Hi, my name is Kelly Shaggy & I’m fundraising for my grandmother, Arlene Julia Smart. She is a phenomenal woman and well-loved mother, auntie, grandmother & great-grandmother.

She is an enrolled Bad River tribal member who moved at a young age from Wisconsin to New Mexico.

Specifically, Cochiti Pueblo, New Mexico - which, is where her late stepfather, Evergreen Tree, raised her and her late twin, Darlene Smart, with their mother, the late Muriel Jensen.

Shimásaní became a member of the Hanaadłi community when she became the daughter-in-law of the late Paul Nakai Yazzie and late Grace Woody. She had a daughter with their son, the late Lowell F. Yazzie Sr.

She is a Fort Lewis College and University of New Mexico alum who served in both the Albuquerque metro and Four Corners communities in the role of a school counselor.

She has worked most notably for the Dziłna’odił’ii and Hanaadłí community schools & enjoyed her role of being a librarian for Hanaadłí before she retired.

Currently, she is enjoying her retirement but has been struggling with the lack of being able to keep up with the financial burdens and demands of maintaining and improving her health.

Her current insurance does not cover expenses for the majority of her health needs and after years of advocating and trying to find ways to afford her healthcare, she has accepted that moving back to Bad River, Wisconsin, will enable her to move forward with affordable healthcare and support that is otherwise inaccessible to her, currently.

Funds are needed for her transportation costs (U-Haul rental, gas, lodging, meals) when she is ready to move once she secures housing. Her son, my uncle, & his wife will be transporting/driving her for this big chapter and life relocation.

Funds will also help assist with purchasing accommodations for shimásání in her new home (handicap accessible tools and equipment) and any future co-payments and expenses for settling into Bad River.