Jaylee Rencountre (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe) Graduate Student

My name is Jaylee Rencountre and I am an enrolled members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. I received my Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and Psychology from the University of Denver, and recently earned my Master of Public Health in Indigenous Health from the University of North Dakota. My educational and career journey has always been shaped by the teachings, strength, and resilience of my Lakota/Dakota community.

Growing up in both urban and reservation settings, I witnessed firsthand how inadequate infrastructure and limited resources impact the health of Native families and how transformative sufficient, culturally grounded support can be. These experiences inspired me to pursue a health career focused on Indigenous Medicine, with the long term goal of becoming the first physician in my family. I hope to promote the health and wellbeing of Native youth through culturally rooted approaches to wellness that center cultural revitalization, empowerment, and the strengths of our communities.

In my free time I enjoy dancing at powwows, attending ceremonies on my homelands, and traveling through Indian Country. These connections keep me grounded in who I am and continue to inspire my work as an emerging Native health professional.