Ami Palmanteer is a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes: Methow, Moses/Columbia, Wenatchi, and Entiat bands. Ami has an AAS in social services and is near completion of certificates in Early Childhood Education. Ami is fluent in nselxcin (Colville-Okanagan Salish) and is a lead ECEAP teacher at Salish School of Spokane. She currently works part-time with our team. Ami is a mother to her three children and also her younger brother.

Ami was drawn to this work as she has always wanted to help others and feels that Indigenous Birth Justice is incredibly meaningful. She is excited to contribute to increased cultural knowledge and support during pregnancy and parenting for our urban indigenous community. Ami looks forward to building strong relationships with native families. 

Crystal Conant is a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes: San Poil and Sinixt bands. She is fluent in nselxcn (Colville-Okanagan Salish) and is very active with area canoe journeys.

Crystal is part of Indigenous Birth Justice because as a young, single mother of her son, she was faced with many challenges and few opportunities to connect with cultural traditions and other indigenous parents in the urban setting. Crystal enjoys supporting her community with parenting mentorship, education about child development, and Coming of Age traditions. She is excited to learn more about supporting pregnant and birthing people through doula and peer breastfeeding trainings so she can share what she learns with her community.

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Danica Parkin / Pila?sis (Sinixt / Synackstx) is a doula and Family Nurse Practitioner who also works in pediatric primary care. She completed her doula training at Seattle Midwifery School in 2006 and it has been her honor to attend the births of friends and family. Danica completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2010 and her Masters of Science in Nursing in 2012.

Reconnecting to and reclaiming Synackstx and Plateau traditions around pregnancy, birth, and parenting has been a passion of Danica’s since becoming pregnant with her first child. Danica birthed her three children at home with the help of midwives. She has been proud to provide her children with breastmilk, the first traditional food, into toddlerhood. As a Nurse Practitioner, she has provided care for individuals across the age spectrum in public and community health settings.