Board of Directors

Canya is Native Hawaiian and a longtime advocate for Indigenous communities in Washington State. With over 20 years of nonprofit leadership, she has supported cultural preservation and youth empowerment through roles such as former President of the Ke Kukui Foundation and current Secretary of Native American Rising Generations, where she has helped to expand and coordinate programs,  guiding cultural events, and raising funds. 

In her professional life, Canya serves as a Project Handler at UL Solutions. In her free time, she dances hula—a practice through which she continues to learn to lead with aloha and intention, and deepen her commitment to uplifting Indigenous youth. 

Lauren is a descendant of the Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) people of New Brunswick, Canada, through her late grandfather, an enrolled member of the Wolastoqiyik tribe, with additional family ties to Wolastoqiyik and Passamaquoddy communities in the United States. On her father’s side, she also honors her Irish and Czech heritage, embracing the diversity of her family’s story. Inspired by her late mother’s journey of reconnecting with her Native roots, Lauren is passionate about ethnobotany, food sovereignty, and the preservation of cultural ecosystems. As a board member of the Native American Rising Generations Foundation, she is dedicated to revitalizing traditional ecological knowledge, strengthening community-led food systems, and fostering intergenerational connections that honor ancestral wisdom while empowering future generations. 

Nanette, a proud member of the Yakama Nation, serves as our Class Culture Coordinator and teacher. She works with children and adults of all ages, sharing history, stories, and hands-on cultural projects. Her teachings include a wide range of traditional arts and crafts—from diverse weaving and beading styles to sewing techniques rooted in Indigenous knowledge.

Nanette also guides students through an exploration of tribal regions, traditional clothing, homes, foods, games, and the uses of plants—both medicinal and material. Her work fosters cultural understanding, creativity, and connection across generations.

Starr is a proud daughter of the Pascua Yaqui and Kewa Pueblo peoples. She carries a deep and enduring love for her community, guided by respect for the land, animals, and the teachings passed down through generations.

She leads yoga classes for elders twice a week, sharing breath, movement, and teachings as pathways to healing and balance. Her creativity and commitment are also expressed through beadwork, gardening, and leads in community book circles. Prioritizing indigenous authors.

She serves on the advocacy team with in the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) in Portland, Oregon, where she works to support future generations. She finds joy in, cultural gatherings, and community spaces that strengthen Indigenous identity and resilience.

Starr remains mindful of those around her, offering guidance, support, and encouragement whenever it is needed. Her work reflects a lifelong commitment to healing, connection, and the empowerment of Native American people.