My name is Becky Ann Martinez, and I am of the Diné Nation. I grew up in many parts of New Mexico, Upper Fruitland, Dulce, Nageezi, and Lybrook. Understanding and speaking Diné, and also understanding Apache, helps me connect more deeply when traveling through different communities.
I was raised by my grandparents until I was 15, when my grandfather passed on. My journey in advocacy began when my brother, Calvin Willie Martinez, went missing in May of 2019. Advocating for him ignited a calling in me, to do more, to be more, for the generations yet to come.
I plan to return to school, though choosing a path forward hasn’t been easy. What I do know is this: to me, advocacy means loving people from your heart and helping them find healthy ways to face life’s hardest challenges. It means reminding others that they are not alone, that everyone struggles, and that they deserve to be seen and uplifted.
I look forward to growing with my state and my people. That’s what gives me hope and happiness as I continue walking this path.