Photo: Tashia (right) with husband Josh outside Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome while celebrating their 10-year anniversary.
For Tashia, connection isn’t just a word—it’s a way of life. Whether it’s reconnecting with her people in Washington after living on the East Coast, building relationships with grantees, or networking with new faces and backgrounds, connection weaves a tapestry that has always been a core part of who Tashia is.
When asked to introduce herself, Tashia (she/her) always begins by introducing her family and her people. She is the granddaughter of Edward and Betty DeLaCruz and Elizabeth Perez and Tony and Roxanne Ogemageshig, and the daughter of Kamimi Ogemageshig and Lester DeLaCruz. She is an enrolled member of the Quinault Nation and a descendant of the White Earth Band of Anishinaabe. An Indigenous woman and mother of two children, her people and her family have shaped her outlook on life. Tashia grew up on the Quinault Reservation as the eldest of five, where she learned to recognize the importance of resources and opportunities for Indigenous youth, especially those who live on rural reservations like she did.
Tashia started playing basketball at a young age and the game opened doors for her. She played at the collegiate level at Clark College while studying to become a teacher. She graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelor’s and earned her Master’s in youth development leadership from Clemson University. While there, Tashia learned of the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute, where she worked with Indigenous youth across the country.
But Tashia knew she always wanted to return to Washington. When she learned of an opening at the Quinault Tribe’s education department, Tashia saw the perfect opportunity to return home and reconnect with her people. She served as the Cultural Specialist and Activities Coordinator before pivoting to Education Manager, where she oversaw programs and services, eventually establishing a Boys & Girls Club that offered after-school programs.
As a Program Associate at Inatai, Tashia works with the Grantmaking team to coordinate several funds and portfolios. In this role, Tashia ensures the grantmaking team is on track to achieve their goals—creating timelines, managing calendars and tasks, and serving as general team support.
“At Inatai, we get to see the bigger picture, and it’s helping enact change, not just for specific groups, but across the state,” Tashia shared.
Just as she returned to the Quinault Tribe to reconnect with and support her people, Tashia looks forward to sharing her connections and owning the power of her identity in her new role.
“There’s a lot of work already being done in Indigenous communities, but I would hope to help bring even more of that experience and my own connections to the foundation overall.”
When Tashia isn’t working, you can find her playing basketball with her daughter, reading a fantasy or mystery book, or beading. A self-proclaimed “book nerd,” her favorite novels include There, There by Tommy Orange and Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley.
“Representation matters so much,” Tashia noted. “Finding Indigenous authors that are writing very real stories is amazing, but also makes me feel so seen.”
