Guw'aadzi Hoba, I am from the Pueblos of Laguna and Acoma as well as the Hopi tribe in Arizona. I am Eagle (Dyami) clan which was passed on to me from my late paternal grandmother who was Hopi. I am also Chicana from northern New Mexico where my mother was born and raised. The traditional name I was given by my family when I was born is Tzeh-iye-theh-thu-ee, which is a name that my paternal grandmother carried. I was raised in a traditional home in Laguna Pueblo, also known as K’waika, being taught how to care for my family, my community, and the land that we farmed during my childhood. I proudly hold the title of auntie, sister, daughter, mother, and Matriarch within my family. I currently reside in Laguna Pueblo with my son, daughter, and partner where we are learning and sustaining our culture and traditional practices. 

I have over 10 years of experience working with tribal communities in various capacities. Some of these entailed being a census enumerator going door to door gathering data, volunteering at the community planning department, and working within a local Native Community Development Financial Institution deploying loans to my tribal community and tribal communities alike. I gained experience engaging with communities and navigating them through the barriers to accessing financial resources. After doing so for over 6 years, I realized that the current financial system is broken and was purposefully designed to exclude Indigenous people and people of color. I found myself challenging this system in my role as a loan officer which ignited a fire in me to be a part of a greater solution. I then positioned myself to center my lived experience and Indigenous perspective to co-create systems and solutions that work for us and meet us where we are. Roanhorse Consulting has given me the space, resources, and opportunity to do so while holding true to my values which are deeply rooted in my traditions, the importance of community, helping others, and always remaining humble.