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Marinah V. Farrell
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Bethany Moody RN, CNM, MSNBoard Vice PresidentShe is a traditional woman of the Eagle Clan. She is both Shawnee and Potawatomi Descendent. She learned plant medicines early in life from her maternal Shawnee grandfather. She is a certified nurse midwife as well as an indigenous midwife and has caught 1327 new little ones in their arrival into their physical journey from the Star Realm. She received her formal education through Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing in 1992. She is Kokumtha/Nokomis/Grandmother of 6 grandchildren. She was one of two Native American Consultants for Boston Medical College for the CHAMPS Project and the Breastfeeding in Indian Country Coalition. She currently is the traditional birthways and breastfeeding consultant for Inter-tribal Council of Michigan Healthy Start program as well as a part of the Asabike Coalition to advanced indigenous prenatal health care in Michigan. Beth was instrumental in setting the stage for Breastfeeding Tents at local powwow which, providing light, nutritious snacks and water to mommas in a quiet and relaxing space. This was the start of state wide tents happening at indigenous community events. Along with that she wrote the policies and procedures for breastfeeding breaks at local casinos and reservation governments which spearheaded lactation areas as well. She has worked tirelessly with Elder grandmothers and grandfathers around the Great Lakes area learning all she can regarding teachings and lifeways of our mommas and babies. She has given workshops on cradleboards and mossbags from Detroit to Minnesota. Her interests focus on providing cultural, nutritional, foraging, herbal medicines, breastfeeding, women's health justice, women's health and traditional parenting life ways to all Anishnaabek communities. Recently Beth became a Certified Indigenous Breastfeeding Counselor. Beth was recently elected to serve on the Executive Board of the Michigan Breastfeeding Network. As well as the President of the newly formed non-profit organization board for indigenous environmental conservation impact issues Jibek Mbwakawen.
Beth was gifted a dream about the interconnectedness of breastfeeding, breast cancer and domestic violence. This dream was freely given and is the foundation used at many Safe Sleep presentations on reservations throughout Michigan. Within these workshop presentations, women are able to make Breastfeeding Awareness shawls which are a beautiful colostrum yellow color. “The work is vital to restoring our indigenous cultural life ways if feeding our babies their first traditional foods and the foundation for food sovereignty.” |
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Shayai LuceroBoard SecretaryShayai Lucero was born and raised on the reservations of the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna. Her parents are Stanley and Cecelia Lucero. Her brothers are Haitsi and the late Payadyamu. She is the wife of Aaron Fry and the mother to two children, Kaweshchima and Maityaitsa. She is of the Roadrunner clan for her mother and a Turkey Child for her father.
In 2008, Shayai graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. It took Shayai 16 years from her high school graduation to finish college, but during that time she was Miss Indian World (1997), worked for the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the All Indian Pueblo Council, and as the Tribal Liaison for Native Visions (a Native American media arts company). Upon graduating from college, Shayai became an entrepreneur with the purchase of a floral shop on the Pueblo of Laguna reservation. In 2011, Shayai was recognized as one of "40 Under 40" by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. Shayai is a lifelong student of the traditional Pueblo healing methods. She began studying Pueblo traditional medicinal plants when she was 13 years old. In 2005, she received her Certificate in Traditional Mexican Healing. The program was a joint certification with La Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos, el Centro de Desarrollo Humano hacia la Communidad, A.C. and the University of New Mexico. When asked to treat clients, Shayai has integrated Curanderismo Medicine with traditional Pueblo healing. In 2016, Shayai was selected as a "Nominated Changemaker" to attend the United State of Women Summit hosted by The Obama White House. She was one of 49 Native American women out of 5000+ participants. In 2017, Shayai was nominated by Native America Calling producers to become a TEDxABQ speaker for the Main Event. Her speech/video is available online where she discusses how she incorporates traditional Pueblo teachings into issues of patience and tolerance. Shayai is not only the owner of Earth & Sky Floral Designs, but she also learned to create floral designs. For the past five years, Shayai has been the main floral designer at Earth & Sky. She has learned floral design elements and techniques to create her own quirky floral style that has recently been recognized by the international floral industry. She received the recognition for a wedding bouquet she created. Shayai Lucero has been very lucky to have life experiences that most people have not had. From growing up on a federal Indian reservation to being an entrepreneur, she has learned how to adapt and change with each situation. With each change, a sense of tolerance and patience has been developed. Most recently in February 2019, she was invited to provide testimony at the United States Capitol at the invitation of the Small Business Majority and Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) on rural business entrepreneurship. She talked about the lack of access to capital, internet/broadband problems, rural delivery/infrastructure and the harsh realities of medical care and insurance when you’re a small business owner. Shayai has not had the easiest life, but she makes it look easy. She wants to engage the public by talking about how she’s incorporated traditional Pueblo lessons, teachings and beliefs, with Curanderismo, with her travels, with her experience as an entrepreneur, as a scientist, a healer, a LGBTIQ2S ally, daughter, mother, sister and friend… in developing a unique sense of tolerance that is needed in society today. |
Changing Woman Initiative
460 Saint Michaels Dr. Ste 804,
Santa Fe, NM 87505
505-930-5641
For More Info Contact:
Office Manager
Kansas K. Begaye
k.begaye@changingwomaninitiative.org
Executive Director
Nicolle Gonzales
NGonzales@changingwomaninitiative.org
460 Saint Michaels Dr. Ste 804,
Santa Fe, NM 87505
505-930-5641
For More Info Contact:
Office Manager
Kansas K. Begaye
k.begaye@changingwomaninitiative.org
Executive Director
Nicolle Gonzales
NGonzales@changingwomaninitiative.org
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