Vivian is a member of the Sayiiks Clan of the Siksika First Nation in Alberta Canada.  Her education includes a B.Ed. from the University of Calgary (1970) and three graduate degrees from Arizona State University (M.A. Ed.; M.Ed. Ed.D.).  Her education career spans 50 years as classroom teacher, student counsellor, vice-principal, curriculum developer, college administrator, university instructor and executive director.   She has served on many Boards (many as a founding member) and committees at the local, national and international levels.  She has been recognized for her work such as the 1992 Woman of Distinction for Education, Calgary; and the 1992 Distinguished Alumni 1992, University of Calgary. She has led teams of people to develop useful resources to preserve and revitalize the Blackfoot language and culture.  Some major samples of the work she was involved in are the Siksika Language Series Kits developed to teach language and culture to elementary students and the Siksika Language APP organized under 29 major themes to teach about the Siksika language and culture to the global community.  

She serves as part-time Executive Director of the First Nations Adult and Higher Education Consortium (FNAHEC), and her latest and most rewarding initiative is to work with Siksika Ceremonial Knowledge Keepers at Old Sun Community College on the research, development and implementation of Siksika Knowledge courses, many of which transfer to public universities.  

Dr. Ayoungman was co-chair of WIPCE 2002 that was hosted by the First Nations Adult and Higher Education Consortium (FNAHEC) in Alberta Canada in 2002.