MEET THE ARTISTS

Fish Martinez

Fish Martinez was born in 1973 in Eugene Oregon. On his mother’s side of the family, he is Shasta, Shasta Costa, Yurok, Modoc, Tutuntni, & German. On his father’s side he is Mescalero Apache and Azteca. Fish has been an educator for over 20 years, having worked as an infant, wobbler, toddler, pre-school and Head Start teacher in Early Childhood Education. Additionally, he has worked with K-12th grade students as an Indian Education specialist, as a Learning Development Classroom Assistant and a Tribal Attendance Promising Practicing Family Advocate. He has been staff advisor for the Native American Clubs at Jefferson Middle School in the 4J School District and the Toledo Native American Student Union at Toledo Jr./Sr. High School. As a performing artist he has performed in Oregon, Idaho, California, Washington state, Hawaii, Washington D.C. with a D.J. Live Band, and with the 12-piece Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble. As a member of the Hip Hop Congress, he has worked with youth who are incarcerated, on probation or part of a Hip Hop Congress chapter. He mentors Native Youth via Thrive at Portland State University as a member of Beatslyricsleaders.com.

Photo credits: Renee Lopez, Time Burgess