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A Life Rooted in Heritage and Determination
Cathleen Lopez-Booth is a Native American designer, retired U.S. Army veteran, activist, advocate, and entrepreneur whose life reflects a powerful connection to culture, service, education, and community. The daughter of Pete and Erma Lopez, Cathleen carries heritage connected to the Hopi Reservation in Arizona and the Santa Ana Pueblo Reservation in New Mexico. Her journey is defined by determination and a deep commitment to preserving Native American traditions while creating opportunities for future generations.
An Exceptional Educational Journey
Cathleen demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to education from an early age. She completed high school at just 14 years old and began college at 15. Over the course of her academic journey, she earned three degrees, including two Bachelor of Arts degrees and an Associate degree. Her educational achievements became an important foundation for the leadership, professional discipline, and community advocacy that would later define her career.
From Intel to the United States Army
Before dedicating herself fully to her creative and community-focused work, Cathleen built professional experience at Intel before joining the United States Army. Her military career became another defining chapter of her life, giving her experiences that strengthened her discipline, resilience, leadership, and sense of responsibility.
As a retired U.S. Army veteran, Cathleen served with the 2 Manchu Warrior unit, the 101st Airborne, and CASH Unit (Combat Army Support Hospital). Her military service represents a significant part of her identity and continues to influence the strength and determination behind her work today.
Three Decades of Activism and Advocacy
Cathleen has spent approximately 30 years working as an activist and advocate. Her commitment goes beyond personal achievement; she has consistently focused on issues affecting Native American communities and future generations.
Her advocacy is closely connected to her belief that Native people deserve opportunities to preserve their identity, strengthen their communities, and create better futures for their children. This philosophy is reflected throughout her fashion, foundation, mentorship, and educational initiatives.
The Birth of FoxFire Designs
Following her retirement from the military, Cathleen turned toward creativity and fashion as a way to find peace while reconnecting with her cultural roots. This vision eventually became FoxFire Designs, a creative brand combining contemporary clothing with traditional Native American regalia.
Cathleen’s relationship with sewing began when she was only five years old, when she learned the craft from her mother. What began as an early childhood skill eventually became a lifelong creative language through which she could express heritage, identity, and tradition.
Contemporary Fashion Meets Native American Tradition
FoxFire Designs represents more than clothing. The brand brings together contemporary design and traditional Native American regalia, creating pieces that are deeply connected to Cathleen’s ancestry and cultural traditions.
The contemporary side of the brand was established approximately five years ago, while Cathleen has been creating traditional regalia for around 12 years. Each piece is developed with an emphasis on individuality and cultural meaning, with many designs created as one-of-a-kind works.
Through FoxFire Designs, Cathleen demonstrates how fashion can become a vehicle for cultural preservation. Instead of treating heritage as something confined to the past, she brings Native American traditions into contemporary creative spaces.
Fashion as a Form of Cultural Preservation
At the heart of FoxFire Designs is Cathleen’s desire to keep culture, ancestry, and traditions visible. Her work reflects the belief that clothing can communicate stories about where people come from and what they value.
The brand’s approach is intentionally connected to Native identity. Many of its models are of Native American descent, helping maintain the authenticity and cultural integrity of the brand. This representation allows FoxFire to present fashion through a perspective that honors the communities and traditions that inspire its work.
FoxFire Indigenous Scholarship Foundation
Cathleen’s commitment to her community extends far beyond fashion. In 2025, she launched the FoxFire Indigenous Scholarship Foundation, a nonprofit initiative created to support Native American students pursuing education.
The foundation was established in response to the challenges many Native American students face when seeking educational funding. Through scholarships, mentorship, and support, the organization aims to help students move closer to their academic and professional goals.
For Cathleen, education is not simply a personal achievement. It is an important tool for strengthening communities and creating opportunities for younger generations.
Supporting the Next Generation
The vision behind the FoxFire Indigenous Scholarship Foundation is centered on Native American students and their future. The organization seeks to provide a stronger platform for young people who may otherwise struggle to access educational opportunities.
Through the foundation and related FoxFire initiatives, the focus extends beyond financial assistance. Mentorship, education, encouragement, and community connection are also important elements of the broader mission.
Cathleen’s work demonstrates how personal success can be transformed into opportunities for others. Her goal is not simply to build a successful brand, but to create meaningful pathways for the next generation.
Ashley Miles: The Next Generation of the FoxFire Vision
An important part of Cathleen’s work is her daughter, Ashley Miles, who plays a central role in both FoxFire Designs and the foundation. Ashley serves as the face of the organizations while taking on a wide range of responsibilities behind the scenes.
Her work includes technology, website development and updates, public relations, content writing, assistant styling, and organizational support. She also contributes to press releases and helps maintain the digital presence of the FoxFire initiatives.
A Future Doctor Serving Native Communities
Ashley is also pursuing a pre-medical education with the goal of becoming a doctor. Her ambition is closely connected to her desire to improve healthcare access and outcomes within Native American communities.
Her professional goal reflects the same community-centered philosophy that defines her mother’s work. Rather than pursuing success solely for herself, Ashley hopes to use her future medical career to address healthcare needs within Native communities.
Balancing education with her responsibilities at FoxFire, Ashley represents a new generation of leadership—one that combines technology, education, advocacy, creativity, and service.
A Mission Bigger Than Profit
FoxFire was not created simply as a commercial fashion venture. Cathleen’s vision is rooted in survival, determination, cultural identity, and community empowerment.
The brand and its related organizations are designed to create a platform for Native people, particularly children and young students. While fashion provides the creative foundation, the larger mission is about representation, opportunity, education, and cultural continuity.
This distinction gives FoxFire a purpose-driven identity. Its success is measured not only through clothing or creative recognition, but also through the impact it can make within Native American communities.
Challenging Limitations Through Purpose
Cathleen describes herself as a force to be reckoned with. Her philosophy is grounded in the determination to challenge limitations created by colonial attitudes and expectations.
Her journey—from an academically advanced young student to an Intel professional, U.S. Army veteran, activist, designer, and foundation founder—illustrates her refusal to allow conventional boundaries to define her potential.
Through her work, she encourages others to recognize their own strength and challenge systems or expectations that limit their opportunities.
A Mother and Community Leader
Despite her many professional accomplishments, Cathleen considers being a mother of four one of the most important titles of her life. Family remains central to her identity and to the legacy she hopes to build.
Her relationship with Ashley also demonstrates how values and purpose can move between generations. Cathleen’s dedication to culture, education, advocacy, and service has helped shape Ashley’s own ambitions and commitment to Native communities.
Building a Legacy Through FoxFire
Cathleen Lopez-Booth’s story is ultimately about legacy. Through FoxFire Designs, she preserves Native American cultural expression through fashion. Through the FoxFire Indigenous Scholarship Foundation, she creates educational opportunities. Through advocacy and mentorship, she works toward stronger communities.
Her journey shows that entrepreneurship can have a purpose beyond financial success. A business can become a platform for identity, education, representation, and social impact.
The Future of FoxFire
With FoxFire Designs, FoxFire Productions, the FoxFire Family, and the FoxFire Indigenous Scholarship Foundation working alongside one another, Cathleen’s vision continues to expand.
The presence of Native American models, culturally inspired designs, student mentorship, and educational support creates an ecosystem built around representation and empowerment. At the center of it all is a commitment to ensuring that Native culture remains visible while Native youth have greater opportunities to shape their futures.
A Story of Culture, Service, and Empowerment
Cathleen Lopez-Booth’s life brings together several powerful themes: education, military service, cultural preservation, entrepreneurship, activism, motherhood, and community leadership. Her work with FoxFire Designs and the FoxFire Indigenous Scholarship Foundation demonstrates how one person’s experiences can become the foundation for a larger mission.
From learning to sew at five years old to building a culturally driven fashion brand and launching a nonprofit for Native American students, Cathleen has transformed her skills and experiences into a legacy of service.
Her story is not simply about fashion or entrepreneurship. It is about preserving identity, creating opportunity, and making sure future generations have a stronger platform from which to succeed. Through FoxFire, Cathleen Lopez-Booth continues to turn heritage into action and determination into lasting impact.
