Beneath a story pole honoring the strength and beauty of women in her tribe, Calina Lawrence sang a song of solidarity Thursday. The soft tones in her native tongue filled the cavernous Community House on the reservation.
"I always feel empowered when I'm able to sing and share," she said.
Calina is a member of the tiny Suquamish tribe near Poulsbo. Earlier this week she found herself in Los Angeles, on the red carpet at the Golden Globe awards, speaking to a global audience.
Calina was the special guest of actress Shaileen Woodley. She was invited as part of the new Time's Up movement to end violence and discrimination against women.
"We stand in solidarity with the Time's Up movement and this initiative to create healing," said Calina while being interviewed alongside Woodley.
Calina's focus was the plight of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Violence against women on some reservations is estimated at 10 times higher than the national average.
"We don't just suffer violence in the workplace. We suffer violence in the street. We suffer violence in our homes," Calina said Thursday.
Calina met Woodley while doing political work in California two years ago. They reconnected at last year's Standing Rock oil pipeline protests.
Calina felt compelled to tell her personal story of violence and abuse to bring other Native women out of the shadows.
"When the most vulnerable have a chance to be heard then we will be able to move forward.," she said. "I have to interject my voice in as many spaces as I can to say, 'Hey, what about us?'"
Calina's group that raises awareness of violence against Native women is expected to lead the Seattle's Women's March on January 20.