Thalia Marin, was born and raised in Elko, Nevada, and is an enrolled member of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians. She comes from a strong family lineage: Her mother Shirley (Paradise) Mancha was from the Duck Valley reservation Shoshone/Paiute Tribe from Nevada, maternal grandfather, Frank Paradise was also a member of the Duck Valley Reservation Shoshone/ Paiute Tribe, and her maternal grandmother, Vivian Tom Paradise was a member of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone. Her father Guadalupe Mancha from El Paso, Texas, her paternal grandparent were from Juarez Mexico She believes to know where she comes from is to know who she is, and her heritage deeply informs her work.
She is a proud mother of four children and a grandmother of eight grandchildren, her dedication to her family, cultural preservation and community leadership reflects her commitment to future generations. After learning to heal from past trauma through her Native American culture, she made the decision to leave her job to focus on traditional arts and crafts as a way of healing and as an important process in Native American culture. Today much of her work centers on teaching ribbon skirts, powwow regalia, and star quilting, traditions passed down from her grandparents and parents.
She graduated from Elko High School and Great Basin College and has remained deeply committed to community and statewide leadership. She serves as the Founder and Executive Director of the Newe Waipaipian Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s (MMIW) Awareness Group, Nevada Missing and Murdered Task Force, the Nevada Veterans Advisory Board, Newe/Numa Scholarship Board also know as the Nevada Gold Mines Scholarship Board. Her previous services includes roles on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA),Te-Moak Tribe of western Shoshone Tribal Council, Te-Moak Housing Assistant Fund Committee
Most notably, she is the co-founder and Executive director of Newe Waipiapian MMIW Awareness Group, established in 2021, which works to bring awareness and prevent violence against Native American Women. She is also a dedicated volunteer, active in both local and state events, with a strong commitment to supporting elders, preserving traditions, and strengthening cultural identity, and uplifting Native American voices through education, advocacy, and cultural resilience for future generations.
