Wenix is the public outreach and education specialist for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation's Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Wenix coordinates and implements First Food related educational presentations, activities and events for DNR’s Water Resources, Fisheries, Wildlife, Ag, Range and Forestry, First Foods Policy and the Cultural Resources Protection Programs. Wenix has over 16 years’ experience in Natural Resources. As a young adult, Wenix worked for the Earth Conservation Corps, Salmon Corps branch restoring and revitalizing plant and salmon habitats, watersheds and native vegetation to its natural habitat to stabilize fish populations and reintroduction of wild salmon stock back into watershed areas. Wenix has learned about her culture and tribal traditions from the time of birth. She has successfully taught over 225 cultural classes consisting of beading, tule mat making, traditional food gathering and preparation, quill working, sewing and other forms of traditional arts. In the last six years, Wenix has provided over 500 First Foods related presentations on behalf of the Umatilla Confederated Tribes DNR First Foods Management practices education over 40,000 people on her Tribes Restoration effort throughout their Ceded territories and beyond.
