Rachelle Begay serves as a Community Outreach Liaison with the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC), where she is dedicated to assisting and advocating for our Tribal communities throughout the Columbia River Gorge. In her role, she supports community health and well-being through Community Health Worker (CHW) services, emergency management response efforts, and the planning, coordination, and execution of food distribution initiatives.

Rachelle is an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation and a descendent of the Navajo Nation, Warm Springs, Umatilla tribes.  I began my career with CRITFC in 2020 as a Fisheries Technician III, where my primary focus was Pacific Lamprey research and restoration. I then transitioned from fisheries science to community development with a commitment to serving our Tribal communities both environmentally and socially. Through my work, I strive to strengthen resources, partnerships, and support systems that uplift and sustain Tribal members across the region.