Laraya works to improve the internal capacity of the team through collaboration and conversation.

Laraya Johnson (Oglala Lakota) grew up on the Puget Sound of WA state. She currently lives on the Coast Salish Sea, which is the traditional territory of Lummi and Nooksack Peoples. Laraya is a student at Western Washington University studying American Cultural studies and American Indian studies.

She also serves on the council of the Native American Student Union at WWU.  After two internships with Indigenous Impact Co., Laraya became a Project Manager in August 202.

Prior to her current work, Laraya completed an internship with her Leksi (uncle) Sean Sherman, The Sioux Chef, where she learned about decolonizing Indigenous foodways as a path to heal our bodies, communities, land, and spirit. The work of her family inspires her, and she commits herself to Indigenous resurgence efforts with love as the driving force.

She feels the prayers of Ancestors seven generations before her, and she takes advantage of any opportunity to care for the seven generations ahead of her. Laraya believes as individuals we are limitless, and Indigenous communities are as well.