Mary Kiona, a Yakama Tribal member, was born in the 1800’s and lived to be well over 115 years old. She is well known for her skill in weaving cedar root baskets. She lived through small pox that was intentionally spread to Indigenous communities through infected army blankets, boarding schools, loss of culture, and genocide. She lived a long and strong life through maintaining her culture,creating art, eating a traditional native diet, and other living in community. She demonstrated how maintaining and nurturing a strong cultural identity can strengthen community and support wellness. Her life is the model that the Mary Kiona Foundation is built on.