I am Dine'; Tangle People Clan and born for the Deer Water Clan, Maternal grandfather Salt Clan and her paternal grandfather's clan is the Rock Gap People Clan. As a child, I attended a U.S. Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs Boarding School in Tolani Lake, Arizona, 100 miles northeast of Flagstaff, Arizona. I am a boarding school survivor. In 1965, after marrying my husband, James Peshlakai, an accomplished silver and goldsmith, I took up silversmithing and, to this day, make jewelry every day as well as weave. I know the issues and challenges of District 7 and worked tirelessly for the communities of rural and tribal Northern Arizona. I know we need our voices heard and made more effective every day. As a Precinct and State Committee Member of the Arizona Democratic Party, I have worked or volunteered on the majority of tribal, county, state and federal elections since 1974. I have traveled all of Arizona's Legislative District 7 to register voters, collect signatures for candidate petitions, referendums, and educate constituents on the US census and the 2021 Redistricting of Arizona. I am committed to be the voice of the people of rural and tribal Arizona. |