Laxayam Nayka Nim, my name is Heather Lopez, a proud member of the Salakike and Kekoanui families and a Shoalwater Bay Tribal Member from the Clatsop and Lower Chehalis Tribes. I am deeply connected to my Indigenous heritage and committed to preserving and sharing ancestral teachings within my community. It has been an honor to raise my children along the sacred waters of the N’ChiWana, also known as the Columbia River Gorge, where we remain deeply rooted in our culture and ancestral homelands.
My journey as a first-generation college graduate began over 15 years ago when I started my career as an Indigenous educator, nurturing the next generation and preserving cultural heritage through education. Working closely with youth during these fifteen years has reinforced my commitment to education and community advocacy. My experiences with youth led me to embark on my own educational journey. In 2020, I proudly completed my Master of Arts in Indigenous Education from Arizona State University. This achievement as a first generation, not only reflects my personal growth but also allows me to lead by example for my children and future generations. My journey reflects resilience, connection to identity and culture, and a commitment to breaking generational trauma while fostering deep community connection and understanding. My role as an educator means the world to me, working for Educational Service District 112’s 21st Century Community Learning Center’s REACH After-School
Programs in the Columbia Gorge, serving the rural communities of Lyle and Wishram School Districts. I am also a passionate parent advocate, actively involved in the Native Parent Advisory Committee for the Educational Service District 112 and the Glenwood School District. Family engagement is an integral part of our small communities as it provides opportunities to strengthen relationships with our families and build trust. Through advocacy, I aim to promote policies and initiatives that support youth well-being and success, contributing to a legacy of connection and understanding within our rural communities. We are all lifelong students on this sacred journey, learning and growing from each other. I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate and contribute to meaningful initiatives that uphold Indigenous knowledge and empower the next seven generations.