2025 Brave Heart Fellows Convene in Yurok Territory

written by CNAY consultant Alyssa Mosley (Nanticoke Lenni Lenape)

The change we want to see is possible. We must keep our voices loud and stand our ground for the relatives who cannot advocate for themselves.

This spring, the 2025 Brave Heart Fellows traveled to Yurok territory for their final convening, hosted by the Yurok Tribe in Klamath, California. This gathering marked the first time many of the fellows met in person after months of virtual collaboration. Together, they engaged in powerful learning, connection and reflection, grounded in the theme of food sovereignty and environmental justice.

A Warm Welcome in Yurok Territory

From the moment we arrived, the Yurok community made us feel at home. Their hospitality reminded us of the importance of showing up for one another — as guests, as relatives and as advocates.

Our journey began at the Requa Inn, nestled where the Klamath River meets the Pacific Ocean. During a grounding ceremony by the river’s mouth, we were greeted by a playful black-and-white dog who broke the ice and made everyone smile. That moment set the tone for the kinship that blossomed among fellows throughout the convening.

Judge William Bowers led us on a hike through nettle-lined trails to his family’s land, giving us a breathtaking view of the river flowing into the ocean — a sacred space where land, water and spirit meet. We returned to the Requa Inn to enjoy a five-course meal prepared by a local chef, each dish representing a piece of the story of food sovereignty. It was the first of many moments where food, culture and community came together to nourish us in every sense.

Celebrating the Fellows and Their Work

That afternoon, the Brave Heart Fellows presented their projects — the culmination of research they had passionately developed throughout the year. Although the fellowship was coming to a close, it was clear that the work was only just beginning. Each fellow’s presentation sparked conversations around healing, revitalization and advocacy in their own communities. The room buzzed with encouragement, curiosity and support.

The following evening, we visited Cal Poly Humboldt’s Rou Dalagurr Food Sovereignty Lab & Traditional Ecological Knowledge Institute, where we were welcomed by Delaney Schroder-Echavarria, a graduate research associate. She led us through the lab and its garden, showing us the salmon pit and introducing us to the local plants used in the lab’s programming. We even made our own bull kelp salt seasoning and sprinkled it over freshly harvested popcorn — a small but powerful reminder of how ancestral foodways continue to sustain us.

Walking with the Ancestors and Paddling with the River

Friday began with a peaceful walk through the towering redwoods before we met Victoria Carlson, a Yurok language teacher and community member who guided us through the village and shared powerful stories about the legal and spiritual advocacy behind the river’s personhood. Her words reminded us that the land and waters are not just resources — they are relatives.

We gathered again for a community lunch with Alanna Wright, a drone pilot from the Yurok and Hoopa Nations whose work focuses on search and rescue missions for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). Her use of technology in culturally informed ways was a sobering yet inspiring example of how traditional knowledge and modern tools can work together in the fight for justice.

That afternoon, we embarked on a canoe trip down the Klamath River. Our guides shared stories of the canoes — their names, their spirit and how each part of the canoe represents parts of the human body. As we paddled, we were greeted by some of our relatives: eagles, ospreys and butterflies. The river spoke to us, just as it has spoken to the Yurok people for generations.

A Final Feast of Kinship

We closed our convening with a beautiful community dinner catered by Frybread Love. Over laughter, stories and the most delicious frybread, we were joined by community leaders including Yurok Chief Judge Abby Abinanti. Fellows shared more about their fellowship research, drawing connections between their tribal communities and what they had learned in Yurok territory.

As Susan Masten, former Yurok Tribal Chairperson and President of NCAI said over dinner, “Us salmon girls need to stick together.” In that moment, we knew this was more than just a fellowship — it was a lifelong bond rooted in culture, advocacy and love for our people.

Gratitude

We extend our deepest gratitude to the Yurok Tribe for their generous hospitality, to all the community members who shared their stories and teachings, and to our Brave Heart Fellowship funders who make transformative convenings like this possible.

We are also thrilled to recognize that shortly after our return home from Klamath, the Yurok Tribe celebrated the return of 73 square miles of their ancestral homelands – the largest “land back” deal in California history!