born in 1883 in galeana, nuevo león, nava attended the state's teachers' training college and in 1900, became headmistress of the high school in tula, tamaulipas. in 1904, she helped establish la sociedad protectora de la mujer, known for being mexico city's oldest feminist society. in 1909, in mexico city, she took part in activities opposing the government of porfirio díaz. together with dolores jiménez muro, she drafted anti-government articles in cuautla and other cities in the state of morelos. in 1910, she and muro founded the club femenil antirreeleccionista hijas de cuauhtémoc (anti-reelectionist women's club: daughters of cuauhtémoc). the arrest of her husband was hastened by the meetings that she organized at their house. she contributed to opposition newspapers in mexico city including "diario del hogar". in 1913, she fought against victoriano huerta earning the title of veteran of the revolution. she was working as a teacher, but she was also distributing seditious pamphlets in the city that had been printed by maría arias bernal. she and muro also wrote a manifesto against huerta, aureliano blanquet and félix díaz. eventually, the two of them left the state capital to become zapatistas and to raise money for their cause. muro was made a colonel whilst she was put in charge of communication with the forces in teziutlan. they were both commissioned to carry out tasks by emiliano zapata