“Miss Ann,” as everyone knows her, has worked in prevention for over 20 years. She is a natural community organizer and makes the most of her resources through networking and engaging partners to serve as many community members as possible. She is invested in her community and wants to make it a better place for the health and wellness for future generations.

Owen’s remarks from the ceremony:

“Miss Ann works incredibly hard to mobilize a community that is fighting to reduce the results of generational trauma. She understands the importance of comprehensive prevention planning and how to integrate the prevention language and translate that language for her community to be culturally sensitive. She goes above and beyond her annual prevention plan each year and is never satisfied with good enough.

Miss Ann leads a group of youth on an annual substance-free canoe journey, connecting with other coastal tribes to build cultural awareness among youth. She organizes a weekly Drum Circle to honor Quileute tribal traditions. The Drum Circle draws tribal members from neighboring Hoh and Makah tribes, who travel great distances to participate.

Miss Ann coordinates several healing and organizing groups in the community to further community connectedness. Miss Ann attended the Washington Substance Abuse Prevention Skills Training in September and now plans to complete her paperwork to become a Certified Prevention Professional. Miss Ann’s prevention work is admired by other tribal prevention specialists. She is looked to as a leader for her efforts and fearless ability to get programs going in the face of opposition.