Opalanietet (Ryan) Pierce

ERI/PS2 Public Research Fellow

Opalanietet Pierce is a PhD candidate at The CUNY Graduate Center and a member of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape tribal nation.  He has taught at Boston University, The New School, and SUNY Purchase.  His recent academic article, “The Natural Landscape of Native Puppetry” has been published in Puppetry International Research.  As an artist, Opalanietet is Founder and Artistic Director of Eagle Project, and has performed at The Public Theater, New York City Opera at Lincoln Center, and gave the first-ever land acknowledgement at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC. Opalanietet is a 2026 ERI/PS2 Summer Fellow.