By Venessa Sandoval, Salish Kootenai College Human Resource Director
2025-2026 Indigenous Visionaries: Women’s Leadership Program
My story begins with a cross-cultural love story. My Navajo mother, Darlene met a Crow woman, Jacalyn at a tribal college, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) in New Mexico and they fell in love. I was born and raised on the Crow Nation reservation, located in Montana. I am an enrolled Navajo, but shaped by the Big Sky country, and fortunate to grow up with two beautiful cultures.
My path through higher education was a “long route” while I navigated the complexities of life, but every step of that journey taught me something about the power of persistence.
Finding Control in the Classroom
In my work in higher education, I often hear from students who struggled with school—whether in elementary or high school. For many, school felt like a place of disconnection, affected by learning disabilities or a lack of desire to be there.
My experience was the exact opposite. I loved school.
While many saw school as a chore, I saw it as the only thing I could actually control. My home life was rough, and as a child, I had no say in it. Growing up with two gay moms in that era was difficult for me, and our household was often overshadowed by alcoholism, violence, and abandonment.
Yet, when I got to school, I knew I would be fed. I knew my teachers would make me feel safe. Because I couldn’t control what happened at home, I poured energy into what I could change: my grades and my performance in sports.
My “Second Home” and My Savior
While my two moms did the best they could with what they knew, the true anchor of my life was my grandmother, Joan. She was Jacalyn’s mother, and she was our savior.
She was our second home, our church, and she unconditionally took care of us as if we were her own. When I was with her, I felt close to a higher power.
Joan was a teacher, and getting a college education was an important value for her. She provided the spiritual and emotional foundation that allowed my brother and me to survive the “rollercoaster” of our childhood.
A Message to Students Finding Their Way
To every student currently struggling at home or feeling lost in the system: Find a passion and stick to it. If it’s sports, use it as your stress management. If it’s academics, keep your mind full of curiosity and hunt for the answers. Whenever I felt the weight of things I couldn’t control, I jumped into my schoolwork. I pushed myself toward the education I knew I needed to succeed. I used my stress as fuel.
Professional Advice for the Next Generation of Leaders
For those of you looking to step into leadership roles but struggling to find your footing or confidence, here is what I have learned:
- Network Constantly: Your community is your greatest asset.
- Find and Be a Mentor: We rise by lifting others.
- Stay Mindful: Take criticism not as a setback, but as a free lesson.
- Live in the Present: Someone wise once told me, “You cannot change the past, you cannot predict the future, you can only do the best you can today.”
Most importantly: Be you. Don’t forget where you come from. We are resilient Native American women; we all have a story to tell and a goal to accomplish.
We are all cheering each other on.
Venessa Sandoval, Salish Kootenai College Human Resource Director.
Jacalyn BearClaw, my other mom who at times was a disciplinarian to me in her own humble way.
My Kaala (grandmother), Joan Horn, she was my savior in this world.
Ada White, my auntie/mom, who was direct with her guidance and encouragement.
Darlene Sandoval, my mother, was a tough lady who fought her battle with Scleroderma and loved her grandkids dearly.
