Our staff is trained to advocate for you.
Our Team
Autumn Cantu
Executive Director
Autumn Cantu, a proud Koyukon Athabascan from Ruby, Alaska, is deeply rooted in her cultural heritage and dedicated to making a meaningful impact on her community. Passionate about creating lasting positive change, she brings her commitment to both her professional and personal endeavors. Outside of her career, Autumn enjoys the outdoors with her family and is an avid reader. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and is preparing to pursue a Master’s degree in the same field.
Autumn’s professional journey reflects her dedication to staff development, client relationship management, and strategic planning. As the owner of Cantu Tactics & Consulting (CTC), and former Communications and Graphic Designer for the MMIWG2S Alaska Working Group, she has refined her expertise in delivering impactful communication strategies and educational outreach to rural communities. Autumn’s past roles include serving as Communications & Indigenous Outreach Manager at Native Peoples Action, Rural & Indigenous Outreach Director at The Mobilization Center, Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Technician, Strategic Prevention Framework Partnerships for Success Project Manager, and Suicide Prevention Coordinator at Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC). She also worked as Youth Wellness Coordinator at Recover Alaska and as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant (CNA) at the Yukon Koyukuk Elder Assisted Living Facility (YKEALF) in Galena, Alaska.
Throughout her career, Autumn has built meaningful partnerships, advocated for civic engagement, and championed the preservation of Indigenous cultures. She is a steadfast advocate for healthy social norms, community cohesion, and empowering future generations, all while protecting and revitalizing Indigenous ways of life.
Elaina Julayha
Outreach Manager
Elaina Julayha (Richards) is originally from Holy Cross, Alaska. Her family relocated to North Pole, Alaska in 2001—a major transition at the time, as she remembers thinking of Fairbanks as a big city. Despite the move, her family continues to return to Holy Cross throughout the year for traditional fishing and hunting. Elaina worked for five years as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Foundation Health in Fairbanks, where she found great fulfillment in caring for others and being a compassionate listener. She is the proud mother of two wonderful children, Isabelle and Roman. After her son was born in 2019, she embraced the opportunity to stay home and cherish those early years with him.
In her free time, Elaina can often be found hiking or snowboarding—activities her children enjoy just as much as she does. Autumns are spent with family berry picking, a tradition she treasures deeply. In 2023, Elaina made the powerful decision to become sober, an accomplishment that paved the way for another incredible milestone: hiking to the base camp of Mount Everest just one month later. That journey reinforced her belief in her own strength and resilience. A quote that deeply resonates with her is from a Crow Proverb: “You already possess everything necessary to become great.”
Elaina is excited to be a part of the Healing Native Hearts Coalition team and looks forward to connecting with and supporting the villages in the Interior. She believes in the power of community and is committed to helping build strong, unified, and healing relationships across Alaska.
Kalila Matheson
Client Advocate
Kalila Matheson is Inuit, Deg Hit’an Athabascan, and African American. She was raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, with deep family roots—her mother is originally from Barrow, and her father is from Holy Cross. Kalila is a proud mother of a beautiful son and daughter, and she comes from a background in the medical field. She has a strong passion for being active in the Native community, spending time outdoors, and being with family. Volunteering is close to her heart, and she finds purpose in giving back whenever she can. Kalila’s long-term goal is to become someone whose presence alone communicates safety, trust, and support—a person others can rely on in any space. Her connection to Healing Native Hearts Coalition (HNHC) is rooted in the organization’s ability to not only strengthen her existing resilience but also to uplift and empower the parts of her still growing.
Angel Mayo
Administrative & Events Coordinator
Angel Mayo serves as the Administrative & Event Coordinator at Healing Native Hearts Coalition. Originally from Tanana, Alaska, Angel recently returned to Fairbanks after spending time in Anchorage, where she worked as the Project Coordinator for Gana-A`Yoo, Limited Corporation. She is excited to be back in the Interior, where she is dedicated to supporting and uplifting local villages through her work at Healing Native Hearts Coalition by raising awareness about domestic violence and promoting healing within Native communities.
Sabrina Marunde
Finance & Grants Manager
Sabrina Marunde, a spirited Koyukon Athabascan with family roots in Hughes and Ruby, Alaska, brings 13 years of experience in the finance field to her role as the Finance and Grants Manager at Healing Native Hearts Coalition. Known for her deep love of numbers—especially a good bank reconciliation—Sabrina is passionate about serving her people by building systems that bring safety, structure, and peace of mind.
Her journey in finance began at AVTEC in Seward, Alaska, where she studied alongside her sister Monique in 2012. During her time there, she completed an internship at Doyon, Limited, which launched her career. She went on to work as the Accounts Receivable Clerk at Doyon Drilling before spending nine years as the Controller at the Interior Regional Housing Authority (IRHA).
Outside of work, Sabrina is a dedicated wife and proud mom to two children, Gisele and Randy. Her home is full of love and life—including three dogs (Donut, Zero, and Bubbles) and a cat named Paru. She and her husband enjoy hunting together and make yearly trips to Valdez for silver salmon fishing. They’re also avid travelers, taking every opportunity to explore new places—so far, Florida and Mexico top the list of favorite destinations.
Whether she’s reconciling accounts or helping her community thrive, Sabrina brings warmth, dedication, and a steady hand to everything she does.
Kaila Druck
Lead Victim Advocate
Kaila Druck is a proud Gwich’in Athabascan from Fort Yukon, where she was born, raised, and deeply rooted in tradition. She is committed to personal and professional growth, both in her role and in her daily life. As the new Lead Victim Advocate for Healing Native Hearts Coalition (HNHC), Kaila is passionate about giving back to her people and supporting community healing through traditional practices and cultural strength. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her son, creating beadwork, and being outdoors. Kaila is excited to walk this journey with the HNHC team, continue learning, and take the next step in her personal development by returning to school.
Lenorah Richards
Client & RPE Advocate
Lenorah Richards is a Client & RPE Advocate at Healing Native Hearts Coalition. She is 27 years old and if originally from Holy Cross, Alaska. In 2001, Lenorah’s parents made the decision to move her and her five brothers, one sister, and 19 sled dogs to North Pole, Alaska. During the summers, the family would return to Holy Cross to go fishing and hunting, spending countless days at their fish camp and her grandpa’s house.
Lenorah worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Foundation Health for three years, an experience she found to be both rewarding and fulfilling. Her life took another wonderful turn in 2020 when she became a mother to her beautiful daughter, Ava. Becoming a mom has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of her life, and Ava continues to inspire her every day. Lenorah enjoys spending time with her many uncles, aunties, cousins, nieces, and nephews—whether it’s over a cup of tea or coffee, telling stories, or simply visiting and sharing laughs.
Being part of the Healing Native Hearts Coalition team has been both educating and empowering for Lenorah, allowing her to witness the strength and resilience of her community.