Our Team
Our Story
Papalaxsimisha was developed in 2014 by Jaylyn Suppah in partnership with the Juntos program of OSU- Open Campus. The program was created in response to the needs for college and career readiness in the Warm Springs community for youth and their families.
The name Papalaxsimisha was thought of and created with our Atwaii elder Arlitta Rhoan which means "unity in the ichishkin (Warm Springs) language.
The logo was created by Reina Estimo in 2015.
The program has evolved over the years recognizing the need and want for healing through increased community engagement, creating safe spaces, healing in many forms and meeting people where they are at.
Mission
Focusing on empowering Indigenous youth, families and community on their journey, using culturally based teaching and grounded in the awareness and acknowledgment of trauma and healing.
Meet Our Team
Itukdi wigwa (good day)
My English name is Rosetta Martinez. I look forward to receiving my Kiksht awawat (Wasco language) name in the near future!
I am a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. I am from the Wasco, Warm Springs, Grand Ronde, Pit River, Nisqually and Yaqui tribes.
I come from the Smith, Scott, Kalama, Kukup and Martinez families which also gives me Hawaiian, French/German, Jewish, and Chinese ancestry.
My parents are Trudie Smith (atwai) and Henry Martinez from Warm Springs Oregon, and I have 3 brothers.
I was formally married to Gunner Herkshan from the Klamath/Modoc tribes. We have 8 children, I gave birth to 5 of them, and also we have many grandchildren all from Warm Springs Oregon, therefore my love for many tribes comes from having a large and diverse family.
My role with Papalaxsimish is as a Facilitator.
I started working with the Papalaxsimisha program in 2018 after observing and being inspired by the amazing work being done by our program director, Jaylyn Suppah.
At that time the Papalaxsimisha program was with the Prevention program, which I’ve always been supportive of as a volunteer and community member.
As a youth growing up in a highly impacted community I was growing up inside of heavy trauma and those experiences inspired me to be a part of bringing positive healing to our community.
Like many of my peers, I didn’t know where to turn to in order to get positive support or who to reach out to, which is also why I wanted to be involved in doing anything that I could to help my people.
The work revolves around helping my people, with the priority being our youth.
This work includes but is not limited to; community outreach and engagement then hosting classes that come directly from listening to our community like: Parent
Group, Women’s Craft Circle, Student Advocacy, Moms Talking Circle, ROOTS/Bridges art class, college tours for students, Title VI Indian Parent Committee, researching the impacts of historical and generational trauma in our community and encouraging healing from those impacts, being
trauma informed while working with our people, partnering with other programs,
trying to improve systems change that have been harmful to our people through advocacy, advocating for educational funding, more trauma informed training, supporting language revitalization, reproductive Justice, Health Equity/addressing racism as a public health crisis, talking about reproductive health with our people.
This work is imperative at building meaningful, genuine and lasting relationships with our people.
Most recently I’ve also joined our Tribal Education Committee to further advocate for Native education.
I intend to keep moving this healing work forward not only in my personal life but in the work that encourages my people.
It’s been a lifelong goal of mine to set the example, not only for my own kids but for all of our people,
If weird and quirky little rez nerd can beat the odds and make a positive impact then we all have the ability to rise above any trauma or negative circumstances that have impacted our people for generations by working collectively.
What impacts my people also impacts me and the future generations to come.
Colleta Macy
I am a tribal citizen of the Confederated tribes of Warm Springs, I represent my Wasco/Warm Springs/Nez Perce bloodlines, I am always striving to learn and connect with my indigenous culture to decolonize my life.
I wear many hats and do many things inside and outside of my community. I am a contractor/facilitator for Papalaxsimisha, an artist, activist, mom, mentor, and so much more. I love to help my community and the communities around us. I speak up for those who can't and I uplift voices that are silenced, I stand up for what is right and do my best to be a good human being.
I am also a tattoo artist and muralist, and use many different art forms and apply my art to everyday life. I don’t know it all but I know enough to create and express myself and help others do the same. I am always up for learning new things, staying teachable in all aspects of life.
I have accomplished many personal goals and have lived experiences that have taught me all that I know today, and I am happy to share those teachings when I have the opportunity.
Some fun facts about me are that I love to laugh, make jokes, and see others happy. I see art all around me and am pretty creative. I am always happy to help others and be a part of meaningful experiences. I am passionate about activism, culture, community, and humanity. I have 8 cats, 4 dogs, and a tarantula. I love all animals big or small, even the creepy crawlers. I love being a mom and soon to be a grandma. Children/youth are my life and I love all of them, even the ones who aren’t my own, they are our future and they all matter, no matter what.
Tii-xat-nai
My name is Tii-xat-nai, english name Raylene Thomas. I was born and raised in Warm Springs, Oregon, and I come from the Warm Springs, Wasco, Yakama people. My parents are Lavena Ike and Ronald Thomas Sr, maternal grandparents are the late Daisy Ike and Frederick Ike Sr., and paternal grandparents are Roberta Lucei and the late Leslie Thomas. My partner and I currently live here at home on the Warm Springs Reservation and we have a blended family with four children.
Growing up I was a late 80’s early 90’s kid who spent most days playing outside and was raised in our traditional ways as well as in the pow-wow circle. I helped my mom take care of our home and siblings, lived for basketball and pow-wow’s, barely made it through high school and joined the Air Force in 2006.
Being away from home, seeing different parts of the world and different cultures, gaining worldly experiences outside of our homelands, facing some very difficult times and growing pains in life, is definitely one of the most memorable, eye opening, and treasured chapters of my life for sure for so many reasons. However, home is where the heart is and reconnecting with home, community and our way of life has been a huge spiritual experience and like many of our elders told me before I left and when I came home, home and our ways of life will always be in your heart no matter what, no matter where you go or how much time passes and they couldn’t have been more right.
I joined the Papalaxsimisha family in August of 2022. Most of my background is in Criminal Justice from the military, being a Probation Officer, and completing my Associates Degree in Criminal Justice.
These days, I enjoy my home, family, music, learning, being a part of the community in different ways, and just continuing to learn and grow as a person.
‘Myatat
Jillisa Suppah is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Her family is from the Taix Band of the Columbia River and grew up and was raised in the Simnasho/Schoolie Flat area (North End of the Reservation).
Jillisa’s mother is Joyce Suppah, and her maternal grandparents are Margaret-Frank Suppah and the late Franklin Suppah. Her dad was the late Leland Thompson Jr, and her paternal grandparents are Nola & Raphael Quahpama. Jillisa is a designated traditional food gatherer for the Simnasho Longhouse (appointed by her kathla Margaret in 2016? After the passing of her atwai auntie ‘Myatat / Lisa Suppah).
Jillisa is a Madras High School alumni.
Attended Chemeketa Community College in Salem Oregon.
Received her Bachelors of Social Work (BSW) from the School of Social Work at Portland State University in 2019.
She first started as a Papalaxsimisha volunteer during her college years.
Jillisa is now the Papalaxsimisha coordinator since (2020).
Within her role and focus area, she is a mentor for the native american student union (nasu), does food sovereignty & first food preservation work, Two-spirit & LGBTQ+ allyship/education, reproductive health education, and overall promotion of health & wellness in her programming. She is passionate about holding space for youth, two-spirit & lgbtq+ relatives, incarcerated relatives, women, and as well as promoting self-care and community care.
Favorite memory being with the Papalaxsimisha team?
When I was able to bring Indigenous author Elaine Alec as a surprise guest for my ladies in my women's talking circle group. This happened at the end of our group reading of her book Calling My Spirit Back.
Lorien Scott
Lorien Scott is a proud wife, mother of four and passionate community advocate who believes that her best knowledge and lessons came from experience. A graduate of Riverside Indian School in Anadarko, Oklahoma “Once a Brave, always a Brave” Lorien has carried the values of resilience, hard work and heart into every part of her life.
Her journey hasn’t been tradition but it’s been rich with purpose. From exploring countless jobs to navigating motherhood, Lorien has learned the importance of meeting people where they are and offering understanding without judgment. Her energy is bold, her voice is real and her humor and honesty create spaces where others feel seen and supported.
Within the Papalaxsimisha program, Lorien serves in several roles. She Co-facilitates a Women’s Craft Circle, a safe and creative space that originally grew from conversations around domestic violence and healing. She also works as a Parent Advocate, standing beside families to strengthen support systems for children and help parents feel empowered and connected. As a Child Respite Coordinator, Lorien is working to ensure families have hands-on assistance when they need it most.
Additionally, Lorien is a Reproductive Health Auntie Specialist, supporting the community with education and advocacy around all the repro goods!
For Lorien, Papalaxsimisha isn’t just a job. It's home. It’s a place where she can use her life experience, professional insight and passion to help her community heal, grow, and thrive. A program where she gets to use her favorite quote often "being comfortable being uncomfortable"
Brevin Holliday
Jaylyn Suppah