05/26/2026
Today we proudly welcome Odessa Tom as an official certified member of the 4Corners K-9 Search & Rescue after successfully completing her FEMA and Team SAR certifications. 🐾
Please join Gunny, Moby and Rusty in congratulating her on this accomplishment and on the commitment, discipline, and heart it takes to step into this work.
In Odessa’s own words:
🪶”Rooted in tradition and driven by compassion, I am proudly born for the Táchii’nii (Red Running Into Water Clan) and Tł’ógí Weaver–Zia people.
I earned my degree in Psychology and am continuing my journey in healthcare by obtaining my CNA license this summer before beginning nursing school this fall. My passion has always been helping others and advocating for stronger healthcare systems within Indigenous communities. I’ve proudly represented and advocated for the Navajo Nation all the way to the Senate in Washington, D.C., working toward better healthcare access and support for Native people.
In my younger years, I had the opportunity to model for clothing companies in New York — experiences that fueled my love for travel and for meeting people from different walks of life.
Outside of my professional goals, I’m an amazing cook, a volunteer at heart, and someone who deeply cares for animals and community. I currently live in Ohio, but every summer I return home to Farmington to spend time with my family and reconnect with my roots.
I can read and write in Navajo, and I proudly carry traditional values into every part of my life. Whether I’m caring for others, advocating for change, or simply sharing a meal with loved ones, I strive to lead with kindness, culture, and purpose.
I joined SAR because I believe the most meaningful work exists where discomfort, responsibility, and compassion meet.
What drew me in was the idea that even when someone feels completely lost, there are still strangers willing to walk into the dark to find them. There is something deeply human about refusing to let another person disappear unnoticed.
I’ve always been someone who cares deeply about people — even strangers. Forgetting people never sat right with me. I believe purpose comes from carrying responsibility for others and being willing to stand beside them in moments when they are afraid, hurt, or alone.
To me, courage is not a personality trait — it’s a responsibility. It’s choosing to help when it would be easier not to, and showing up for people when they need it most.
One quote that has always stayed with me is:
‘The things we do for others remain and are immortal.’
— Gladiator”🪶
Odessa Rose
