Biography
My name is Lisa Ann Lewis-Byjoe, I am from the Big Water Clan born for Salt Clan, my
maternal grandfather clan is the Red Cliff Dwellers Clan and my paternal grandfather
clan is the Water Edge Clan. I was born in Ft Defiance, Arizona and raised in Steamboat,
Arizona, a place called Bear Springs. I am the eldest daughter of the Tapaha/Lewis
family. Being the eldest, my Navajo cultural teachings were taught with love, respect and
kindness which has helped me become a highly educated Navajo woman leader in a
business manager/administrator career.
I graduated from Greasewood Springs Community School in 1990, Prior to 1990, I
attended Toyei Boarding School. Toyei Boarding School was shut down, and they closed
the school permanently. My parents enrolled me in Greasewood Springs, and I finished
out my junior high school years there. The school buildings still exist today, without any
changes, and I would say it has become somewhat of an historical site. At Greasewood
Springs Community School, the teacher and staff taught me well through their knowledge, skills and encouragement. I stayed in the Greasewood Dormitory when I was a student. My teachers and dormitory mothers (home living aides) took great care of me.
Each one of the teachers/staff taught me a lot about being independent, to be a scholarly
student, always be true to yourself first as a Navajo woman, to go to college, and to learn
how to speak up (too shy). I enjoyed my time as a student in Greasewood.