I represent the following Navajo Nation Chapters - Churchrock, Iyanbito, Mariano Lake, Pinedale, Smith Lake, and Thoreau Chapters.

I grew up in a traditional hogan with a dirt floor, without electricity or running water. Life was centered around survival — gathering firewood, enduring harsh winter cold, and working through the intense summer heat. Those experiences taught me resilience, discipline, and the value of hard work at an early age.

I am the oldest of eleven children, including my youngest brother who is now in middle school. In 2006, my mother became the sole provider for our family, raising all eleven of us as a single parent with strength, sacrifice, and determination.

I was raised near the old Churchrock uranium mine and close to the site of the 1979 uranium tailings spill in northeast Churchrock, New Mexico. Growing up in that environment gave me firsthand understanding of the long-term challenges many Navajo families continue to face regarding health, infrastructure, and environmental justice.

As a young boy, I helped herd sheep alongside my cousins, my late grandmother, and my aunt. During the fall season, we would travel into the mountains to gather firewood, and at times I assisted my grandfather in collecting traditional herbal medicine. Through these experiences, I learned the importance of family, culture, and respect for the land.

I understand the hardships of life on the Navajo Nation because I have lived them. The lessons passed down by my elders, traditional practitioners, and community members shaped the person I am today and continue to guide my commitment to serving our people.