What do you do?
It is my hope that each day I have a better understanding of what it means to be paternally Aleut, and maternally Dutch, Irish, English, and French in this space. I am no longer looking for someone that has the answers of who I am as an indigenous woman who was raised outside her community. I now embrace that responsibility as my own, and that has brought me a sense of calm… and empowerment. I work with our tribes most valuable resource, its people. I am the Native Environmental Science program advisor. I am an alumni of the program and try to offer the students the type of assistance that I wanted when I was a student at Northwest Indian College. It can be trying at times, at tribal colleges and universities we often wear many hats, but when they start referring to you as their auntie, it is an honor to be recognized as such.
Advice/words of wisdom that affected your life you’d like to pass on?
You are your ancestor’s wildest dream.
This is a very spiritual motivator to me. I have so many opportunities and options available to me that my ancestors did not, I have responsibility to honor the sacrifices that they made so I can be where I am today. I hope I make them proud.
Failure is not an option.
This has helped me overcome more than a few obstacles, whether they were real or perceived. It doesn’t mean I don’t make mistakes or experience setbacks. To me it means that I remain perseverant and tenacious until the path that is meant to be mine reveals itself.
Don’t take yourself too seriously.
Especially in times of adversity. Finding humor doesn’t have to make light of a situation. Allow it to buoy your spirit and raise you up to the challenge.