Meet the Labriola team

Alexander Soto

• alexander.soto@asu.edu

’A:ñi ’añ hab ce:gig Alex Soto. ’A:ñi ’añ ’ab ’amjeḍ Komkcʼeḍ ʼe-Wa:ʼosidk. Ñ-o:g ’o hab ce:cig Joseph Charles. Ñ-woskbaḍ c ñ-ka:abaḍ ’o hab cecgig Romero c Mary Charles. Ñ-je’e ’o hab ce:gig Matilda Miguel. Ñ-bababaḍ c ñ-hu’lbaḍ ’o hab cecgig Andrew c Rachel Miguel.

Alexander Soto (Tohono O’odham) is the Director of the Labriola National American Indian Data Center at ASU Library. Under his leadership, the Labriola Center has implemented culturally informed  research support services and has Indigenized ASU’s community-driven archives initiative for Tribal communities. Alex’s journey to librarianship comes after years of success as a touring hip-hop musician/educator and activist. During graduate school, Alex realized the importance of information literacy within Tribal communities and the role of reparative archives in strengthening Indigenous sovereignty. Alex co-authored ASU Library’s first land acknowledgement statement. He received his M.A. in Library and Information Science from the University of Arizona and received his B.S. in American Indian Studies from Arizona State University.

Vina Begay

• vina.begay@asu.edu

Vina Begay is a member of the Diné Nation. She is from the Red Streak Bottom Clan (Tł'ááshchí'í) born for the Towering House Clan (Kiyaa'áanii). Her maternal grandfather is from the Edgewater Clan (Tábąąhá) and her paternal grandfather is from the Salt People Clan ('Áshįįhi).

Vina is Labriola’s Assistant Librarian at the Fletcher Library at ASU West. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater. Before professionally working as a Librarian and Archivist, Vina worked in the Theater profession for 16 years, including low budget student films. During her undergraduate studies, Vina obtained a Library Technician position at her local public library, which slowly began her career in the Library Field. Vina graduated with a Master of Business Administration in hopes of creating a Native American Theater program for Children and Teens.

Vina graduated from the University of Arizona with a Master of Library and Information Science with a specialization in Archival Studies and Digital Information Management. Coming from a strong Diné Traditional upbringing, Vina has dedicated her career to advocating and the implementation of the Protocols of Native American Archival Materials within western institutions to ensure proper care and management of Indigenous Information of traditional knowledge. Additionally, Vina has served as Tribal Archivist consultant for Tribal communities in assistance with establishing Indigenous Archival Centers within their community, including developing archival practices tailored to the Tribe’s cultural beliefs, practices, and governance structure.

Eric Hardy

• eric.d.hardy@asu.edu

Eric Hardy is from the Diné Nation (Navajo Nation). He is born of the Bitter Water Clan (Tódich'ii'nii) and for the Weaver Clan (Tł'ógi). His maternal grandfather is from the Red Running into the Water Clan (Tachii'nii) and his paternal grandfather is from the Edgewater clan (Tábąąhá).

Eric is currently the Senior Program Coordinator for the Labriola National American Indian Data Center. Prior to working at Labriola, Eric had worked with 20 plus Tribes in Arizona, Nevada, and Utah to implement culturally adapted chronic disease prevention projects, where he provided leadership and technical assistance to establish health coalitions, Indigenous Health policies and Indigenous centered Public Health programs. In his work, he advocates for the strengthening of Indigenous cultural resilience practices and the decolonization of Tribal communities. He holds a Bachelor’s in American Indian Studies (AIS) from Arizona State University (ASU) and will be completing his Master’s in AIS at ASU in 2024.

Yitazba Largo-Anderson

• yitazba.largo-anderson@asu.edu

Yitazba Largo-Anderson is a member of the Diné nation. Her maternal clan is Áshįįhí (Salt People clan) born for the Andersons. Her maternal grandfather’s clan is Tsé Nahabiłnii (Sleeping Rock clan). Her paternal grandfathers belong to the Anglo people.

Yitazba is the Program Coordinator for Labriola based at ASU West. She graduated from Hollins University with a Bachelors of Arts in English Literature with a Concentration in Multicultural U.S. Literature and a minor in Social Justice. She attended Metro Arts High School in downtown Phoenix where she focused on creative writing and visual arts. In 2015, she pursued undergrad across the country in the rolling green hills of Roanoke, Virginia. There she pursued an education in English literature, where she managed an editorial team for her university’s literary magazine, Gravel, published an academic essay on Standing Rock to her university’s library, conducted and helped lead events for four years with her university’s alumnae/i association, and was awarded a Creative Writing award her senior year.

Upon graduation in 2019, Yitazba was awarded a Mosaic Fellowship with William & Mary Libraries where she learned about the need for minorities in librarianship. There she helped coordinate a book display for Native American Heritage Month in November, led a book discussion onTommy Orange’s national bestseller There There, assisted with library programming, and attended the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums. During that time, Yitazba had the honor of introducing Joy Harjo at her alma mater with an original poem to celebrate Harjo’s success as the first Native American nominated as the United States’ Poet Laureate. After her fellowship, Yitazba lived in the mountains of Floyd, Virginia for a year making jewelry and enjoying the Appalachian mountains before returning to her homeland in Phoenix, Arizona. Passionate about social justice and Indigenous literature and art, Yitazba is thrilled to be a part of Labriola and uplift Indigenous students and Tribal communities through engagement, outreach, and programming.