Savannah-Rivka researches minority identities in connection with UNESCO heritage with a focus on the Ainu of Japan and the Seto of Estonia. She works with communities on the local level and examines engagement with heritage institutions and transnational movements. Her MA research in Folkloristics and Applied Heritage was supported by the Estonian Research Council and focused on the intersection of privilege and oppression in the realm of creative expression. She has interned for the Netherlands Open Air Museum (NOM) with support of the Meertens Institute and the Rijksmuseum to aid in the creation of their first museum choir reflecting local culture including migrants and refugees. Savannah-Rivka has a BA in Social Justice and International Cross-Cultural Awareness from the Metropolitan State University of Denver in the United States. She has experience working in museums, archives, and non-profits. When not researching she can be found exploring a mountain pass or playing music.