Darcy Ottey (she/they) is a cultural practitioner, educator, writer, and researcher. The descendant of Quaker settlers, British coalminers, and Ukrainian peasants, rites of passage have been part of Darcy’s life since her youth. This path led her to guide wilderness trips for teens, serve as Executive Director of Rite of Passage Journeys, venture to the lands of her ancestors to understand more of her history, and more. Most recently, she served as Co-Director of Youth Passageways, and recently helped co-found Re-Calling our Ancestors. As a queer, white, middle class, able-bodied woman, Darcy continues the long journey of uncolonizing herself and her people, unlearning hierarchy, scarcity, and division and re-establishing healing alternatives rooted in ancestry, body, land, culture, and accountable relationships. Grateful for her teachers and mentors, Darcy’s work is in accountability to the intergenerational web of relationships that make up Youth Passageways, the many beings of the Methow River watershed, and her ancestors. She loves dancing (especially under the full moon), learning to make Slavic folks dolls, and preserving food and plant medicines. Darcy’s first book, Rites and Responsibilities: A Guide to Growing Up, was recently published by Lost Borders Press.