bɪɡˈɪnɪŋ ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi fˈoːɹ, ʃiː ɐtˈɛndᵻd ðɪ ˈɪnstɪtˌuːt ʌv ɐmˈɛɹɪkən ˈɪndiən ˈɑːɹts ɪˈaɪə, ɪn sˈæntə fˈiː, nˈuː mˈɛksɪkˌoʊ, ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾɪŋ ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɪks wɪð ɐn ɐsˈoʊsɪˌeɪt ʌv fˈaɪn ˈɑːɹts ɪn pˈeɪntɪŋ.
Beginning in 1984, she attended the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), in Santa Fe, New Mexico, graduating in 1986 with an Associate of Fine Arts in painting.