Masten was born in Crescent City, California and lived in Requa as a young child.

She moved away from Del Norte County as a fourth-grader but continued to visit her grandparents at their homes in Requa and near Brook's Riffle.

[4] With a group of Yurok fishermen, Masten founded an organization to influence fishing regulations on the Klamath River.

[2] Masten was a finalist for the 2003 Ecotrust Indigenous Leadership Award, which "honors Native leaders of merit in the fields of conservation and community development.

Ecotrust honored Masten "for her work advocating the legal and human rights of indigenous communities on a local, state and national level.