news of the suffering in Ireland.

They collected the equivalent to $5,000 today, and sent it through churches to the Irish people.

Skylee with her father Dion Glass.

Skylee, who graduated a state academic champion from Anadarko High School in 2018, and from the University of Central Oklahoma with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology in 2022, applied for the scholarship and was selected.

Her master’s thesis explored education, intercultural and community work but she also completed a six-month placement outside of academic time with the autism charity, the Rainbow Club, and she engaged with the Traveller Visibility Group’s Traveller Pride event.

She said the scholarship had expanded her worldview, and challenged, encouraged, and empowered her.

Once home, she hopes to continue her studies and open her own mental healthcare organisation for underprivileged individuals.

Dr Sharon Lambert, a senior lecturer in applied psychology at UCC, said Skylee had made outstanding contributions to UCC and Ireland during her time here.

Skylee will graduate alongside fellow Choctaw scholar Aurianna Jewell Joines, who will be conferred with a masters in digital arts and humanities.

Her thesis explored the importance of storytelling within tribal culture through digital multimedia environments.

“I was challenged but encouraged through my work at UCC and my time there was a gift that I will reflect on throughout my life," she said.

“I have since started my brand design studio, Foundwell Design, where I create brands and websites for heart-led businesses rooted in storytelling. I am deeply thankful to be working with small businesses, many of which are a part of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.”