Champions for Change
Remembering Our Sisters
Brave Heart
California Native Youth Collective
Building Communities of Hope
Creative Native
Democracy is IndigenousA movement to connect, engage and provide opportunities and a cross-sector platform for Native youth in California.
APPLICATIONS OPEN: Apply to be a 2026 CNAY Fellow in the California Native Youth Collective Cohort by January 14. 2026!
About the Program
The California Native Youth Collective (CNYC) is a network of youth leaders (ages 18-24) from across the state eager to hone their leadership skills, amplify their voices, and advocate for their communities at the local, tribal, state and national level. Over the course of 9 months, the Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) provides opportunities for CNAY Fellows on the CNYC track to engage in leadership training, develop interventions to improve outcomes in their communities and provide input on policy.
All applicants, regardless of acceptance, become part of the CNAY network and remain engaged with our community.
Get Involved
Applications for the 2026 CNAY Fellowship are now open! Apply by January 14, 2026.
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 of Fellows’ choosing.
The program will run from March 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. We invite Native youth (18-24) from California to apply.
Each year, a group of Native youth from California join a movement of Indigenous leaders passionate about community transformation. Selected applicants will receive micro-grants and technical assistance to micro-grants and technical assistance to community action projects that help advance state policy. CNAY also provides peer-to-peer learning opportunities, mentorship and a platform to share and elevate their projects. NEW in 2026! Members of the California Native Youth Collective will also become part of the larger CNAY Fellowship program, engage in a shared, core curriculum & convene in community as one.
To be considered, you must respond to two short answer questions and submit a video response for the CNYC cohort. Applicants must submit their completed 2026 CNAY Fellowship Application no later than January 14, 2026 at 11:59pm ET. Late submissions will not be considered.
Eligibility Requirements
- Self-identify as Native or Indigenous;
- Are between the ages of 18 and 24 years old on March 1, 2026; and
- Currently reside in California.
Expectations
In addition to completing projects, Fellows are expected to commit time to various related activities, including:
- In-Person Kickoff Convening (late March, 2026): Fellows from all three cohorts will come together in California to build community and kick off the program in a good way. CNAY will pay for all lodging, travel and food costs associated with the event. Attendance is mandatory.
- Monthly Zoom Sessions: All selected Fellows are requested to attend monthly 60-minute Zoom meetings where they will network with one another, learn from leaders and activists in their field(s) and receive support for their projects.
- Project Presentations: Fellows from all three cohorts will present their final projects before the end of the year.
After an extensive review process, selected CNAY Fellows will be notified by early February 2026. The Fellowship period runs from March 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026.
Questions? Please check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) or contact
Learn More
Fellow Impact
- The inaugural cohort worked on issues including the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), food sovereignty and creating inclusive college campuses, among others. Many participated in the White House Tribal Youth Summit, the White House Tribal Nations Summit, and a roundtable convening with philanthropic organizations, tribal leadership, congressional offices and federal agencies to discuss support for California Native communities.
- The 2024 cohort convened in Sacramento, where Ambassadors met with leadership from the California Endowment and Assemblymember James Ramos. They also spent time in community where they participated in culturally significant activities, including learning a traditional weaving technique.
- Fellows have also participated in a data sovereignty initiative, analyzing California-specific data from CNAY’s Center Us Survey.
- CNYC provides a platform for Fellows to share their experiences, furthering the narrative and discourse surrounding Indigenous Peoples in California. We encourage Fellows to approach and reframe conversations from a Native perspective, in their own voice, and provide unique opportunities to highlight their efforts through local and national media outlets.
Learn more about the 2025 Cohort:
- Indigenous Youth Leaders Advocate for a Stronger California
- Take a look back at the 2025 California Native Youth Collective Opening Convening [INSTAGRAM]
- Fostering Connection at Interwoven Futures: Indigenous Youth, Land Stewardship and Community Wellbeing
Meet the Fellows
