Cindi was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. She is a Native American, who belongs to the tribe Anishinaabe (known as Ojibwa) and well known within the community. She studied Liberal Arts at MCTC (Minneapolis Community Technical College). Cindi tutored ASL and assisted in an ASL classroom. She studied Liberal Arts at MCTC (Minneapolis Community Technical College). Cindi tutored ASL and assisted in an ASL classroom.
Cindi has more than 14 years experience working as a mental health specialist and practitioner. She is currently working at Rightway Inc. Home Care. She helped mental health deaf and hard of hearing clients to make appointments, budget, personal shopping, and coping skills, and empower them with tools to become independent. Cindi is an advocate and activist within in her community as a panelist educating about her Native American culture. Her passion is bringing awareness to the general Deaf Community about Native Americans who are Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing.
Cindi wants to change the stigma, misunderstandings, and misconceptions about her community, through education. Cindi recognizes that there are limited services to her community and the services that exist do not understand their experience. She wants to change that because access belongs to all.
"I wanted to work with the Commission because I believe it is my civic duty to be visible as a Native Deaf Woman, and to share the message that the Deaf Native American community is important, too. It is important to me that I advocate, and that I act as an activist, because my children are Native American and they are looking at me to lead as an example." - Cindi Martin
