Melanie M. Kirby

I have travelled many a bumpy road, in the darkest of nights, in service to relatives of sweet starlight. I migrate with them, like a shepherdess with her flock of winged midwives. A fellow follower of the bloom, a self-proclaimed Nectar Nomad. My heritage is a mosaic of mixed Indigenous and Caribbean which inspires my quest to better understand and integrate diverse knowledge systems and stewardship. The bees found me close to 30 years ago and continue to captivate my curious mind. I learn so much from stewards who inspire me to continue learning from the land, and bees.

I believe being of service is essential for conservation. I serve as the Extension Educator and Pollinator Specialist at the Institute of American Indian Arts leading Tribal Beekeeping and Pollinator Stewardship programs, consilience research, and creative science communication integrating traditional ecological knowledge with regenerative science principles. Inspired by the interconnected landscapes and communities of northern New Mexico, I am the founder of Poeh Povi: The Flower Path Collective of Indigenous Matriarchs working in community to create seed sanctuaries for pollinator habitat regeneration in response to climate change impacts. And I participate in various tribal, regional, national, and international organizations, sharing knowledge and skills to support. I am humbled and grateful that my enthusiasm to serve as a guide connecting people, places, and pollinators through research and education integrates art, science, and stewardship to support healthy landscapes, biodiversity conservation, and mentorship of the next generation of diverse stewards, scientists, and storytellers.

I’m a scientist and philosopher by education, a bee farmer by trade, and an artist at heart. My fascination of ecosystem stewardship where creation and culture coalesce inspires my journey across communities, of which I owe so much to bees and stewards for their guidance. Bees continue to connect me with beekeepers world-wide. My inspiration for integrating science and art and stewardship to share stories that bear seeds of hope and possibility for coming generations is founded in the interconnected relationships between each other, our plant and animal relatives, and to our beloved planet. Interconnected relationships open my senses to the broader concepts and ramifications of how my evolving role as an explorer and storyteller committed to developing a sense of respect for place and with a purpose of nurturing reciprocity.