Environment & Culture Department
Our Mission
We work across programmatic areas – Water Resources, Air Quality, Fish, and Apiary – to build and share knowledge about Tribal environmental and cultural resources. Our team is dedicated to serving the Tribal community, from Upper Mattaponi Youth to respected Elders.
Our Vision
Our department hopes to reunite Tribal Citizens with their environment and culture by studying, managing, and reacquiring Ancestral resources.
Our Values
We combine modern science and anthropology with Indigenous Knowledge to enhance understanding, respect, and stewardship towards Tribal natural resources. Our department values transparency and collaboration through community-supported initiatives.
Meet Our Team!
We stand united as stewards of the land, honoring Upper Mattaponi heritage while actively contributing to a healthier planet for future generations of Tribal Citizens.
Andria "Andi" Greene | Environmental Director
I’m a field scientist with expertise in water and wetlands resources. I’ve done research on the West and East coasts and taught undergraduates in the field of earth and environmental sciences. I believe all tribal nations deserve water security – that is safe and abundant drinking and recreational waters. I love to ride horseback and fly fish, and I’m a big fiction reader! Read about the science I’ve contributed to at andigreene.com.
Johnathan Oxendine | Environmental Technician
Hello! I’m a new scientist who is leading the air quality program for the tribe. I also do beekeeping for the tribe, which I think is much cooler, but I do love all aspects of science, which I often incorporate when I think about some nerdy series I enjoy, like Pokémon!
Liz Buikema | Environmental Specialist
Hey! I am an environmental scientist specializing in stream and lake water quality. I especially love coding in R where I can make the data we collect more accessible to everyone. I hope to make a positive impact on the environment we share and to make it healthier than we found it. In my free time I like hanging outside with my dog, Phoebe, reading, and knitting.
Lane Eubank | Fisheries Technician
My name is Lane but if you know me, they call me wolf! I am a tribal citizen of the Chickahominy tribe and an avid outdoorsmen, starting at 5 y.o. - anything from hunting, fishing, trapping etc. My current position is Fisheries Technician. I have spent my last 2.5 years at two different fish hatcheries: King and Queen Fish Hatchery (state) and Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery (federal). I have found my passion in studying fisheries. I was brought up working different trades like: electrical, controls, HVAC & plumbing. I believe I am able to diagnose and see things from a different aspect with these essential tools (years of experience) under my belt! Just like undergrad and/or grad students can observe things in different ways that I cannot. Because of this, I am very compatible with my team at UMT and I also feel my insight as a scientist is highly valued! I look forward to building our tribal hatchery, the tribal community, and to continue establishing myself - as a Fisheries Technician.
Conor Real | Environmental Operations Manager
Hello! My name is Conor Real and I'm proud to serve as the Environmental Operations Manager in the Environment & Culture Department of the Upper Mattaponi Tribe. My degree in Anthropology has given me the foundation to understand diverse cultures, their traditions, and their interactions with the environment, while years of experience in sales and management have honed my skills in organization, problem-solving, and leadership – all of which I am eager to apply to the Department's administrative needs. Outside of work, I enjoy the outdoors and love to travel, whether it is going on cruises or camping with my family. Playing the traditional game of shinny with the Powhatan Shinny League has also become one of my favorite pastimes. My connection to the Upper Mattaponi tribal community runs deep, as I am married to a tribal citizen and have two tribal citizen children. Therefore, I am wholeheartedly committed to contributing meaningfully to the Tribe's efforts in preserving their unique heritage and safeguarding their ancestral lands for generations to come.
Our Programs
Check out how we're making a positive impact below!
