Navajo Elder Phyllis Smith is an educator, breast cancer survivor, and patient advocate. Phyllis explains how her medical team, family support, and healthy dose humor helped her heal from cancer. “To see me here tells you that cancer, you can beat it. There’s all different ways, it depends on yourself. You’ve got to be determined, you’ve got to set yourself forward, you’ve got to plan ahead. [...] there’s always somebody out there, nowadays, who can help you”. She is joined by her son Tyson King, who has supported her in every step of her journey.
Phyllis E. Smith, Dine, grew up in the hogbacks of Rehoboth New Mexico, herding sheep, practicing her Navajo culture, and is the daughter of the late Red Smith and Johanna Haskeltsie. Phyllis graduated from Gallup High school and began working at Wingate High School. Phyllis was employed with the BIA/BIE for 25 years and retired in 2006 when she was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. After undergoing intense Chemotherapy and Radiation treatment at the UNM Cancer Center in Albuquerque New Mexico, she returned to the Gallup area and became actively involved with many organizations, including the Eastern Agency Council of Aging, and the Wingate Elementary School Board association both of which she held office for. Phyllis returned to education and received her AA in Elementary education and her BA in Elementary Education with emphasis on Native Native American Studies, and returned to work for the Navajo Nation Head start program. Phyllis again retired from her duties as a Pre-school teacher having served in the Pinedale NM, Churchrock NM and Chichiltah/Jones Ranch NM areas. She remains actively involved with the American Cancer Society, the NM Cancer Center support services, The NN Eastern Agency Council of Aging, The NN Foster Grandparent Program, and is very active in her local Senior centers. Phyllis is the mother of three beautiful children Michelle Martin, Travis King, and Tyson King. Phyllis is KinYaa’aanii, (Towering House), born for Tsi’naajinii (Black Streek Wood People), her Cheii’s are Nakai Dine, (Mexican), and her Nali’s are Bil’agana, (Anglo). Her passions are arts and crafts, her love for crocheting and sewing is unwavering and you can always find her with a basket full of yarn and crochet hooks whenever you see her out and about.
Resources:
New Mexico Cancer Center Gallup
Relay For Life - American Cancer Society
Indian Health Services: Find Health Care
American Indian Cancer Foundation
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Indigenae theme song: “Nothing Can Kill My Love For You” by Semiah
Instagram: @semiah.smith
Find her on Youtube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.