Cal’ Smith

Cal Smith comes from the Grand Ronde, Lower-Cowlitz, and Yakama Tribal Nations. Growing up disparate of a cultural identity he found it high in the alpine of the Cascadian mountains – namely, the 5 volcanoes. Since 2019 he has worked as a mountain guide in Washington, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, and even British Columbia. Mountain guiding has afforded him many challenges as one of the very few Native mountain-guides; while, catalyzing relations to tribes and communities in every region he has been invited to. Although career paths are directing him to graduate school, guiding remains a constant as a means to connect with Indian Country and First Nations.