Advocacy Boot Camp Cohort 3
The third Advocacy Boot Camp Retreat brought together 14 womxn from 14+ tribes and formed a sisterhood over 4 days at Islandwood on Bainbridge Island April 25-28, 2024.
Meet the Cohort
Sarah Bryant | 27th Legislative District
Sarah Keating Bryant, a proud member of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians from Tacoma, emerges as an embodiment of dedicated leadership and environmental advocacy. An Executive Administrative Assistant for the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Tribal Gaming Agency, Sarah intertwines her administrative expertise with her passionate commitment to environmental justice. Equipped with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, her journey is a testament to her dedication to preserving the planet for future generations.
In 2024, Sarah eagerly seeks to embark on a transformative journey as a cohort member of the Native Action Network Advocacy Boot Camp. Her aspiration is clear: to build invaluable connections with fellow Native American women established in leadership roles, leveraging their collective wisdom to strengthen her own professional growth within the Tribal circle. With 18-years in the Puyallup Tribal Fisheries Department, Sarah’s proficiency resonates deeply as she advocates for climate change solutions with an unwavering resolve.
Driven by a profound sense of duty to her community, Sarah is a committed member of the Puyallup Tribal Sustainability Working Group, channeling her passion into fostering climate resilience and preserving valuable natural resources. As a devoted mother of two daughters, Sarah’s aspirations extend beyond personal ambition; she strives to set an inspiring example of leadership and advocacy, nurturing a legacy of empowerment and community engagement.
With a resolute spirit and unwavering determination, Sarah Keating Bryant stands poised to use her voice for the betterment of her people, weaving a textile of advocacy, leadership, and enduring legacy for generations to come.
Roxanne Hockett | 23rd Legislative District
Roxanne Hockett is a citizen of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe in Kingston, Washington. For the past six years, she has served as the Grants Director for her tribe. In 2017, she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Everest University, and she is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree at Evergreen State College, starting in the fall of 2024.
As a Leadership Kitsap Foundation Alumni from the class of 2023, Roxanne had the opportunity to engage in community service projects that benefited the citizens of Kitsap County and made a positive impact on the community. Her involvement with Leadership Kitsap influenced her decision to pursue a graduate degree in public administration, offering her a fresh perspective on civic leadership and a deeper understanding of the critical issues affecting Kitsap County and her community.
Roxanne believes that cultivating relationships will help amplify her voice. Her attributes as an active listener, someone who asks questions, engages in open and honest conversations, and shows respect and appreciation for others, will be valuable contributions as an advocacy leader.
Roxanne recognizes the interconnectedness of public policy and grants and aspires to have a more active role in the legislative process and the development of funding packages before they are made public. She believes that participating in the 2024 Advocacy Boot Camp will provide her with the knowledge and experience necessary to achieve her goals.
Phoenix Johnson | 36th Legislative District
Phoenix Johnson (Seattle WA, they/she) is a citizen of the Tlingit & Haida Nation following their matrilineal line, Takwaaneidi Clan of the Strong Man Sea Lion house of Klawock Alaska. They honor their Grandfathers people, the Eagle Killer Whale Auke Bay clan crests of Juneau Alaska. Descending from a familial line of service members and warriors, Phoenix is a veteran of active duty (US Air Force) within the fighter jet air combat training mission and an instructor of aerial surveillance skills that serve missions such as NORAD for homeland defense. Phoenix later served as a Suicide Prevention Program Manager for the Army National Guard. Phoenix’s leadership started early as the eldest sister, later developing curriculum and teaching art to elementary students as a teenager in an underfunded K-12 school, then more extensively through the military. Phoenix has brought together real life experience, including hardships as a survivor, and combined it with formalized education from college and university. Phoenix is now an experienced board member, public speaker, innovator, advocate, and servant leader inspired by revolutionaries of past and present. With the specialized education and mentorship of Native Action Network her goal is to further expand and craft her skills to more adequately honor Indigenous people, serve the growing needs of America, and support our nations’ futures with a special focus on those who have been historically underserved.
Maggie Cooper | 34th Legislative District
Maggie Cooper lives in Seattle, WA in District 1 Pioneer Square. She currently works for Duwamish Tribal Services and is the Director of Wellness. She has a background in Orthopedic Medicine and Traditional Medicine, she learned Coast Salish food pathways through family and college programs that took her to the San Juan Islands and the Olympic Peninsula. She started her career in Pioneer Square Park serving urban natives and folkx of color at disadvantage for little to no cost from a self-built subsidized infrastructure. Maggie is passionate about making a difference for the lives of Urban Indians. She has spent time visiting skid row in Los Angeles and spoken to those utilizing real rent to help better understand the crisis we have in Seattle. This was provoked by her support and admiration to Colleen Echohawks 2021 run for Mayor. She is currently building the wellness services department for the Duwamish tribe and other urban natives. Asking the question “what does wellness mean”? She learned you can’t work non-profit or healthcare without politics and hopes to gain indigenous advocacy and more knowledge of policy. She intends to use these tools towards sitting on Government Relation Boards and is hopeful to run for a Chair in her near future.
Hillary Edwards | 10th Legislative District
Hilary Edwards is a member of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and acquired her Juris Doctor degree from Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law. She also possesses a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, majoring in Management, from Seattle University. After graduating from Seattle University, Hilary moved to Australia for six months to work with Indigenous youth to overcome the alarmingly high suicide rates.
Following, she traveled to Nepal on a social justice trip, focusing on ethical tourism and preventing human trafficking. When she arrived back in the States, Hilary learned about the then-grassroots movement of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). During her time in law school, Hilary co-hosted the MMIWG panel. The panelists included NCAI President Fawn Sharp, Arizona Senator Sally Ann Gonzales, Arizona Senator Victoria Steele, and Arizona Representative Jennifer Jermaine. The event was created to bring awareness to this crisis that impacts Indian Country.
Furthermore, Hilary wrote her graduation writing requirement on the missing and murdered Indigenous relatives’ issue, titled "The Legal Killing of Indigenous People." She worked on the Reducing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: Arizona's Statewide Study in Partnership with the HB 2570 Legislative Study Committee publication with ASU's Research on Violent Victimization Lab.
Hilary's lifelong goals are to continue bringing awareness of the MMIR issue and to provide a voice for the relatives who are no longer with us.
Julie Leavitt | 23rd Legislative District
Julie Leavitt is a member of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana. Julie grew up in a small town in Southwestern Montana before pursuing her higher education. In 2018, Julie earned her Bachelor’s in Communication with an Emphasis in Organizational Communication and Advocacy. In 2022, Julie earned her J.D. from the University of Idaho College of Law where she emphasized in Native American Law. While in law school, she had the opportunity to volunteer with the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Court and provide pro bono services at the Office of Legal Counsel. Julie was also the president of the Women’s Law Caucus during her final year of law school. After graduating, she moved to Kitsap County with her partner and began working at a non-profit for youth in foster care. She currently works as a Legal Specialist at Compass Legal Services, P.S. where she assists in Family Law and other Civil cases.
Julie is passionate about advocating for Indigenous interests and working to expand Tribal sovereignty. Julie is honored to join the Advocacy Boot Camp, and, above all, she is looking forward to building community with other like-minded Indigenous women.
Marissa Perez | 34th Legislative District
Marissa is Oglala Sioux, Mexican, and British-American and has been involved in gender-based violence awareness, prevention, and advocacy for over ten years. While serving as a certified Sexual Assault Response and Prevention victim advocate in the US Army, she saw firsthand the devastation this type of violence has on women and their communities. After several years of working in the Seattle Indigenous community on issues of gender- based violence, she was hired in 2019 as the program manager for the Cedar Rising Coalition, a coalition of Native-led organizations in King County dedicated to ending all forms of gender-based violence in Native communities.
In 2021, she founded The Yarrow Project, a nonprofit working to encircle and support Native survivors of violence and MMIWP Families. Her extensive background in policy and systems advocacy and expertise in the fields of human trafficking, sexual assault, domestic violence, and intergenerational trauma have led her to speaking engagements with organizations such as the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, testifying in the Washington State Legislature, and guest lecturing with the University of Washington Dept of Sociology. She currently serves on the Washington State Access to Justice Community Advisory Board and was selected as part of the 2022-2023 Native Action Network’s Legacy of Leadership Cohort.
Marissa is a graduate of Seattle Pacific University and holds a Masters of Legal Studies in Indigenous People’s Law from the University of Oklahoma. She continues to serve as a Logistics Officer in the U.S. Army Reserves. Sage, her six-year-old Certified Mutt, accompanies Marissa whenever she can, bringing her special brand of love to meetings, talks, conferences, and classes. Constantly reading and sewing, Marissa makes regalia, ribbon skirts and quilts while at home with her partner in the South Park neighborhood of Seattle. She is a proud daughter, sister, and a full-time auntie to six nieces and nephews.
Sonja McGraw | 24th Legislative District
Sonja McGraw is an enrolled member of the Quinault Indian Nation. She is the mother of 3 adult children and resides in Hoquiam, WA. Sonja completed her Bachelor’s Degree at Evergreen State College and is working towards admission to the 2024 Tribal MPA Cohort. She currently works in the Office of Attorney General Bob Ferguson as a Tribal Policy Analyst supporting and facilitating the Washington Truth and Reconciliation Tribal Advisory Committee.
As a member of the 2024 Advocacy Boot Camp cohort, Sonja hopes to further her connection to and understanding of the issues affecting all indigenous communities in Washington; build relationships that increase the awareness and importance of Indigenous matters statewide; and to build relationships with others working to nurture the development of Indigenized spaces within state and local governments.
Charity Fivekiller | 22nd Legislative District
Charity Fivekiller is a proud citizen of the Cherokee Nation, deeply rooted in her community and committed to the advancement of Indigenous education and advocacy. Her journey, marked by a lifelong connection to the land and her heritage, has been driven by a passion for sharing Indigenous knowledge and experiences. Charity's involvement with the Wa-Ya Outdoor Institute, beginning in her early teens, played a pivotal role in steering her towards educational advocacy for Native students and an education system that embraces Indigenous ways of knowing. Her experience at Wa-Ya not only enriched her understanding of environmental stewardship but also the importance of addressing educational barriers faced by Native youth. Drawing from her own challenges within contemporary education systems, Charity became a fervent advocate for creating educational opportunities that reflect and respect Indigenous perspectives and knowledge. Charity's advocacy extends to ensuring that Native students have access to resources and programs that support their success, fostering environments where they can learn, grow, and thrive. This commitment reflects her belief in the transformative power of education that is inclusive of Indigenous voices and experiences. Set to graduate with her bachelor's degree in Tribal Governance in the spring of 2024, Charity is preparing to further her impact on Indigenous communities through continued education. She plans to pursue a master's degree in public administration with a focus on tribal governance and policy, aiming to contribute to a future where Indigenous knowledge is integral to educational systems and policies. Charity's path is a testament to her dedication to her Cherokee heritage, educational equity, and the empowerment of Indigenous peoples through informed advocacy and leadership.
Stephanie Terrell | 24th Legislative District
Stephanie Terrell is a Quinault Indian Nation citizen, she currently lives and works on the reservation in Taholah, WA. Stephanie is an Advocate and outreach Specialist for Sacred Healing Journey with QIN, a program that helps people in domestic violence, sexual assault, victims of crimes, generational trauma, and more. Stephanie has worked for QIN for 13 years, starting in finance, grants and contracts, construction management, and education. She is an active volunteer for her community. She has helped with many events in the village, such as Chief Taholah Days, fun runs, volleyball tournaments, AAU basketball, and various dinners. Stephanie is also on two boards, Warm Current, an organization that offers free surf instructions to coastal tribes; and Connections, a Children Advocacy Center, that provides forensic interviews, parenting classes, mental health for Grays Harbor and Thurston Counties. She is also currently in the beginning stages of helping the QIN senior program with their IMLS grant and establishing a library program. Most importantly, Stephanie is a mother of three beautiful children that she adores and loves. They are the inspiration for what she does, her goal is to enrich their minds, and to always see the good in the world, and to do what they can to give back and help our community. Stephanie would benefit from your program as one of her goals is to serve on the Business Committee for Quinault Indian Nation, she is capable and has the right perspective, love for her people, and truly wants to serve her community and their wants, so that QIN can thrive.
Mikaela Shafer | 22nd Legislative District
Mikaela Shafer, a proud enrolled Hopi tribal member, is a passionate and experienced community builder and marketing professional based in Olympia, Washington. With 15 years of experience in marketing and community building, Mikaela has made significant contributions to advocating for arts and businesses in her community.
Mikaela's dedication to Indigenous arts and culture is evident through her accomplishments. In 2023, she was recognized as a Native Arts and Culture Lift Awardee and is currently creating a body of work focused on matrilineal storytelling. As the curator of the 16th annual Native Art exhibition at SPSCC and co-curator of the 2023 Coast Salish Museum of Fine Arts, Mikaela has been instrumental in promoting Native artists in her community.
Her leadership extends to her role as the co-chair of the Olympia Cultural Access Advisory Board, where she actively advocates for arts, culture, heritage, and science in Olympia. Mikaela also showcased her expertise by leading a workshop at the 2023 Native Women Leadership Conference. She is set to lead upcoming workshops on building a successful business and becoming a successful professional artist.
Mikaela's desire to participate in the Native Action Network's Advocacy Boot Camp stems from her aspiration to further enhance her community-building skills. With a focus on better serving her community and advocating for Indigenous artists on boards and commissions, she aims to share these valuable skills with others. Mikaela seeks to elevate her ability to advocate for Indigenous artists and bring about positive change within her community.
