My Lingít name is T’óok’ Xoo Háni, which means Standing Among the Nettles. I was born and raised in Dzantik'i Heení (otherwise known as Juneau, Alaska). I am adopted Kaagwaantaan (Eagle Wolf Clan) from the Wolf House in Sitka. I was brought in by Cecelia Westman and Lyle James. My mother's people are Stó꞉lō/Coast Salish from Hope, British Columbia. My father's people are Tlingit and Greek, Lukaax.ádi (Raven-Sockeye) from Jilkoot Kwáan. I have grown to love and appreciate local plants and medicine as a way of connecting to my ancestors and culture. In my reconnection journey, I have found ethnobotany with the help, encouragement and inspiration of many gracious Indigenous teachers and mentors in the community. I work with youth in prevention and wellness and want to find ways to safely incorporate traditional plants and medicine into social-emotional learning and holistic wellbeing. I also enjoy making non-alcoholic cocktails with local plants. I love learning about plants and the wide variety within each family; including their many useful properties. I look forward to finding more ways to deepen my connection to the land, Lingít culture, community and healing and I'm excited to be in the company of so many brilliant plant enthusiasts.
