Maymi Preston Donahue

Maymi Preston Donahue completed 400 hours of Karuk language immersion. She completed the 300 hours of immersion recommended by the Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival. She completed an additional 100 hours because “she was on the verge of breaking through the proficiency level to expert level.” She completed the hours and is now at the master speaking level.

Maymi has worked for native youth and families for many years now. A key social work approach that she has championed is “language acquisition has the power to heal”. There is a growing awareness that acquiring our indigenous language is important to one’s identity, especially among youth.