Rebecca Kinley March 30th 2020

What do you do?

I’m a Lummi Tribal Member serving the Lummi Community as a Special Project Outreach Coordinator for the Lhaqtemish Foundation. I’m an experienced Special Projects Coordinator/Manager with a demonstrated history working in Tribal Communities/Government Relations and in the Behavioral Health Field. I’ve served the Lummi Community almost 11 years which comes with a wealth of knowledge in fundraising, strategic development, and project implementation and management for community-led special projects/initiatives.

I’m known widley for my leadership which was started and sustained with the Late Justin Finkbonner; co-creating and developing the Lummi Youth Canoe Family and traveling around the Globe empowering Native Youth on Environmental Rights and Advocacy for Indigenous Communities. In recent years, I’ve been the Paddle to Lummi 2019 Coordinator. Lummi Nation hosted the 2019 Paddle to Lummi, hosting 66 Indigenous nations, 5 different countries represented, and 15,000 people.

My role at the Lhaqtemish Foundation will promote social, cultural, and economical prosperity for the Lummi Community as we are developing and implementing the legacy of the Paddle to Lummi through the strategic framework of the Sqweshenet Tse Schelangen Initiative. An initiative that will build upon the goals/objectives that reflect the values, principles, and beliefs of the Lummi Nation through 1) Community Resiliency, 2) Whole Person Health Transformation, 3) Education, and 4) Economic Mobility.

I’m currently a student at the University of Arizona pursuing my BA in Law & Minor in Community Health.

Advice/words of wisdom that affected your life you’d like to pass on?

The best advice that I feel I can forward to the greater community is never forget who you are and where you come from. In other words, never stop believing in yourself and the gifts that the creator has given you. Each one of us has a greater purpose for service to each other.