Rachel Heaton

Aa mom, climate activist, and a former body builder. She’s also a co-founder of Mazaska Talks, an enrolled member of the Muckleshoot Tribe, a member of Moms Clean Air Force, an advisory board member for the Green New Deal in the City of Seattle, an advisory board member for No Child Left Inside, and board member for the Strategy and Solidarity Board for the Equation Campaign.

Rachel’s journey into activism began at Standing Rock, where she followed a call to stand in community in the fight for clean water, Indigenous Rights and land preservation. Following the camp closure, Rachel, like many others, felt something of a loss of purpose – so she sought solace in nature. She began venturing on short hikes with her son and at the same time, started work with the Muckleshoot Tribe’s Culture Department, where she began embracing indigenous plant practices and deepening her bond with the land.

Hikes with her son grew longer and longer, and the time they spent outdoors became time not only to move, but also to commune with the earth and deepen her spiritual practice. As she identified more ways to move (like rock throws, log pulls, and other means of using what is already outside) she transitioned her fitness programs outdoors, emphasizing the functional movements she learned in her time as a bodybuilding coach. Now, she leads her community in Earth Gym classes, wellness walks, and hikes – and she offers her expertise to anyone who wants to integrate indigenous knowledge into an outdoor fitness program.