CARA DUKEPOO

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

Projects: Hoosh’ii’ and ‘li lah : Revitalizing Diné PlaceKnowing and PlaceMaking

Cara Dukepoo is a Diné (Navajo) woman born into the Mą’íí deeshgíízhíníí (Coyote Pass People) clan and born for her paternal clan, Tábąąhá (Water's Edge). Her maternal grandparents are the Bitter Water Clan and Her paternal grandparent is Mountain's Edge Clan. She is also an adopted daughter of the Bear Clan of Tewa Village and her Tewa name is Osa Povi.

Cara has earned an Associate of Arts in Social Sciences from Diné College and also a Bachelor of Science degree in both Sociology and Applied Indigenous Studies from Northern Arizona University. A first-generation high school and college graduate, she has worked a multitude of jobs since her early teens including an internship at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory as an Environmental Chemist, a business manager for the traditional Hopi leadership of First Mesa Villages, an Academic Advisor/Librarian/Center Manager for Northland Pioneer College and for over 15 years she has volunteered in different capacities for KUYI Hopi Tribal Radio Station located in Northern Arizona. Cara is an avid backyard rez gardener and she also is revitalizing her family farm, Shush Povi Farms, L3C, which is located in the Four Corners Region. With over 20 years of experience in Tribal Governments, Higher Education, and Tribal Radio, Cara provides a unique perspective and insight to the work of Nááts'íilid Initiative.

cara@naatsiilid.org | LinkedIn