Ramona Ahto

Ramona “Mona” Albina Ahto Born February 22nd, 1941 in Toppenish Washington, passed September 15th, 2024 in Seattle Washington. Ramona Ahto was one of those children taken very young from her home with her mother and grandparents and placed in the Mission School. She spent her early years there followed by various foster homes. She landed at Haskell Institute where she graduated from high school in 1960. All through her formative years and experiences, she always felt it was important that she be available to tell her story to younger Native people here in Seattle and beyond. She never said no when asked to speak. She believed this history, often the parts hardest to share, were important for future generations to heal that trauma that is passed between generations. Always wanting to engage in healing the community, Mona came to Seattle in 1984 to attend Seattle University and pursue a Masters Degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling. Mona gave of herself more fully than anyone we know. She gave to the bottom of her soul, whether that was helping someone who needed to travel to a far off treatment center; in need of a place to stay after a surgery across the state from their home; a bus ticket; groceries, anything. Mona made herself available and concerned herself with the community in a completely selfless way. It only made sense that she partnered with Norine Hill to co-found Mother Nation. Norine and Mona were both visionaries and their skills matched perfectly. To Mona, she truly believed and understood the need to revive the innate knowledge and pride that cultural practice and ritual gave to our people. She knew that simply counseling and teaching basic life skills were not enough. She infused cultural learning in everything she did with the clients she worked with. Infusing this cultural learning in youth treatment, she worked for United Indians of all Tribes Ina Maka with homeless youth. Excerpt from Bio: Ramona Ahto, was an enrolled member of the Fourteen Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Indian Nation, she worked passionately as an Early Childhood Educator and a Chemical Dependency Counselor. She was awarded “Most Compassionate Practitioner Award” by her peers across the State of Washington in 2002. Mona worked with community-based organizations as a Training Consultant/Contractor assisting in culturally appropriate outreach to Communities of Color – especially Native Americans. Through her support as a facilitator conducting Healing/Talking Circles, Mona promoted reconciliation in communities that are overwhelmed by the work that they engage in. She worked with Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Bailey-Boushay AIDS Housing population, Madison Clinic – Harborview Hospital, Virginia Mason, Children’s Hospital, Washington State Hospice and Palliative Care Association, Healing Circle and others as well as facilitating at the Worldwide Bereavement Gathering held in Seattle in 1996. Mona had many accomplishments throughout her life including 40 years of inspiration and dedication supporting the indigenous community of Seattle in recovery from drugs and alcohol. At the time of her passing, Mona was the founding Board President of Mother Nation, an agency that works with tribal health workers and populations. She was their elder and facilitated educational workshops and talking circles in addition to her work with the board. In 2014, she was nominated for the Enduring Spirit award honoring the lifetime contributions of Native Women. The following is an excerpt from her nomination. It beautifully portrayed her kindness and commitment to those in need, Mona’s contributions have positively impacted and contributed to the health and vitality of native women, youth and families over a period of 52 years. Mona served 11 years of leadership to Mother Nation as the Founding Chair and Board Member. Her legacy in creating indigenous-led programs, mentorship, and teachings will live in the lives of hundreds of women. Twelve years working with Catholic Community Services at Spirit Journey House, Elder Mona’s time was treasured in raising a generation of leaders grounded in her teachings and knowledge who vowed to carry and share during their lifetime. Mona founded Spirit Journey Village, a village of transitional housing supporting the success of native women and families living in independent life from drugs and alcohol. She was a designer of culturally centered wrap around healing services - a natural model proven successful over a decade at Spirit Journey House. This service model has become a national model. As a boarding school survivor, her teachings will carry on to several generations fighting genocide and moving beyond historical and inter-generational trauma of Indigenous people. Mona’s love for people of all walks of life will never be lost. Arlene Red Elk, a long-term co-worker stated “Mona always has the glass is half full attitude. She is positive about recovery and all the issues that go along with it.” A dear close friend, John Gubatayo states, “She looks at the greater good and the good things of people's life coming out of crisis. Clients always trusted her. She always wanted to do the best for them. They put their complete trust in her.” A long-term supervisor Roxanne Phinney stated “– Mona is a very moral and honest person. She really wanted people to heal and does it in a natural way. It’s in her mannerism. Mona came out of retirement to support work with Native Women in Recovery House. Supervisor Norine Hill stated, “Mona’s words and teachings in our Talking Circles and Cultural Workshops are like medicine to the hearts of the women we serve. She is the heart of our program and has inspired and changed the lives of our women. Mona did a lot and is still very supportive to native families in providing a holistic approach to treatment and wellness in traditional ways. She is not only a trained certified counselor but also remains true to her culture despite the 22 years taken from her life in residential school and foster care. Her speaking engagements and workshop facilitation to various institutions, conferences at local, national, and global levels are built on her pride and integrity as a native woman.” A favorite phrase Mona says when telling her story of drugs, is “one day I saw the light…it was a blue and red flashing light.” Mona was a victim of the system in foster care and residential school for the first 20 years of her life. She helped many people with her story. Many who have received Mona’s teachings have a great admiration for her. She is true to her work, ethical and generous not only in spirit; she would give her last twenty dollars to a family or individual in need. In addition to her professional responsibilities, Mona maintained a home with her partner of thirty-nine years in Seattle, always maintaining contact with her family on the Yakama Reservation. Mona was a wonderful, giving person and will be deeply missed. She was preceded in death by her mother Iola Brown, her brothers Isaac and Emerson Bobb, grandson Preston Hawk Ahto Walamett, and daughter Laurie Ahto. She leaves behind her partner of 39 years Sheri Day, son David Ahto, Grandchildren Star Martinez, John Martinez, Dolores Ahto, David Frank (Bubba) Ahto, Desiree Wyman, David Allen, Jr., Destenee Ahto, Stacy McKay, her husband David Lloyd, Blaine Wheeler, wife Latasha John, Rae Sanchey, Iola Sanchey, husband Ryle Smartlowit. Great-grandchildren Rachel Ahto, Auswan, Gunner. Kionie, Julio Munguia, Sean, and Sebastian Lloyd, Preston Hawk Ahto Watlamett, his wife Alma Puyette, KarterMae, Aberdee, Izlee, Roper Wheeler, Rae Sanchey, Sariah Robbins, Sawyer & Ivory Smartlowit. Great grandchildren Rachel Ahto, Auswan, Gunner, and Kionie. Nieces and Nephews, Denise Bobb, Ronald Bobb, Susanna Lumley, Cindi Bobb Malvey, Utwi Isaac Bobb, Jr., Evelena Bobb, Robert Bobb, James Bobb, Utwi Emerson Bobb, Jr., Wilda Bobb, and Mare' Bobb. Mona’s family would like to give heartfelt thanks to all who eased her journey in the last weeks, especially the medical teams at Swedish Cherry Hill, Beacon Hill Pacific Medical Clinic [Dr. Ellen Lackermann, ret., Dr. Heather Stevens, Dr. Phillip Massey, Dr. Sharmila Ahmed, Dr. Rachel Shober, and all the practitioners that worked valiantly to help. Sheri would like to express undying gratitude to MartiRai Ramsey, Pam Nason and her family, Christian Day, T. Diane Day, Kimberly Early, Norine Hill and the team at Mother Nation and all who provided loving spiritual support and prayer that sustained us in Mona’s last days. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ramona Ahto, please visit our flower store.