Husband/Dad/Project Manager/Author/

Dr. Vernon T. Cox has interacted with Indigenous people in Hamilton, Bermuda; Reykjavik and Keflavik, Iceland; Misawa, Japan; Mogadishu, Somalia; various cities in the Fiji Islands; various cities in the Cooks Islands; Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; Sydney, Australia; Auckland, New Zealand; and various cities in the United States. These interactions occurred over a 35-year period.

Dr. Cox began visiting Indigenous communities in 1977 during an extended visit (lasting two years) to Hamilton, Bermuda. Observations of this Indigenous community were based on multiple trips to and around the island over the period. During this interaction time was spent with Indigenous families as an invited guest. Following the Bermuda trip was a trip to Iceland in 1980. Observations in Keflavik and Reykjavik, Iceland, were also based on multiple trips to and around the main island. During a continuous six-month period Dr. Cox was invited into the homes and recreation areas of the Indigenous people of this part of the world. Following the Iceland trip was a trip in 1981 to Misawa, Japan, that lasted for six months. During this stay observations were made of the Indigenous people in an urban and rural setting. Dr. Cox was allowed access to the urban work environment of the Indigenous people in Misawa, Japan. Following the Misawa, Japan trip, was a trip to Somalia in 1982. During this trip to Mogadishu, Somalia, Dr. Cox interacted and observed the Indigenous Somali people in an urban community environment. The interaction was with individuals who worked in and around the facility (5 story house) where Dr. Cox and crew lived and worked. Dr. Cox interacted with the Indigenous Somali people on a daily basis in an effort to provide transportation and shelter for non-Indigenous traveler’s ingress and egress.

Following this period Dr. Cox’s’ next trip was to Nadi and Suva, Fiji in 1984. Dr. Cox interacted with the Indigenous people of this location during a 60-day period. During the trip to Fiji, Dr. Cox was invited to village home, work, and recreational locations of the Indigenous people. During a period from 1985 – 1994, Dr. Cox made trips to various cities in the Cooks Islands, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Sydney, Australia, and Auckland, New Zealand each lasting a few days. During these trips Dr. Cox was invited to village homes, work, and recreational locations of the Indigenous people of the country. Following this period Dr. Cox was contracted to work with Indigenous people in the United States in 2004. Dr. Cox performed observational investigation with the Te Tsu Geh Oweengeh and San Ildefonso people in Santa Fe, New Mexico; the Santa Clara people in Espanola, New Mexico; the Ohkay Oweenge people in San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico; and the Indigenous people at the Taos pueblo in Taos, New Mexico in their school systems. The next contract was with the Alamo Navajo people in Alamo, New Mexico, in 2005 during were Dr. Cox lived with the Indigenous people for a year. From 2007 until today, Dr. Cox continues to travel to the Fiji Islands to spent time with the Indigenous people in their villages in various islands to learn and share knowledge.

Dr. Cox has had experiences with Indigenous people on six continents and the skills acquired in adapting to diverse cultures, as well as the knowledge learned, is the basis of Dr. Cox’s presentation.