We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lynn James(Kiona). We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lynn below.
Lynn, thank you so much for joining us and offering your lessons and wisdom for our readers. One of the things we most admire about you is your generosity and so we’d love if you could talk to us about where you think your generosity comes from.
“Give-a-ways” are part of my Yakama culture, passed down from my elders. We have them at birthdays, funerals, and other cultural ceremonies. During these ceremonies, all family members bring things to give away to people attending, much like the potlatch ceremonies of Northwest coast tribes.
My mother is a survivor of Indian Boarding Schools. Over time, she returned to her Indigenous beliefs and values to pass them down to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. That is the job of our elders, to share our culture with the youth. In our culture, it’s important to be of service to others, especially, our elders, our veterans, and our little ones.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, and a descendant of the Cowlitz, Nisqually, and Chehalis Tribes, as well as the great-granddaughter of Mary Kiona. I’m a survivor of colonization and genocide. And a survivor of severe child abuse. I spent my early adult years unhoused, with an eighth-grade education and loads of intergenerational and childhood trauma. I know what it feels like to have nothing. Everything I went through built my character and my strength, and made me the person I am today. Today, I’m a credentialed professional with an MSW, CADCIII, QMHP-C, with over 3 decades as a social worker, as a renowned and sought-after mentor and public speaker in the recovery and mental health communities, and with experience as an adjunct professor in Portland, Oregon.
More importantly, today I’m extremely fortunate to be at the helm of the Mary Kiona Foundation, leading our important, community-driven work. Mary Kiona Foundation is a nonprofit that understands economic insecurity and housing instability as significant issues our community faces. The National Coalition for the Homeless reports that Native Americans are almost four times more likely to experience houselessness than the general population. Income disparities often create a cycle of disadvantage that affects individuals and families for generations. As part of our long-term vision, we are working tirelessly to develop low-income housing options, which we believe are crucial in addressing the pressing need for economic stability and housing security among our community.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Passion. Curiosity. Connection. Without passion, there is no potential. When we are curious, we remain teachable and become lifelong learners. My spirituality and culture connect me to my community, creator, and my ancestors. These qualities are the most important to me.
If I could give any advice, it’s that you can’t quit five minutes before the miracle. Network with individuals that know more than you. Be open-minded to working with people that do not look like you and allow them to walk in their greatness. Have humility. It’s okay to not know. It’s okay to make mistakes, let yourself off the hook. Give yourself grace and mercy. Surround yourself with positive people. You can learn from anything, even if it’s a mistake. As they say, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” Be ready, then you don’t have to get ready.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played an important role in your development?
Not so much a specific book, but Murray Bowen’s theory of Intergenerational Trauma. Having been developed in the 1950s by a white man, of course it lacked a cultural lens. Despite that, it helped me understand the historical pain me and my ancestors experienced; it helped me understand where I came from, so I could know where I was going.
I’ve also found anything by Iyanla Vanzant to be incredibly helpful. Reading her books was like having spiritual surgery. I no longer allowed my past to dictate my future. She helped me heal that little wounded mixed girl who never quite fit into her Native or Black communities. She helped me take responsibility for my happiness, be unapologetic about my DNA, and not ask permission to walk in my greatness. She even motivated me to write my own book.
Contact Info:
- Website: Marykionafoundation.org
- Facebook: Mary Kiona Foundation
