Meet RIEEA board member Chrystal Mars Baker!
Chrystal Mars Baker is a Narragansett Tribal citizen, educator, and advocate whose work centers on uplifting Native voices and creating inclusive, truthful educational spaces. She is the Education Manager at the Tomaquag Museum and serves on the boards of the Rhode Island Humanities and the Jonnycake Center for Hope. Grounded in the legacy of her ancestors and inspired by her family, Chrystal envisions an educational future where all cultures are represented through their own histories, fostering mutual respect and healing across communities.
Q&A
What’s your favorite outdoor place in Rhode Island, and why?
My yard; it is original homelands of my ancestors never taken or owned by any other people. It is a place where generations of connection, peace, and love still remain. There are so many animals that visit my yard from deer, bobcats, coyote, turkeys, rabbits, and black bear! I love it. Such a place of peace and serenity and I’m surrounded by so many of my animal relatives including birds, birds, birds! This particular stone even looks like a cougar in the face. It has a cave that becomes home to coyote pups occasionally. Most importantly, my ancestors have occupied these spaces for generations and I’m so completely connected to it. It has been home for generations and my prayer is for generations to come.
How did you get involved in the environmental field?
My work at Tomaquag Museum consists of sharing Traditional Ecological Knowledge with the public. I’m sharing knowledge passed down as well as newly learned.
Why did you become a RIEEA board member?
It is important that Indigenous voice is included in these and other spaces.
What are you most looking forward to in serving on the RIEEA board?
Learning from other board and environmental organizations while contributing Indigenous perspectives.