Greetings, Halito! I'm Nanette Star (Yandell), a proud descendant of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. I also have an extended European heritage, including roots in the McFayden Clan from the Scottish Isles. This diverse background has driven my lifelong dedication to healing, racial equity, and advocacy. I currently serve as the Director of Policy & Planning for the California Consortium for Urban Indian Health (CCUIH). For over 15 years, I've been dedicated to advancing public and tribal health and policy. I focus strongly on racial equity and sovereignty and listen to indigenous knowledge to provide solutions. I've collaborated with many tribal nations across the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and California, leading initiatives that improve health outcomes through policy, systems, and environmental changes.My journey has also taken me to the California Strategic Growth Council, where I’ve been actively involved in health equity efforts. Before CCUIH, I served as the Assistant Director of a Public Health department in northern California. This role solidified my commitment to community well-being, racial justice, and recognizing the importance of actively changing the current systems that continue to include embedded segregation, racism, and disempowerment.I live in Northern California with my family and actively participate in local and regional change. I am an uninvited guest where I reside and call the traditional land of the Mechoopda home. They are a tribe of Maidu people, recognizing their distinctive spiritual relationship with this land and the waters that run through this area. Currently federally recognized as the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria. They continue to be inclusive and promote health for all that reside in this area, improving the lives of native and non-native residents.In this shared virtual space, I wish you health and joy. Yakoke!