Coming from a deeply rooted foundation of social activism and movement building, Christinia Eala has championed for human rights in many capacities over the years. As the founder and director of development of Tiyospaye Winyan Maka, meaning ‘Extended Family of Women of the Earth’ in the Lakota language, Christinia has led important work addressing crisis and systemic change for over 42 years now.

​​

She is originally from the Rosebud Indian Reservation and moved to Fort Collins, Colorado in 1955 at a young age. Christinia takes care to walk in a sacred manner, keeping in mind these powerful words, and walking in the knowledge that Great Spirit is with each of us and we are destined to join our relatives under the Sacred Tree just as Tasunke Witko spoke of. While Colorado has remained her home base, Chrstinia’s dedications to a traditional way of life and her extensive work with Indigenous families in crisis have led her all across Turtle Island. 

​

Christinia currently sits on the Board of directors for the Boulder county United Nations Association chapter, as well as the Advisory Board for Colorado’s Office of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives. She has held longstanding partnerships with several Indigenous-led nonprofits and organizations, such as a deep partnership held with the Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition and the national 'Toward Right Relations' campaign with FriendsPeaceTeams.