Rafael/a
Luna-Pizano
Contact
education
PhD
University of Waikato, Faculty of Māori & Indigenous Studies
Sept 2023
Dissertation: “Listening at Dawn: Trans* Storywork for All My Relations” (transjoy.cargo.site)
Committee: Leonie Pihama (chair), Linda Tuhiwai Smith, Rachel Chapman, Donna Campbell
MA
University of Washington, Native Voices (Communications)
June 2017
Thesis: “HOME(CALLI):BODY”
Advisors: Daniel Hart, Luana Ross
BA
University of Southern California, Vocal Arts
Minor in Gender Studies
May 2009
professional training
Craniosacral Therapy Certification
Patricia O’Rourke, Seattle, WA
Jan-Dec 2017
Massage Therapy Certification
Cortiva Institute of Massage, Seattle, WA
Sept-May 2010-2011
Terra Mai Reiki, Level I
Erica Cho, Kingdom of Hawai’i
July-Sept, 2010
Full Spectrum Doula Certification
Prison Doula Project, Olympia, WA
Nov-Dec 2012
Simpkin Center Doula Training
Bastyr University, WA
Oct 2012
awards
Doctoral Scholarship (University of Waikato)
Apr 2019-Apr 2022
Koko Kairangi University of Waikato Prize for Best Doctoral Thesis, 2024
experience
teaching
Seattle Central College, Seattle, WA
Instructor, Intercultural Communications
Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
(Autumn, 2024-present)
University of Waikato, Hamilton, Waikato, NZ
Guest lecturer, Decolonizing Methodologies
Faculty of Māori & Indigenous Studies
(2019-2022)
research
Northwest Portland Indian Health Board, Portland, OR
Indigenous Trans and Gender-Diverse Talking Circle: An Intervention to Increase Healthcare Access and Self-Advocacy, Two-Spirit Talking Circle Facilitator
Sept-Dec 2021
facilitation & workshops
Oro Banka: Sounds to Release & Ground,
Coalition Ending Gender-Based Violence, Seattle, WA
Facilitator, musician
June, 2024
Creating Ancestral Practice,
Alphabet Alliance of Color Institute Workshop Series (virtual)
Facilitator, creator
Nov, 2023, 2024
TBIPOC Birthwork Training
Lifewerq Project, Seattle, WA
Facilitator, teacher, support team
Aug 2023, 2024
Navigating Donors & Conception at Home,
Lifewerq Project (virtual)
Co-facilitator
June 2023, 2024
Grow the Love: Medicine People,
Indigenous Futurisms Symposium, The Forum for Indigenous Research Excellence (FIRE), Macquarie University
Co-Facilitator
Nov 2019
publications
Luna-Pizano, R. (2023). Listening at dawn: Trans* storywork for all my relations. [Doctoral dissertation, University of Waikato]. UoW Research Commons. https://hdl.handle.net/10289/16003
Luna-Pizano, R. (2023). Unknown devotions: Trans* & Indigena freedom dance. In Pihama, L. and Green, A. (Ed.), Honoring Our Ancestors. Wellington: Te Herenga Waka University Press.
Luna-Pizano, R. (2024). Baklang kabahayan: Saan ba tayo papunta? Doon, ngayon at sa darating panahon (Where are you heading? There, now and in the coming season). Knowledge Cultures, 12(2), 7-20. https://doi.org/10.22381/kc12220241
Luna-Pizano, R. (In Press). Baklang buntis: Why tricksters birth. Cultural and Pedagogical Inquiry.
presentations
“Stitching Vibrations: Somatic Sound Practices for Trans* Land Relationships”
INIHKD Reclaiming Indigenous Ecologies of Love (RIEL) Conference
Creative Session, May 1, 2025
“**our handsteps the bridge**”
Australian Association for Pacific Studies (AAPS)
Panel Presentation, April 8-9, 2021
“This is Native Land: Transgender Embodiment & Ritual Knowledge”
International Indigenous Research Conference, Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga
Panel Presentation, Nov 18-20, 2020
“This is Native Land: Trans* Body Sovereignty”
MAI (Māori and Indigenous Grad Students) NAISA Pre-Conference
Paper Presentation, June 2019
performances/installations
“Just me and my bading”
multi-media sound installation/altar
Meryenda (Have You Eaten x Kasama), Kasama Arts Space
Unceded Coast Salish Territory, 2023
“Baklang Kabahayan: Saan ba tayo papunta?
Doon, Ngayon at sa Darating Panahon.
Where are you heading?
There, Now and in the Coming Season”
nipa hut, 6’ x 6’ x 7’, bamboo, harakeke, found materials
Performance Arcade
Te Whanaganui-ā-Tara, Aotearoa, 2021
“INDAK KANIKANI”
multi-media altar and durational performance ritual
Neverproject Space
Kirikiriroa, Aotearoa, 2020