2020-2021 Legacy of Leadership Cohort

Elise Bill-Gerrish, Muckleshoot

Elise Bill-Gerrish (Davis) is a Muckleshoot woman living in Puyallup, Washington. Coming from a family of educators, it comes as no surprise that she decided to pick up the educational torch as well. She works as a Muckleshoot Language Teacher to help revitalize the Southern Lushootseed Language, the language of her ancestors. Her proudest achievement is being a mother to her daughter, Lily Hope, who is often by her side while teaching their Native language and working with traditional plants.

Elise graduated from Antioch University Seattle in 2014 with a B.A. in Leadership and Organizational Studies. Her research during that time inspired a lifelong passion for social justice by advocating for holistic healing in all of its forms. She believes that it is essential to address historical trauma in Native communities in order to move forward in a ‘good way.’ Elise has volunteered by teaching about Food Sovereignty at Muckleshoot Tribal School’s annual Potlatch, classes with Green River Community College, and Antioch University Seattle. She has also spent time working in the Cascade Mountains near her tribe, leading a youth stewardship crew and filming a documentary about her tribe’s close relationship with the land.

After personally experiencing the restorative power of hot yoga, Elise became a Certified Hot Yoga Teacher in 2014. She has been practicing yoga for 8 years now. She also recently completed an Herbalism Certificate to supplement her work with traditional plants and medicine making. Feeling connected to the plants of the Pacific Northwest and the wisdom they hold, is a valuable traditional teaching she carries with her. Elise hopes to embrace the many modalities of healing she has experienced to help other Native people heal from their trauma.

Aliza Brown, Quinault

Aliza Brown comes from the Quinault Indian Nation where she serves as the Health and Wellness Director that oversees their medical clinic, social services, Elder program, dental clinic, behavioral health, chemical dependency, pharmacy, and chronic disease. She resides on her reservation with her family. She graduated from Evergreen State College in 2007 and went back to school to obtain her Masters in Social Work from the University of Washington. Upon her graduation from UW, she was awarded the Outstanding Scholar certificate of recognition with the Child Welfare Training and Advancement Program. She and her family stay involved in local activities that benefit youth or tribal community. She invests a lot of small teachings to her children, she is a believer in investing in our children to create kind and thoughtful members of our society. Small teachings are litter pick up on our land, assisting Elders, public speaking, and staying active to maintain health. She and her son hosted a virtual AlterNative Sweat 5k at no charge to increase people's activity and share information on current services related to behavioral health. This is an example of what she and her family stand for - action and outreach. Her future aspirations are to improve the health system within her tribe to include tele-health, updated record systems, and ensure we are following a holistic approach to our peoples’ wellness. She would like to mentor younger tribal members who are interested in health as a career, whether it’s policy or clinical. She is a firm believer in connecting with your identity and cultural home to have a strong foundation in all we choose to do in life. She felt like a piece of her was uplifted and strengthened when she started dancing again and when she pulls in traditional canoes. Quinault has not had many tribal Health Directors, she is one of few who have served in this rewarding but difficult position. She is very thankful for the mentors who were in her life growing up. She has worked hard to follow their lead and extend her hand to helping her people.

Alaina Capoeman, Quinault

Alaina J. Capoeman is the daughter of LynDee Wells (Gros Ventre) and Felix Capoeman (Quinault). She is the granddaughter of Florence Minugh (Gros Ventre) and Marshall Wells (Chippewa Cree); Gladys Capoeman (Quinault) and Delmar Colegrove (Hoopa). She carries the name Xoputsee, an ancestral Quinault name. She lives on the Port Madison Reservation, in Suquamish, Washington.

Ms. Capoeman joined Ta?alunauW the Quinault Ocean Navigators canoe family in 1998, she became a skipper for the journey to Chemanius. She is currently a canoe skipper for the Tana Stobs canoe family in Suquamish. Ms. Capoeman traveled to Aotearoa (New Zealand) with her canoe family and had the opportunity to pull in a waka and one day even steer a waka. She was thrilled to be allowed to learn haka and try traditional foods.

She worked full time, raised her son while attending The Evergreen State College, completing 16 credits a quarter to graduate in 2005. She worked in tribal family service departments as a caseworker and manager. Ms. Capoeman volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate in Lewiston, Idaho.

Ms. Capoeman is a textile artist, primarily regalia and street wear. An oversized button blanket of her family story won the In The Spirit Native art competition Curator's Choice Award, and is part of the permanent collection at the Tacoma Art Museum. She is proud to have won first place in the 2019 Sovereign Style fashion show for her collection of Indigenous designs. Ms. Capoeman is interested in learning how to produce fabrics and wants to try her hand at Native couture.

As a dancer, both traditional Quinault and jingle dress, and cultural leader, she is raising her children with traditions from both sides of her family. She is the Vice-President of the Options parent group in Kitsap County.

Nicole Charley, Warm Springs

Nicole Charley is of the Taix Band and the Wasco/Dog River Band of the Columbia River region. Her name in Ichishkin is Tsuumpxliit. She is a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon. Nicole works and lives in Vancouver, WA.

Nicole is an alum of the Coalition of Communities of Color’s Bridges NAYA LEAD program; the Fertile Ground Leadership Institute; and the January in Tucson’s Tribal Professionals Cohort at the University of Arizona’s Indigenous Governance Program.

Her passion is Indigenous food systems work and food sovereignty, and she has delivered various presentations on the topic. She chaired the first Tribal Food Summit, and presented at the Native American Health Seminar, hosted by the Northwest Native American Center of Excellence of the Oregon Health & Science University - “Gathering First Foods with Family, Our Way of Life”. She assisted in the First Look at First Foods session for the City of Portland’s 2nd Annual Tribal Nations Summit. She also participated on a panel for the Pre-Conference Institute of the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in American Higher Education in a session titled - "Preserving, restoring, and honoring Indigenous ways in agriculture: Directions and implications in higher education”.

Nicole holds a B.A. from Portland State University and is currently enrolled in the M.S. in Food Systems and Society program at the Oregon Health & Science University. She works with the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation as the Executive Personal Assistant to the President/CEO.

Nicole is a member of the NW Tribal Food Sovereignty Coalition, hosted by the Native American Portland Area Health Board. She is a member of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society Lower Columbia, Willamette River Professional Chapter. And an active member of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relative PDX advocacy group.

Nicole is a designated Traditional Foods Gatherer for the Simnasho Longhouse and Warm Springs Community of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Oregon. This is a lifetime designation and commitment.

Clysta Cole, Inuit

Clysta CryingWolf Cole is an Inuit mother of five. She is a product of the foster care system, childhood trauma, and being homeless from the age of 13 till she was 21. She struggled with acceptance, self love and stability. Struggling with symptoms of Complex Post Traumatic Stress and anxiety putting her in survival mode until she was in her early 30's, she learned she was experiencing symptoms of continued trauma in her life. She engaged in trauma therapy helping her grow spiritually emotionally and culturally as she raised her children alone.

In December 2018, her oldest was murdered at the age of 19. As tragic as this was Clysta continued to thrive through her grief showing up for her other 4 children. As she held a strong truth that generational trauma was responsible for his homicide, she engaged in informing the local schools about trauma and how school staff respond to students after having to address a teacher student conflict. This fight continued through her first year of grieving, having to show up for her oldest daughter living in her own trauma, and the school staff's response to youth in trauma conflicts. This lead her to speaking at the local high school all staff meeting about Adverse Childhood Experiences, telling her own story of trauma with the link to her son's trauma that resulted in his homicide, hoping to shed light on the need for trauma experience reduction awareness.

She obtained the platform for changing the law around Posthumous Diplomas for students that pass away before reaching their high school completion credits. She realized the state failed to report her son's high school credits properly, causing a hardship on his education as a student of color and a student with disabilities who may have graduated if his credits had been reported properly. The law ran out of time to be heard in the senate, but she hopes to return to Olympia in January 2021 to continue to address this law so that she can finally obtain her son's diploma to honor him.

She volunteers with United Indians of All Tribes's Ina Maka program as an Auntie, and she is a member at large on the Indian Parent Committee with the Seattle Public Schools Huchoosedah Native American Education. She is currently working towards obtaining her certification as a peer counselor. Her passion is informing others about trauma and intergenerational trauma and how it affects us and the youth. Through her own life experiences she hopes to be an inspiration to others who desire to find their own healing. Clysta strongly believes when we heal ourselves we help heal the intergenerational trauma, stopping it from affecting the future generations.

Jessica Dominy, Tlingit and Haida

Jessica Dominy is an enrolled citizen of the Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Tribes of Alaska and is a recent graduate of the University of Alaska Southeast where she completed her Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, focusing on Anthropology, as well as Alaska Native Languages and Studies.

While in attendance at the University of Alaska, Jessica had the honor of an internship with the Huna Totem Corporation located in Juneau, Alaska for the village of Hoonah, Alaska.

Over the last fifteen years Jessica has been a volunteer to her fellow tribal citizens who live in the Washington State area as a Delegate to Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. She also has been a lifelong advocate and volunteer for the Seattle Indian Health Board in a variety of roles.

Jessica grew up in West Seattle and graduated with honors from Chief Sealth High School. She later moved to Kent, Washington.

Jessica is a gifted Indigenous storyteller who has shared her knowledge with numerous schools and families over the years.

Brandi Douglas, Puyallup

Brandi (she/her/hers) is a 34 year old member of the Puyallup Tribe, who also identifies as Black, Mexican and Queer. She was born and raised in Tacoma, WA and holds a BA in Global Studies from the University of Washington Tacoma and a Master's in Indigenous People's Law from the University of Oklahoma. She has worked in both her Tribe's Court as a Clerk and as Paralegal for the Tribe's Prosecutor. She is the founder and owner of The Multifaceted Matriarch, a decolonizing content creation and consulting business. She co-manages, takes on editorial duties, and is a contributing writer for American Indian Republic, a digital media company as well as Bella & Bella, a creative design studio, alongside her brother. She is a Board Member of the Tacoma Women of Color Collective, where she has the opportunity to be in collaboration with other powerful femmes to provide resources, community and visibility for womxn of color in Tacoma, Washington. In 2019 she assisted Tribal leadership in helping to plan Puyallup's first ever Pride celebration, and is currently in planning for the Tribe's 2020 celebration. Her ultimate vision is to create a tribal entrepreneur incubator so that her fellow members can cultivate their own self-determination efforts and uplift their sovereignty. In addition, she would like a space for her queer Indigenous family to gather in safety and in celebration. Finally, she wants collaboration and healing alongside the Black community and other people of color to be firmly established.

Christina Laigo, Sisseton-Wahpeton

Christina Fernandez Laigo is a citizen of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation in South Dakota and currently works and resides in Seattle, Washington. Growing up in Rainier Valley/Beacon Hill, and always moving between worlds (urban, rural, Indigenous and non-Indigenous) helped to guide her from being an Intellectual Property paralegal to entering the University of Washington. She first earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Indian Studies and Political Science, and then earned her Masters in Sustainable International Development with a focus on Indigenous Rights Law from UW School of Law. As a mother of two, her passion for health, education, and providing opportunities for underserved student populations, has prompted her volunteer work for John Stanford International School, United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, Urban Native Education Alliance and Clear Sky Native Youth Group, as well as her desire to be on the board for Ethnic Cultural Heritage Online Exchange (EchoX).

Jill LaPointe, Nooksack

Jill LaPointe, tsisqʷux̌ʷaɫ, is a Nooksack tribal member and Upper Skagit descendant. She currently resides in Tacoma, Washington, and is the Director of Lushootseed Research, a King County-based nonprofit organization dedicated to sustaining and sharing the Lushootseed language and culture. Jill attended the University of Washington as a single mother of two and graduated with a Master’s Degree in social work. She married John LaPointe and they moved to his reservation, the Swinomish Tribe, where they raised their five children before returning to Seattle so John could complete his education at Seattle University. Jill has worked in social services with Native youth and families for more than 30 years in both rural and urban communities. She also taught at the University of Washington, School of Social Work, where she received an award for Outstanding Practicum Instructor for Depth of Practice Knowledge.

Jill served on the Executive Advisory Board for the School of Theology and Ministry at Seattle University from 2012-2015. Jill also served as a board member for the Northwest Two-Spirit Society from 2000-2015, and volunteers annually for the Montana Two-Spirit Gathering. Previously she volunteered on several monthly outings with folks from the Chief Seattle Club who spent weekends at the Spiritual Center on the Swinomish Reservation.

One of her most cherished gifts is being in recovery and she enjoys encouraging and working with others in their recovery. Since the Covid-19 pandemic Jill has helped start a virtual Talking Circle for two-spirit people seeking support and recovery during these difficult times.

Jill and her husband have six grandchildren and they enjoy spending time together. She also feels uplifted whenever she is involved with Lushootseed language activities. It is her hope that someday all people who visit or live in Seattle and the greater Puget Sound area will be able to see and hear the beautiful Lushootseed language and be familiar with the traditional culture and values of the first people of this land.

Nicole Martin, Laguna Pueblo

Nicole Martin (She/Her and They/Them pronouns) belongs to the Navajo, Laguna Pueblo, Chiricahua Apache, and Zuni Pueblo. She currently lives in Tiwa Territory (Albuquerque, NM). She is the Sex Education Developer and one of three co-founders for Indigenous Women Rising (IWR) - a grassroots organization that is Indigenous led and centered around reproductive health and justice.

Nicole started as a volunteer for IWR before she was gifted the chance to be one of three co-founders and the Sex Education Developer. Since being a part of IWR, Nicole's leadership journey has progressed beautifully. The success of IWR's social media platforms has exponentially increased since she came on board. She is the new co-chair for a reproductive health and justice coalition that IWR is a table partner of. There are several articles that have been published that center all three co-founders.

Nicole recently finished the Stepping Into Power fellowship through Forward Together. A curriculum designed for executive directors of non-profit organizations. During this fellowship Nicole was inspired and encouraged by several communities to compete in the Miss Native American USA Pageant in 2019. She failed forward. This opportunity gave Nicole a chance to utilize the pageant as a means of change. Nicole raised the funds for the fees, material to make her dress, and items for a giveaway. Her platform was culturally inclusive and highlighted comprehensive Indigenous sex education. The outcome was immense support from Elders and youth. Nicole lived her truest self the summer of 2019.

Nicole graduated from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado in the Fall of 2016. She received her bachelor degree in Native American and Indigenous Studies with a minor in Gender and Women's Studies. She applied to graduate school and other fellowships to jump start her career - another moment of failing forward. Her path took a different route. She got certifications to become a wildland firefighter, and volunteered for Indigenous-led organizations in her community.

Nicole has traveled many paths and learned lessons from failures. All of which strengthened her leadership skills and passion for leaving the world a better place than she was born into.

Christine Myers, Choctaw

Christine is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. She attained her paralegal degree from Front Range Community College (focused on mineral, water, and property law) while earning her undergraduate degree at Fort Lewis College (FLC) in Indigenous Agricultural Enterprise (focused on Federal Indian Law and Policy) through the Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) Department. Her senior thesis, “The Political Ecology of Southern Ute Cultural Revitalization” arose from her work with Four Rivers Institute as a capacity-building AmeriCorps volunteer using research she did on the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission (ORRRC) for her Udall Tribal Public Policy fellowship contestant project. Through the John F. Reed Honors Program, she was awarded a minor in the Rhetoric of Inquiry for her rhetorical analysis of Crow Indian statesman Robert Summer Yellowtail’s 1919 speech “On the Rights of the Crow Indians and Indians Generally.” Christine was a Colorado Campus Compact Electoral Fellow, studying the history of elections and elections law while serving on the FLC Student Senate. Christine’s work at FLC focused on synergizing Liberal Arts education with contemporary concepts in Indigenous agriculture and stewardship to promote “Social Enterprise” development and experiential “community-based learning” strategies.

Christine interned for the Indian Land Tenure Foundation where she collected data for their Indian Land Database. She went on to obtain a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from Eastern Washington University in the Tribal Executive Planning track working with Professor Margo Hill, JD (Snxʷme̓nʔey) on research using data-driven analysis to build leadership for traffic safety policy development and decision-making in tribal government.

Christine works at the Cowlitz Indian Tribe as the Community and Economic Development Project Coordinator and is completing the last semester of her MBA at Willamette University.

As an avid horticulturalist and seed savant, Christine is passionate about plant medicines. Her research interests include Indigenous village design, native agrihoods, training wild horses, multi-modal green infrastructure, storm water management, native edible and medicinal crop production strategies, as well as restoring a sense of Indigeneity by building partnerships to address climate change, air and water quality, health, ecological and economic prosperity at a bioregional scale.

Melanie Montgomery, Quinault

Melanie Montgomery is a member of the Quinault Indian Nation and currently works as the Executive Director of Hospitality at the Quinault Beach Resort and Casino (QBRC), located in Ocean Shores, Washington. Within this position, she oversees the Food & Beverage and Hotel Departments and enjoys being able to make a positive impact on the success of her team and the culture and morale of those who work with her. She has spent her career in the Hospitality and Gaming industries and gained experience in many different roles, including Hotel Management, Human Resources and Vacation Rentals. She also served for 3 years on the Quinault Nation Enterprise Board, as Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, prior to returning to QBRC in her current capacity.

Melanie is dedicated to being a lifelong learner and continues to emphasize education as an important component of her growth. In May of 2020, she earned her Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership, with a concentration in Change Leadership from Gonzaga University and has participated in many continuing education programs, such as the University of Washington certificate program focused on Tribal Gaming and Hospitality, and Leadership Grays Harbor. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Hospitality Business Management from Washington State University in 2010.

Finding opportunities to stay involved in the community has always been important to Melanie, as she took on many roles throughout her education and career. While pursuing her undergraduate education, she served as the Treasurer of Native Americans at Dartmouth as well as the Treasurer of AISES. She also recently served on the Incident Command Team for the Quinault Indian Nation, a team developed to plan for the emergency response to COVID-19. She enjoys being able to give back and impact her community in a positive way and intends to build her career around making a difference.

Sahra Orozco, Cowlitz

Sahra Orozco is an enrolled member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe from the Tyee Scanewah family line. She is currently living in Parkland, WA with her two son's Nikoly and Dietrek. Sahra has received a certificate in Medical Careers at New Market Skills Center, where she also placed 2nd in state for Health Knowledge in Skills USA. She received an Associate in Medical Billing/Coding and Medical Office from Pierce College, where she also received a Certificate of Recognition by South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency for completing and graduating from Pierce College. In the winter of 2018 Sahra started a 6 month internship at Cowlitz Tribal Health-Seattle, which has led to her current position as the Medically Assisted Treatment Receptionist. She is not stopping there! Through hard work and dedication Sahra would like to lead her community, tribe, employer, and family to success.

Christina Roberts, Gros Ventre and Assiniboine

My name is Christina Ann Roberts, and I am a second-generation, urban-raised Indigenous woman who comes from Gros Ventre (A'aniniin) and Assiniboine (Nakoda) peoples, as well as from settler Irish and Puerto Rican folks. I was born and raised in King County, and I now live in Auburn while working at Seattle University (SU).

Growing up in the King County area, I often felt disconnected from my family members in Montana. I lived for a few periods of my life in Montana and was deeply influenced by various family members, but a majority of my life experiences took place away from my family. In fact, I've often felt profound sadness because I was so far away from those who could teach me how to sustain the traditions and practices of my family. At the same time, I've learned that we're all adapting to recognizing the knowledge sustained by Indigenous peoples. While I was born here, I consider myself a settler in many ways, and I want to do more to highlight the incredible wisdom of Coast Salish peoples, and do all that I can to support the next generations of Indigenous peoples.

Over the years, I have received recognition for my work in ways that are hard for me to discuss. I honestly do not see my work as remarkable, which is partly why it's hard for me to celebrate my awards, but I recognize that my efforts have been noteworthy in systems that do not recognize Indigenous peoples. I've received awards for my service work, my work as an educator, and for my efforts in building Indigenous Peoples Institute at Seattle U. At the same time, I see my most significant accomplishments reflected in the next generations, and I feel honored to work with Native students at SU and beyond.

I hope to create more equitable opportunities for Native youth to thrive in educational systems. At the same time, I want to actively participate in transforming these systems so that Native peoples can have the resources needed to achieve their individual and shared goals.

Robin Sing, Tlingit

Robin Sing, Tlingit, Tsimshian, and Yankton Sioux, lives in Bremerton, Washington. In 2019, she began working for the Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB) as a Purchasing Manager. Robin recently decided to return to college and is pursuing a Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies through the University of Texas at El Paso. She is mother to one grown daughter who lives in the Seattle area.

Growing up in Seattle as an urban Indian in a family with Native parents who were each disconnected from their cultures, Robin’s only local connection with the Native community was through SIHB. Her mother worked for the organization in the 1980s and Robin had also received care there in the 1990s as a young single mother including assistance through the WIC program. More recently, when Robin came to the clinic, she was asked if she was interested in SIHB’s Traditional Health program. Since then, Robin has been receiving Traditional Medicine services on a regular basis, including plant medicine consultations with a Tsimshian Healer and Wellness Coach. Inspired by her experience as a client, Robin has become interested in learning traditional Native plant medicine and in introducing others to become acquainted with the healing benefits of traditional plant medicine.

After joining SIHB, Robin has enjoyed the connections she has made amongst the Native community within the organization and she is excited to connect with other Native women in the Legacy of Leadership Cohort. Robin is looking forward to increasing her knowledge and understanding of the current issues facing the urban Native community, and learning ways she can foster change.

Sarah Stafford, Seneca

Sarah Stafford, Seneca Nation descendant, is a Program Specialist with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care in Region 10 Seattle. She works with Tribal Nations in Washington and the State of Washington to improve access to high quality child care for those historically furthest from opportunity and low-income families. In her work, she brings awareness to tribal sovereignty, racial equity, and culturally responsive practices across the country with the Office of Child Care. Accomplishments include collaborating with Indigenous scholars and experts to provide culturally responsive training and technical assistance to tribal nations, centering Native early learning leaders’ voices, training state partners in the region on tribal collaboration and coordination, and maximizing the use of federal funds on child care and early learning services in Native communities.

Sarah has served as a board member of the Washington State Indian Education Association, as a First Peoples First Steps Alliance member, as a member of the Puget Sound Educational Service District Racial Equity Transformation Team, and as co-author for the Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty Early Learning Curriculum for the State of Washington. Sarah received her Bachelor of Arts degree in American Indian Studies from the University Washington and participated in the university’s Native Education Certificate Program.

Sarah is passionate about Indigenous early learning, Indian Education, centering Native children and families, and prioritizing anti-racism in her work. She resides on the ancestral and contemporary lands of the Puyallup Tribe in Tacoma, Washington with her son and large Seneca and Coast Salish family.

Kimber Starr, Cherokee

My name is Kimber Starr, I am a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, third generation urban. I live in Tacoma in the South End neighborhood. My residential real estate business covers King, Pierce, Kitsap and Thurston counties. I am the Membership Chair for City Club of Tacoma and the Real Estate Broker member of the Tacoma Community Redevelopment Authority Board (TCRA). I attended the University of Oklahoma and am currently enrolled at Arizona State University with plans to complete a Master of Public Administration by 2023. I am especially proud to be a part of TCRA through the City of Tacoma. While I have been on the TCRA board for only a year – in that year we have begun work on refurbishing a shelter that sat vacant for over a decade, creating more bed capacity. TCRA also worked in collaboration with multiple city departments to create a micro home village. My future aspirations are to start a community land trust to build affordable housing and to make existing housing affordable for families. It has been my dream for the better part of a decade to serve the people as a legislator. I believe my lived experience of homelessness and surviving domestic violence gives me a unique perspective that I hope will contribute greatly to the Legacy of Leadership Cohort.

Aissa Yazzie, Navajo

Aissa Yazzie is a Diné (Navajo) tribal member and currently resides in Bellingham, Washington. She is of the Oto tribe, born for the Bitterwater clan (Diné). Her maternal clan is of Scottish descent, and paternal clan is of the Black Streak people (Diné). Aissa, a graduate of Northwest Indian College, grew up on the Navajo Reservation in northeastern Arizona. Aissa obtained her M.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Management (2018) at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. As a current faculty member at Northwest Indian College, Aissa is dedicated to Indigenizing and decolonizing academic spaces. She understands the necessity and urgency of providing quality education that sustains tribal cultures, traditions, and languages for our people. While at Northwest Indian College, Aissa has been assisting students in developing research projects based on Indigenous theories and methodologies. Aissa was an Embrey’s Women Leadership Fellow and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Fellow. A goal of Aissa's is to perfect her frybread recipe and to become fluent in Diné Bizaad (Navajo Language).

Cohort Projects

Legacy of Leadership Cohort members work within a group of their peers to complete a project intended to build on their passions and interests. In 2021, 4 amazing teams collaborated to make a positive difference in our communities: