Shash Necessities
At Shash Necessities, we honor the Indigenous way of living—where nourishment, care, and community are inseparable.
Rooted in tradition and guided by intention, we offer holistic health services through Doula support and Community Care, walking alongside families in moments of transformation and healing.
Beyond care, we bring heritage to the table with sustainably sourced Indigenous spices. Each flavor carries the wisdom of the land and the resilience of our people, blending wellness with celebration.
✨ Shash Necessities is more than a service—it’s a journey toward balance, cultural connection, and flavorful living. Together, we cultivate well-being that nourishes body, spirit, and community.
Our Leader
Kathaleen Lopez-Smith
CHW, MLT, IBW, CPHC, CD
Kathaleen Lopez‑Smith is an Earth‑Based Healer, offering guidance deeply rooted in sacred relationship with land, plants, and spirit. She brings a powerful blend of scientific training, Indigenous knowledge systems, and holistic health practice to her leadership role.
With over a decade of experience in both clinical and community health, Ms. Lopez‑Smith holds multiple degrees and certifications, including a Certification in Community Health Work and an Associate of Applied Health in Medical Laboratory Technology. She is currently completing a B.S. in Nutritional Science and Dietetics with a minor in Public Health Promotion from the University of Arizona, as well as additional studies in Life Sciences and Social Work.
Her professional background includes clinical roles at multiple Missouri health systems along service as a Community Health Worker at the County Health Departments. Her work spans emergency medicine, infusion care, and rehabilitation, underscoring a holistic commitment to health equity and patient advocacy.
Kathaleen is also an accomplished researcher, having completed a Neurology Research Fellowship (URBrain) where she contributed to studies on Parkinson’s disease and the intersection of diabetes therapies with neurological health. She is a recognized public health voice, having presented at national conferences including AISES, SACNAS, and AIHEC—earning multiple honors for her research in Native and Indigenous health.
In addition to her formal credentials, Kathaleen is a Certified Indigenous Birth Worker, Postpartum Doula, and advocate for Indigenous food sovereignty, supporting youth camps and mentorship programs throughout Arizona. Her dedication to food sovereignty extends into her culinary work, where she uplifts Indigenous spices, tamales, and meal prep catering as pathways to healing and cultural continuity. By blending ancestral flavors with modern nutrition, she demonstrates how food itself can be medicine—nourishing body, spirit, and community while sustaining ecological balance.
She holds numerous certifications in biosafety, laboratory procedures, advocacy training, and Indigenous trauma response. Her multilingual fluency (Spanish, ASL, Apache, Tohono O’odham/Ute Aztec) further enables her to bridge communities with care and clarity.
Ms. Lopez‑Smith currently serves on national and regional committees such as the Missouri Council for Activity and Nutrition (MoCAN), the Missouri Native Women’s Care Circle, Phoenix's Wisdom College Stewardship Board, and the Missouri Breast Health Coalition. She has also served as the Indigenous Community Outreach Liaison for Washington University’s Buder Center of Native American Research.
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