How did you become interested in this line of work? (tell us a little bit about your background)

For many Mexican American families here in the Southwest, many of us witnessed folk healing in our homes most often via a grandmother. I was intrigued by my own great-grandmother’s work catching babies or working with plants, and loved hearing stories about her work in the community. That piece of my family history, as well as the death of my brother in his late twenties, ignited my path into learning traditional healing ways.

Please share a wellness tip or word of advice that relates to the workshop you will be presenting.

The word nature comes to mind. I was taught that there is no word for “nature” in my original native languages because we are not apart from it. We are simply one piece of nature. Knowing this helps us (re)connect to the elements in all we do.

What or who inspires you? (This could be anything from your mentor to your favorite quote)

I am always inspired by little children’s imaginations and stories and life lessons of those in their elder years.

What personal or professional accomplishments are you most proud of?

Writing and having my book published is up there, as well as a project I took on when I was forty-five. I drove a huge mobile kitchen all around Arizona and Utah to teach cooking skills to Native folks on the reservations.