Biography
Kyann Dedman-Cisco (Diné) is from Pinon, Arizona and she is born for Kin?ichiinii (Red House Clan) and Táb??há (Water Edge Clan). Her maternal Grandfather clan is To’aheedliinii (Water Flows Together Clan) and her paternal grandfather is Naakai Diné’e (Mexican clan). She joined the Center for Indigenous Health in November of 2021 as a Research Assistant in Chinle, Arizona on Project SafeSchools.
Prior to joining the Center, Kyann worked on the Navajo Nation as a COVID-19 Contact Tracer. In her experience, she has seen the mental health challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the Diné people on the Navajo Nation. She has helped guide people to mental health services, medical services, getting resources, and doing daily check-in to check on their overall health and well-being.
Kyann received her BS degree in Public Health from Dine College. Currently, she is a graduate student at Northern Arizona University in the Master of Public Health program. She aims to incorporate cultural knowledge and values into research for the purpose of improving Indigenous health and following a Hozhó (Beautiful) way of life. In her free time she loves to listen to true crime podcasts, take walks with her dogs, and teach her daughter how to make Dine traditional food.