Champions for Change
Remembering Our Sisters
Brave Heart
California Native Youth Collective
Building Communities of Hope
Creative Native
Democracy is IndigenousProviding pathways for Native youth leaders to enhance their skills as protectors of our lands, waterways and sacred sites, and stewards for food sovereignty.
About the Program
The Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) created Brave Heart to uplift youth voices, while addressing the representation gap and inequities facing Indigenous Peoples in the fight for climate justice.
The Brave Heart track of the CNAY Fellowship program centers Native youth (ages 18-24) in environmental justice efforts by equipping them to advocate for and mobilize their communities to advance food sovereignty and protect traditional lands, waterways and sacred sites – preserving Native culture, paving the way for an Indigenous-led future and protecting the Earth for all.
This 9-month regional program supports youth-led change through a culturally-competent curriculum, intergenerational learning space and promotion of policy change at the tribal, local, state and national level. CNAY Fellows work alongside community members and like-minded organizations to address how issues of man-made disruption, climate change and natural disasters have impacted the land beneath our feet.
Learn More
The CNAY Fellowship is a program for aspiring Native youth leaders looking to make an impact in their communities. CNAY provides tailored sovereignty, leadership and advocacy trainings, unique opportunities for education and knowledge sharing, and micro-grant support to complete a community action project.
Each year, a group of Native youth join a cohort of like-minded aspiring leaders with a passion for environmental justice. Amaria, Christina, Hilary, Isabella, Jeamilett, Kailani & Toipureenah will receive micro-grants and technical assistance to develop and implement environmentally-focused community projects, which can take various forms, including written reports, tribal ordinances, digital campaigns, events, workshops, research projects or anything else identified as a need in your community. CNAY also provides peer-to-peer learning opportunities, mentorship and a platform to share and elevate their projects. NEW in 2026! Members of the Brave Heart cohort will also become part of the larger CNAY Fellowship program, engage in a shared, core curriculum & convene in community as one.
Learn more about the 2026 Cohort: Center for Native American Youth Fellows Embark on a Journey of Community Impact
Key tenets of the Brave Heart cohort include narrative change, education and community action surrounding the pivotal role of Native American youth in preserving our planet.
Narrative Change
Brave Heart provides a platform for CNAY Fellows to share their work in their own voice, furthering the narrative and discourse surrounding Native American youth, climate justice and land conservation. We encourage Fellows to approach and reframe conservation efforts from a Native perspective and provide unique opportunities to highlight their efforts through local and national media outlets.
Community of Learning
At CNAY, we recognize the critical importance of cultural knowledge. Fellows engage with Tribal leaders, members of their community, land conservationists, policy leaders and other experts to develop comprehensive knowledge of the current threats to lands, waterways, traditional foods and sacred sites. Brave Heart encourages intergenerational learning – the passing down of stories, cultural happenings and the histories of the land from elders to youth. Ultimately, it is our hope that Fellows become the knowledge keepers of their communities.
Community of Action
The power of youth-led community initiatives is undeniable. CNAY Fellows receive micro-grant funding and technical assistance to develop and execute Community Action Projects, which may include written reports, tribal ordinances and resolutions, digital media campaigns, events, blogs or other communication materials. This experiential learning opportunity facilitates growth in financial literacy, project and grant management, community organizing and other professional development skills.
Questions? Please check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) or contact cnayinfo@aspeninstitute.org.
Project Spotlight
Additional information and complete projects from former Fellows can be found under each individual bio below.
Olivia Chase (2024) used her platform to create a Cultural Burn Stockroom for the Cultural Fire Club at Cal Poly Humboldt filled with fire-grade Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which is often inaccessible to Native youth.
Giselle Alvarez (2025) works to revitalize native plants, support pollinators and reconnecting urban Native people to the land in the Bay Area. Her app – SageWell – combines plant knowledge, language & wellness.
Krissia Tuzroyluk (2025) developed an educational curriculum and series of workshops for middle schoolers in Alaska focused on climate change, coastal erosion and the importance of traditional knowledge.
Meet the Brave Heart Fellows
