ʔux̌u•aƛa•ksa•, which translates to "Hello everyone," is the greeting used by MichaeLynn Kanichy as she introduces herself as "ʔuquqłas ƛułsa•cʔu iš qʷidiččaʔa•qsups," proudly identifying herself as a Makah woman.

MichaeLynn hails from a lineage of Makah matriarchs in academia, with her great-great-grandmother, Hazel Butler Parker, serving as a midwife for their Makah community. MichaeLynn is dedicated to continuing Hazel's legacy, with a special focus on Makah maternal health.

Her academic journey is marked by significant achievements. As a result of the trailblazers who paved the way, MichaeLynn holds the distinction of being the first Makah woman to attend Stanford University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Science, Technology, & Society with a concentration in Life Sciences. Furthering her academic pursuits, she went on to achieve a Master of Public Health degree, specializing in Population Health Research and Analytics, from the University of North Dakota.

Within her team, MichaeLynn assumes the crucial role of gathering, studying, and disseminating information concerning the health and experiences of Makah mothers and babies. Her responsibilities include identifying differences, assessing the effectiveness of their programs, collaborating with others, and ensuring the proper handling of private health and traditional information.

Outside of her professional pursuits, MichaeLynn enjoys spending time with friends and family off the reservation, indulging in hobbies like playing Dungeons and Dragons and binge-watching the popular TV series, Schitt's Creek.