Claymore Kills First, Pharm.D. (Oglala Sioux Tribe and Mnicoujou Lakota) and Cinnamon Kills First (Northern Cheyenne); Indigenous Perspectives on Cancer Treatment and Caregiving
Thursday, March 12th, 3 - 5 PM in the Skaggs Building Room 169 and . Indigenous Perspectives on Cancer Treatment and Caregiving. Additional information regarding the lecture can be found on the the and the for the event.
Both Dr. Claymore Kills First and Cinnamon Kills First's lectures can be found on the NACOE YouTube page:
This lecture is hosted by the Native American Center of Excellence (NACOE) in collaboration with the L.S. Skaggs Institute for Health Innovation, 猎奇重口 Area Health Education Center, and the Family Medicine Residency of Western 猎奇重口.
These sessions are designed to support culturally affirming practices across all health disciplines and to foster a deeper understanding of Indigenous approaches to wellness. Claymore and Cinnamon Kills First's visit highlights UM’s commitment to advancing Indigenous health equity through research, education, and community partnerships.
Claymore Kills First, Pharm.D., is an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Mnicoujou Lakota. Dr. Kills First is a Research Assistant Professor in the Division of Oncological Sciences and board certified oncology pharmacist. His research focuses on identifying and addressing disparities in cancer care for Indigenous populations, including identifying genomic and familial components that increase cancer risk. His projects are built on true collaboration with tribal communities and governments with a focus on equitable research that upholds tribal data sovereignty. This collaboration promotes tribal member input in research design and utilizes community and cultural resources to increase access to healthcare.
Cinnamon Kills First, MFA, MALS, (Northern Cheyenne) is a word warrior and public speaker. She weaves hard truths together with somatic literacy (body awareness) to create reckoning in the bodies of her audiences, in order to make way for healing.
As co-creator of Breaths Together for a Change (BTC), Cinnamon piloted an anti-racist, meta-somatic and meditation-based healing program designed to decolonize white bodies. The BTC model treats racism as a disease in the body. Cinnamon's team submitted a science poster to the 2021 International Meditation Festival at Dongkuk University in Seoul, Korea and earned second prize.
Cinnamon has since created Oniya Wicozani, an Indigenouscentric, somatic meditation-based historical trauma healing modality. This model integrates cultural teachings and nervous system regulation techniques to build emotional capacity in Indigenous bodies. Cinnamon is currently writing a book about this healing modality while mentoring six new leaders who are currently facilitating Wave 5 of this healing movement.
Cinnamon received her BA and MALS from Dartmouth College and her Master of Fine Arts from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. She's designed one immersive theater performance, produced three documentary films, has three children's books published with Scholastic, and is collaborating with the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP) on a children's book series featuring Native physicians.