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Community Involvement
My community work spans cultural preservation, education, board service, and nonprofit organizing. From teaching Formline design at Northwest Indian College to serving on museum and arts commission boards, I work to ensure Indigenous voices shape how our cultures are preserved, shared, and understood. Through repatriation efforts, research projects, and fundraising contributions, I connect traditional knowledge with contemporary community needs. These roles intersect and reinforce each other, building stronger connections between Tlingit culture and the communities where I live and work.
Northwest Indian College
Adjunct Faculty Instructor | 2025
As of summer 2025, I serve as adjunct faculty at Northwest Indian College instructing on Formline Visual Design Language. These classes are more than art instruction, they are cultural transmission ensuring Tlingit artistic traditions continue to thrive. My approach draws from both traditional knowledge and contemporary practice, informed by my research at institutions like the Bill Holm Center and my own experiences as an artist. Students come from diverse backgrounds, from Tlingit individuals connecting with their culture to non-Native people interested in Northwest Coast art. I aim to ensure the continuity of Tlingit artistic traditions while promoting cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.
Placemake Arts Northwest
Board Chair & Co-Founder | Founded 2025
Placemake Arts Northwest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advancing visual arts programming and creative placemaking in Ferndale, Washington. As Board Chair and Co-Founder, I lead our primary initiative of securing Washington State Creative District certification for Ferndale, which will unlock state funding, highway signage, regional marketing support, and enhanced tourism opportunities. I develop and implement our comprehensive events strategy including festivals like Rock the Block, Beat the Winter Blues, and Pigment & Pints Art Battle, which serve both as community entertainment and economic development catalysts. My work includes hands-on community engagement, strategic partnership development with local government and business organizations, grant writing for LTAC and state funding, and managing public art projects including community murals. Through PANW, I’m building Ferndale’s infrastructure as a creative economy hub where artists can sustain their practices while generating measurable economic impact for the community.
Cedar Spirit Foundation
Co-Founder & Treasurer | 2024 – Present
Cedar Spirit Foundation is an Indigenous-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers Indigenous scholars through scholarships, fellowships, and direct funding while fostering institutional change in higher education. As one of three founding board members and current Treasurer, I help guide an organization born from our collective experiences witnessing persistent funding gaps and systemic barriers facing Indigenous students at Northwest Indian College and other educational institutions across Washington State. Our work centers Ancestral Wisdom, supports community-centered research, preserves Indigenous languages, and revitalizes cultural practices. Through programs like the Lynda Zambrano Legacy Scholarship, we create sustainable educational pathways rooted in relationship and reciprocity. Cedar Spirit Foundation represents a bridge between traditional knowledge systems and contemporary educational institutions, working to ensure Indigenous scholars thrive in environments that recognize and value their contributions to their communities and the seventh generation.
Kiks.ádi Repatriation
Repatriation Coordinator | 2024
I had the privilege of facilitating the repatriation of two significant Kiks.ádi clan items: a beaded headband and a frog patch (as shown on above bib). Through careful research and collaboration with various institutions including the Sheldon Jackson Museum and Tribal members, I identified the rightful owner of these items. The journey culminated in the successful return of the artifacts to Ray Wilson, Kiks.ádi clan leader from Gagaan Hít (Sun House). This repatriation was particularly meaningful as the items were created by Ray Wilson’s grandmother, Annie Michael. This experience inspired me to further educate myself on NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act) and repatriation processes, building upon what I learned to help advocate for and be involved in future repatriation efforts.
Tlingit & Haida – Lynnwood Office
Workshop Instructor | 2024
In 2024, I taught introductory Formline design workshops at the Lynnwood Tlingit & Haida location, helping guide community members in understanding the Formline used for appliqué on regalia. These instructional sessions are more than art classes, they are cultural transmission ensuring the rich tradition of Tlingit visual art continues to thrive. When I teach Formline design, I draw from both traditional knowledge and contemporary practice, informed by my research at institutions like the Bill Holm Center and my own experiences as an artist. I cover various aspects including basic elements of Formline (ovoids, U-forms, S-forms), cultural significance of different designs and motifs, traditional and contemporary applications for regalia, and techniques for creating balanced compositions. My students come from all walks of life, and through these classes I hope to ensure continuity of Tlingit artistic traditions while promoting cross-cultural understanding.
Bill Holm Center
Visiting Researcher | 2023
In May 2023, I conducted research at the Bill Holm Center at the Burke Museum focusing on Tlingit Formline decorated objects from precontact through the early 20th century. I examined a wide range of Tlingit objects, gaining valuable insights into how Formline design evolved over time. This study included looking at what we often call “The Ancestors’ Work,” pieces from precontact times to the early 1900s. For me, this research is more than academic study, it’s a way to connect with my heritage and ensure traditional Tlingit design techniques are preserved and understood. The knowledge gained directly informs my own artistic practice, allowing me to create works deeply rooted in Tlingit tradition while speaking to contemporary audiences.
Friends of Sheldon Jackson Museum
Board Member & Tribal Liaison | September 2023 – Present
I serve on the board of the Friends of Sheldon Jackson Museum in Sitka, Alaska, where I work to address historical injustices while supporting Alaska Native art and culture preservation. The museum faces a fundamental contradiction: while its programming is 98% Indigenous-led, its foundational narrative honors Sheldon Jackson, a missionary who was a central agent of settler colonialism and founder of the Alaskan boarding school system. I joined specifically to be a Native voice for change in addressing this painful legacy. Through the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience program “Addressing the Silences,” I collaborated with the Sitka Tribe of Alaska to transform how the museum tells its story. This program concluded with stronger connections between the Tribal community, museum staff, and the Friends board, and several critical issues with the museum were addressed. In 2025, I co-authored a resolution to support changing the name of the museum to better reflect its contents, which passed with full support at the annual meeting. My ongoing work includes building stronger connections between the museum and local Native communities and guiding the future of the Alaska Native Artist Residency Program.
Ferndale Arts Commission
Vice-Chair | September 2022 – Present
As Vice-Chair of the Ferndale Arts Commission, I help shape the artistic landscape of Ferndale by promoting public art and cultural initiatives. I bring my perspective as a Tlingit artist to this important work, helping evaluate and select public art projects for the city while ensuring diverse and representative artistic expressions. I provide insights on Indigenous art and culture, ensuring Native voices are represented in Ferndale’s public art landscape. I assist in organizing community events and workshops that engage Ferndale residents with the arts. One project I’m particularly proud of is the Downtown Mural Project, which includes my own mural “Ancestral Spirits” at Kevin’s Car Wash, demonstrating how my roles as artist and commission member intersect to bring Native art into public spaces.
Bill Holm Center
Visiting Researcher | 2022
In 2022, I received the Connections to Culture Visiting Researcher Grant from the Bill Holm Center, allowing me to focus research on the museum’s collection of Tlingit paddles. I completed this project in summer 2022, carefully documenting the craftsmanship and design of historical Tlingit paddles. I spent hours examining each paddle, noting subtle variations in form, decoration, and construction techniques. One highlight was creating a replica of an 1880 Tlingit paddle that I donated to the Burke Museum, now used as a hands-on educational tool allowing students to physically engage with Tlingit history and craftsmanship. I used the data gathered to create templates for other Tlingit artists who want to craft paddles in traditional style, helping ensure specific techniques and designs are preserved and passed on to future generations.
T’laneq “Gathering for a Celebration” Gala
Paddle Donor & Speaker | 2022 – Ongoing
I support the annual T’laneq’ Gathering for a Celebration, a crucial fundraising event for the Northwest Indian College Foundation. This event generates scholarships and support for students attending the seven NWIC campuses, the only Tribal college serving Native Americans in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. In 2022, I donated a replica of an 1880 Tlingit paddle based on my research at the Burke Museum as part of the event’s fundraising efforts. I’ve also had the opportunity to speak as a student, sharing my experiences as a Native artist and NWIC alumnus. I continue to support T’laneq through donations of recent artwork prints for their fundraising efforts. The T’laneq’ Gathering embodies the Lummi value of “Lengesot,” taking care of ourselves, watching out for ourselves, and loving and caring for one another.
Malloy Village HOA
Board Chair (2022-2024), Secretary (2025-Present) | January 2022 – Present
Serving on the Malloy Village Homeowners Association Board since January 2022 is another way I work to build a strong, inclusive community in my Ferndale neighborhood. For me, it’s all about community building on a more local, day-to-day level, bringing the values of respect, collaboration, and inclusivity that are important in Tlingit culture into my immediate neighborhood. During my time as Chair (2022-2024), I led board meetings, facilitated community decision-making processes, oversaw management of shared spaces, and worked to resolve conflicts and build consensus among neighbors. One meaningful aspect of this role was bringing Tlingit values of respect and collaboration into everyday community leadership and working to incorporate more inclusive practices in community events. Starting in 2025, I transitioned from Chair to Secretary.
Ferndale Community Services Fundraiser
Art Donor | 2023 – Ongoing
I contribute to fundraising efforts for Ferndale Community Services, supporting local community support programs through my art. I initially donated a paddle decorated with my signature questioning eye logo, choosing this design specifically because it resonates with the mission of FCS and my understanding of the value of community connection. I continue to support their annual fundraiser through donations of art prints. Contributing to this fundraiser is a way to give back to my community and use my art as a force for positive change. Through these contributions, I help raise funds for important local services while strengthening connections between Ferndale’s Native and non-Native communities.
Patreon
KaaShaayí on Patreon – Click this link
Get updates on Cedar Spirit Foundation, Placemake Arts Northwest, teaching, and board work on Patreon.