I am Diné (“the people” in Navajo) and grew up in Window Rock, Arizona, the capital of the Navajo Nation, with my twin sister. Our maternal clan is Near to Water (To’ahaní) and our paternal clan is Bitter Water (To’dichiiníí). The Diné recognize and ground ourselves in our connectedness through our clans and we greet one another as relatives, recognizing our places in the world. I currently reside in unceded Tewa territory, also known as Albuquerque, New Mexico, with my daughter and partner. As a twin, my sister and I were blessed into our community. Twins are prominent in Diné creation stories and were unique in their journey to kill Monsters plaguing the Navajo people. I honor those stories and regularly reflect on the gifts I bring and the learning I can do with others. 

I have over 25 years of lived experience navigating, learning, and unlearning the complexities and processes in public health, academia, and nonprofits. These are all Western-based institutions and ways of learning. While I appreciate some of what I learned from them, they each have their own systemic barriers they have created in how they serve communities, especially Indigenous people. I am committed to working in true partnership with Native communities who center their lived experiences, culture, and language to strengthen the health and wealth needs of their communities.