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.
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. 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.
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 from California join a movement of Indigenous leaders passionate about community transformation. Alejandra, David, Jaeden, Kateri, Lauren, Metzli, Payton, Reg & Tiana will work on 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.
Learn more about the 2026 Cohort: CNAY Fellows Embark on a Journey of Community Impact
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 to met with leaders from the California Endowment and Assemblymember James Ramos. They also spent time in community and participated in culturally significant activities, including learning a traditional weaving technique.
- The 2025 cohort convened in Washington, DC to engage in cultural sharing, learning, connection building and reflection. Their packed schedule included a meeting with the office of Senator Alex Padilla, taking a tour of the U.S. Capitol and visiting the National Museum of the American Indian.
- Fellows have also participated in a data sovereignty initiative, analyzing California-specific data from CNAY’s Center Us Survey.
- CNAY 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.
Questions? Please check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) or contact cnayinfo@aspeninstitute.org.
Meet the Fellows
