I’m Atsei Cooper and I’m Kituwah. I live in my ancestral homelands in the Great Smoky Mountains. (Our government name is Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians). I have a cute little family and gadugi means everything to me. I organize for Qualla Boundary MMIW and Unequolada. Recently I got accepted into grad school to pursue my masters in archaeology. Archaeology is certainly problematic but there is a great need for Indigenous archaeologists in this world. I am the former registrar for the Museum of the Cherokee People and I worked on the NAGPRA inventory there. Recently my botany internship ended with the forest service and the tribe. So now I get to make art as my full time job! 

Just some fun facts about me is that I love plants, animals, old things, skating, and shoes that make me look taller than I am.