We Are Committed to Language Resurgence and Education

Dr. Merrick is a Hoopa Valley Tribal member and the Director of Research and Development. She is a Founder and Co-Director of Xine:wh-Ding and the Hupa Language Immersion Nest, an Auntie-Teacher in the Nest and a parent of a Nest student. She has a Hupa Language Teaching Credential from the Hoopa Valley Tribe. She holds a PhD in Education with a focus on Language Literacy and Culture from UC Berkeley. Her undergraduate thesis and Doctoral dissertation helped document and build much of the philosophical foundation for the vision of the school based on conversations with community members and research praxis.

Dr. Merrick has experience in teaching and developing curriculum at all age levels from early childhood to higher education. Prior to working full time at Xine:wh-ding, Dr. Merrick was a Professor in the Child Development Department at California Polytechnic Humboldt.

Mrs. Tracy is a Hoopa Valley Tribal Member and is the Director of Outreach and Community Partnerships. She is a Founder and Co-Director of Xine:wh-Ding and the Hupa Language Immersion Nest, an Auntie-Teacher in the Nest and a parent of a Nest student. She has a Hupa Language Teaching Credential from the Hoopa Valley Tribe. She has nearly fifteen years of experience in the field of Indigenous Education, including having served as the Education Director of the Hoopa Valley Tribe and later the Indian Education and Native Languages Program Director for the Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified School District.

Through both Tribal government and public school experience she has worked extensively with teachers, administrators, community partners, and various grant projects supporting all ages of learning to develop curriculum, programming, and culturally-responsive education for Indigenous students and their families.  She has a BAH from Stanford University in Comparative Studies in Race & Ethnicity with an emphasis on International Indigenous Self-Determination as well as an MA in Human & Social Development from the University Victoria where she completed the Indigenous Governance Graduate Program.

Ms. Hailey is a Hoopa Valley Tribal Member and the Director of Operations. She is a Founder and Co-Director of Xine:wh-Ding and the Hupa Language Immersion Nest as well as an Auntie-Teacher in the Nest. She has a Hupa Language Teaching Credential from the Hoopa Valley Tribe. She has a Master of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis with a focus on Indigenous Communities and Program Management and a BAH from Stanford University in Feminist Studies with a minor in Native American Studies.

With more than 10 years of management experience within nonprofits and the Hoopa Tribal Education Association, she has extensive experience partnering with tribal programs, local public schools, community members, elders and families to create and implement cultural, language, educational and wellness curriculum and programming in our community.

Ms. Sanchez is a Hoopa tribal Member and the Cultural Coordinator. She is a Founder of Xine:wh-Ding and the Hupa Language Immersion Nest as well as an Auntie-Teacher in the Nest.

She holds a Hupa Language Teaching Credential from the Hoopa Valley Tribe. She is a skilled cultural practitioner with extensive expertise and knowledge in Na:tinixwe culture, ceremonies, stories, traditional foods and language. She has more than 10 years of experience working with Indigenous youth within the Hoopa Tribal Education Association and has extensive experience in developing and teaching Hupa Language and Cultural curriculum.

Mrs. Guyer is the Family Outreach Coordinator. She joined Xine:wh-Ding in the second year of the Immersion Nest and is a parent of a Nest student. In addition to helping with just about anything and everything, she helps coordinate activities and family outreach for the Immersion Nest.

She grew up in Hoopa and is married to a Hoopa Tribal member. She has almost a decade of experience working with local Indigenous youth within the Hoopa Tribal Education Association as well as our local public schools and, prior to joining Xine:wh-Ding, she helped support our Hupa Language Immersion programming for many years through our partnerships with Tribal programs.

Ms. Marshall is an Immersion Nest Teacher and Yurok tribal member. She joined Xine:wh-Ding in the second year of the Immersion Nest but has also helped teach and plan our Hupa Language Immersion programming for many years through partnerships with Tribal programs.

She has 20 years of experience teaching local Indigenous youth through Hoopa Tribal programs. She completed her Associates Science Degree from College of the Redwoods in 2024 and is currently a student at Cal Poly Humboldt majoring in Child Development and Family Relationships.

Mr. Merrick is a Fellow with the NACA-Inspired Schools Network and is partnering with Xine:wh-Ding to help us grow our Immersion Nest into a full-time school that will serve K-8th grades.

He is Northern Cheyenne/ Dakota Sioux and has a bachelor's degree in Business Science and Administration with a concentration in management, along with completing his teaching credential from Humboldt State University. He has over 7 years of classroom teaching experience in various educational models including, Indigenous, Montessori and public schools ranging from ages K-12th grade. Most recently he has taught at Hoopa Elementary School, Hoopa Valley High School and worked for the Hoopa Tribal Education Association. He is a Hupa language learner, a dedicated parent of a child from the inaugural cohort of the Hupa Language Immersion Nest and member of the parent committee.

Mistche’nanya is a Hoopa Tribal Member with descendancy from five other tribes in the Pacific Northwest. Her journey began with Xine:wh-Ding as a parent in 2022 through her participation in the initial round of  baby groups. Her child was later accepted into the pilot year of the Hupa Language Immersion Nest at 18-months and has continued ever since.

After serving as an active parent volunteer in the Nest, she officially joined our teaching team in March 2025. An avid Hupa Language Learner, she is currently  pursuing her Hupa Language Teaching credential through the Hoopa Valley Tribe and brings a wealth of knowledge in traditionally harvesting and processing foods and materials.