Trained in Northern Miwok culture during her youth, she became involved in Native American affairs – particularly the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians – after her fourth marriage.

An advocate for Native American interests, she served as vice-chair of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Central California Agency's advisory board and as chair of the Tuolumne Me-Wuk Tribal Council in 1980.

[2][3] In addition to several odd jobs outside the county such as candy maker, cashier, strawberry picker, and waitress,[2][3] she had a long career working at the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company as an operator and supervisor.

[5] After serving in the Tuolumne Me-Wuk Tribal Council (TMTC)'s business committee, she was elected chair of the tribe in 1980,[2] but she was suspended from office in June after the Rancheria fell into debt and ran into accounting and administrative irregularities concerning government grants they were awarded.

[2] In Native American Women: A Biographical Dictionary, Bev Ortiz recalled that Stanley "made substantial contributions to the preservation and continuance of Miwok culture and worked extensively on behalf of her community".