Navajo/Diné
Kim is born from Naakaii Diné (Mexican People) and from Tsi’naajinii (Black Streak People) clans. Born in Tuba City, maternally from Tolani Lake, AZ located in the southwestern area of the Navajo Nation. Growing up on and off the Navajo Nation, and residing in various tribal communities throughout her life, Kim is passionate about utilizing her education and experience to promote healthy living through kinship values.
Kim is an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant and has over 10 years of experience in peer-counseling, clinical and educational lactation. Kim’s work has been inclusive of tribal and culturally diverse communities serving the needs of prenatal, newborns, and post-partum mothers and families. She is a Co-Instructor for the Indigenous Breastfeeding Counselor training course providing cultural breastfeeding and clinical education to those that can serve their community throughout Turtle Island. She also has independently worked with Changing Woman Initiative assisting families with breastfeeding support out of New Mexico. She is also serving her second term on the United States Breastfeeding Committee Board of Directors.
Currently, Kim continues to work at ValleyWise Health Medical Center as a hospital lactation consultant for eight years and is serving the front lines assisting families and COVID mothers during the pandemic with breastfeeding and hospital policies. In December 2020, she implemented the first Arizona Lactation Mentorship Pilot Program at Valleywise Hospital mentoring three interns. This provides the students access to clinical lactation hours to create strategic initiatives to bring BIPOC diversity, equity and inclusion to the field of lactation.
Currently a member of the Advisory Council Committee for the Navajo Nation Breastfeeding Coalition and the Urban Dine’ Community Representative for the Phoenix area. This new role will include breastfeeding home visits and telehealth lactation support serving the BIPOC community. Kim’s extensive experience in this field has led to opportunities in consulting, which along with her husband synthesized their consulting business in Tribal Indemnity. Within three years, Tribal Indemnity has assumed responsibility of complex projects and strategic planning with one of the largest Tribes in Arizona. She recently established her own small business, Indigenous Breastfeeding Az, dba. Providing lactation support, community building and collaboration.
Kim enjoys spending time with her husband of twenty-four years and three daughters of whom she breastfed until they were 2 years old. She also loves early morning runs, hiking, boxing and yoga.