Atava received an undergraduate degree from Stanford in Feminist Studies and a graduate degree from Naropa University Oakland in Indigenous Mind. She is a clinical herbalist, flower essence practitioner, curandera, dreamworker and is certified in acupressure and Jin Shin JyutsuⓇ.

Born to a Mexican/Navajo/Hungarian mother and Polish father, she is the founder of Ancestral Apothecary School of Herbal, Folk and Indigenous Medicine, which came from her dream to create a more diverse community of herbalists and healers in the Bay Area. In 2017 Atava and her school Ancestral Apothecary were recognized by an American Herbalist Guild award recognizing Notable Work Supporting Diversity, Equity and Justice in Herbalism.