Our Staff

Interim Executive Director

Ethel is the Founder and Interim Executive Director of  Yee Ha’ólníi Doo.  In order to do COVID relief work, she is on a leave of absence as a Member of the law firm of Kanji & Katzen, PLLC.  She is an enrolled Navajo tribal member and previously served as the 11th Attorney General of the Navajo Nation.  She is a

Interim Executive Director

Ethel is the Founder and Interim Executive Director of  Yee Ha’ólníi Doo.  In order to do COVID relief work, she is on a leave of absence as a Member of the law firm of Kanji & Katzen, PLLC.  She is an enrolled Navajo tribal member and previously served as the 11th Attorney General of the Navajo Nation.  She is a graduate of Harvard Law School, Harvard Kennedy School, and Harvard College. 

Deputy Director

Cassandra Begay engages in transformational organizing with Native communities in Utah and across the country to protect ancestral lands and elevate Native voices and issues. She is the Founder of Defend the Sacred Consulting, which seeks to close the gap of social inequality by building relationships to each other and our 

Deputy Director

Cassandra Begay engages in transformational organizing with Native communities in Utah and across the country to protect ancestral lands and elevate Native voices and issues. She is the Founder of Defend the Sacred Consulting, which seeks to close the gap of social inequality by building relationships to each other and our environment. Cassandra is  also Co-Founder and former Tribal Liaison for the Native Advocacy organization, PANDOS, a Native led nonprofit that advocates for basic human rights and the protection of our shared home. She is a graduate of Utah State.

K’é Kinship Care Package Program Manager

Mary is Red Running Into the Water clan, born to the Edge Water clan. Her maternal grandfathers are of the Reed People Clan and her paternal grandfathers are of the Manygoats clan. Her matriarchal roots start from Inscription House, Arizona but raised in Coppermine, Arizona. Mary brings 20 years of 

K’é Kinship Care Package Program Manager

Mary is Red Running Into the Water clan, born to the Edge Water clan. Her maternal grandfathers are of the Reed People Clan and her paternal grandfathers are of the Manygoats clan. Her matriarchal roots start from Inscription House, Arizona but raised in Coppermine, Arizona. Mary brings 20 years of work and community advocacy. She leads our K’é Kinship Care Package Program. She enjoys spending time with her family. 

Logistics Coordinator

Theresa is Deer Springs clan, born for Salt clan.  Her maternal grandfathers are Edgewater clan and her paternal grandfathers are Rock Gap clan.  She is from Coalmine Mesa, Arizona. She has worked for 20+ years in positive youth development strategies for communities within western Navajo.  For the past 9 years she ha

Logistics Coordinator

Theresa is Deer Springs clan, born for Salt clan.  Her maternal grandfathers are Edgewater clan and her paternal grandfathers are Rock Gap clan.  She is from Coalmine Mesa, Arizona. She has worked for 20+ years in positive youth development strategies for communities within western Navajo.  For the past 9 years she has served on the Diné College Board of Regents and currently serve as the Vice-President.  She has a B.S. in Business Administration from Northern Arizona University.  She leads our Navajo Seamstresses United COVID-19 Dooda sub-initiative and responds to the needs of hospitals, first responders, police departments and care facilities to meet the shortages of masks, hospital gowns, surgical caps, hair covers, face shields and isolation bunny suits for direct Covid-19 patient care.  “Every stitch holds hope and prayers to its recipient and it truly is a Labor of Love!”  

Lead for America Fellow

Shandiin is a Lead for America Hometown Fellow working in her home community of Monument Valley on the Navajo Nation. She received her bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from Duke University. She is dedicated to advocating for policies that directly impact Indigenous communities. As a staff member, she leads our Kin

Lead for America Fellow

Shandiin is a Lead for America Hometown Fellow working in her home community of Monument Valley on the Navajo Nation. She received her bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from Duke University. She is dedicated to advocating for policies that directly impact Indigenous communities. As a staff member, she leads our Kinship Care Package and PPE Distributions for the Navajo Nation communities in Utah. Shandiin is also leading the initiative for the Winter Clothing Drive and Kids Coloring Contest through the Youth Program. Her work has been instrumental in advocating for her community of Monument Valley, UT.