The Record.

Raised on a working ranch on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation, in a family that still holds generational timber and farmland. A descendant of Chief Moses, Chief Kamiakin, and Lucy Covington — the Colville leader who defeated the termination of her tribe. “Birthed into politics,” as she puts it.

Graduated Gonzaga Preparatory School with honors, then took three bachelor's degrees at the University of Washington — communications, comparative literature, and American Indian studies — with a certificate in strategic negotiations. Student activist and advisor to the university's president.

Elected to the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Council as the youngest member in its history. Governance began at home: land, enterprise, and the responsibilities of a sovereign nation.

Three-plus consecutive elected terms: Northwest Region board member, Senior Executive Board representative, Finance Chair, Energy Initiative Chair, and Secretary — elected by acclamation — with fiduciary oversight of a multi-million-dollar national organization.

Won District 5A in 2014; re-elected in 2016 as the only Democrat in North Idaho to carry a district Trump won. Served on Energy, Environment & Technology; Resources & Conservation; and State Affairs. Known for the teacher loan-forgiveness bill and as an early champion of Medicaid expansion — passed by ballot initiative in 2018 with 61%.

At 38, in a state where over 90% of the electorate is white and no prior infrastructure existed to draw on, she became the first Native American woman nominated for governor in United States history — winning the primary 58.4% to 40.1%. There was no playbook: she functioned as CEO of a high-growth enterprise, recruiting and leading a 100-plus-person team across 35 counties and building a donor base from scratch, under sustained national scrutiny. Along the way she championed Medicaid expansion for roughly 62,000 underserved Idahoans and defended the exclusive gaming revenue that funds health, education, and welfare for Idaho's five tribal nations.

Became the subject of PAULETTE, a Sundance-funded documentary short by Heather Rae, screened from the Seattle International Film Festival to Pocahontas Reframed. Founded Save the American Salmon, taking the case for breaching the four lower Snake River dams to the Biden administration.

Won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and carried 285,864 votes against a two-term incumbent, raising over $1.1 million — again without corporate money.

Co-founded Skyetel, a national and international telecommunications provider, and Skyetel Sovereign — fiber infrastructure, sovereign data systems, sovereign wealth fund strategy, and Section 17 / 8(a) contracting pathways for tribal nations.

Her strategy practice, built on lived experience: sovereignty and self-determination strategy, tribal government advisory, sovereign wealth funds — and pioneering sovereign digital payment corridors, database systems, and international transportation networks. Infrastructure that has never before existed for tribal nations.

Founder of Ashara Nova, a conscious leadership academy — small cohorts, admission by application, training emerging leaders in presence, strategy, and stewardship.