Dr. Martina Whelshula

Hometown: Spokane, Washington
Place of Residence: Spokane Valley
Occupation: Executive Director, Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations

Dr. Martina Whelshula’s roots run deep in Spokane, and so does the ancestry and culture of the Spokane Tribe and the Kalispels that she wants to share with others.

Raised in an Air Force family, she has lived in Japan and in many cities across the U.S. In the 1970s, her grandmother asked Martina to come home before she started a family of her own and never returned. Now that she has six kids and 18 grandchildren here, she says she’ll never leave.

“This is my homeland,” said Dr. Whelshula. “Within 30 or 45 minutes, you’ll find the Coeur d’Alene tribe, the Kalispel tribe and the Spokane tribe. These tribes share a really rich history that goes back hundreds and hundreds of years.”

She said other things she loves about Spokane are the green and beautiful four seasons, the friendliness of the people, the fact that the city is quiet compared to other areas – not too big and not too small – and the lack of traffic, making it easy to get across town in about 20 minutes.

Dr. Whelshula enjoys that various parts of town offer unique, diverse elements with something to meet the needs of a variety of different people. She lives in Spokane Valley, in a quiet neighborhood where the homes are spread out and the roads are wide – the perfect spot to host her growing family without imposing on neighbors.

In addition to her family, there’s something else special in the area that Dr. Whelshula treasures. “I think the one thing I really love the most about Spokane is that there are seven different tribal communities within a 50-to-100 mile radius. There’s so much Native American culture present that people aren’t aware of. There are a lot of pow-wows, cultural events and other activities and opportunities both for tribal members and for the public to enjoy. There’s a fascinating history here that not many cities can claim.”