ANNOUNCING THE INDIGENOUS YOUTH OCEAN CONGRESS OCEAN AMBASSADORS
Indigenous youth leaders are advancing Ocean protection through Indigenous knowledge, Earth Law, art, science, advocacy, and intergenerational responsibility.
Announcing Our Ocean Ambassadors
On World Oceans Day, Earth Law Center is honored to announce the inaugural Indigenous Youth Ocean Congress (IYOC) Ocean Ambassadors: a cohort of Indigenous youth leaders working to protect the Ocean as a living relative and source of law, culture, food, ceremony, science, and life.
The Ocean Ambassadors bring together experiences across freshwater, coastal, island, Arctic, Antarctic, and high seas advocacy. They are scientists, artists, cultural practitioners, researchers, students, educators, organizers, and community leaders. Their work reflects the power of Indigenous youth leadership in shaping a future rooted in responsibility, reciprocity, and care for the waters that sustain all life.
Through IYOC, Ocean Ambassadors will help build a youth-led movement for Ocean protection grounded in Indigenous knowledge, Earth Law, creative practice, and collective advocacy. The cohort will participate in trainings, storytelling, declaration-writing, and public engagement to advance Indigenous-led Ocean governance and the Rights of the Ocean.
The inaugural cohort will contribute to the development of an Indigenous Youth Ocean Declaration and carry forward local projects connected to their homewaters and communities, while strengthening relationships across Nations, waters, and generations.
About the Indigenous Youth Ocean Congress
The Indigenous Youth Ocean Congress is a youth-led initiative convening Indigenous young people to advance Ocean protection through Indigenous law, Earth Law, community knowledge, art, science, and advocacy.
IYOC recognizes that the Ocean is not a resource to be extracted, but a living relative with inherent relationships, responsibilities, and rights. Indigenous youth are already leading work to protect waters, restore food systems, defend coastal homelands, and strengthen climate resilience. This Congress creates a shared space for these leaders to connect, learn, organize, and speak collectively for the Ocean.
Throughout the program, Ocean Ambassadors will engage in learning sessions, storytelling, community-based advocacy, and declaration-writing. Together, they will help shape a growing movement for Indigenous-led Ocean protection across Turtle Island and beyond.
Indigenous Youth Ocean Ambassadors
Ocean Ambassadors at a Glance
AMBASSADOR • NATION / INDIGENOUS AFFILIATION • STATE/PROVINCE/COUNTRY • FOCUS AREAS
Coda Cavalier, Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, North Carolina, USA
Marine biology, sustainable aquaculture, environmental justice, Indigenous artsDanii Kehler, Kawacatoose First Nation, Plains Cree, Saskatchewan, Canada
Climate advocacy, Antarctic stewardship, economic development, Indigenous artJasmine Smith, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, North Carolina, USA
Youth leadership, Rights of Nature, environmental justice, civic advocacyJenna “First Star” Makes Good, Dakota, Wahzhazhe, Pawnee, Potawatomi, Blackfeet, Ojibway, Shawnee, Cherokee, Kansas, USA
Indigenous sustainability, language and culture, land-based educationKylee Nahquaddy, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, North Dakota, USA
Sustainable art, Indigenous education, cultural revitalizationMaiyuraq Lauryn Nanouk Jones, Native Village of Unalakleet, Inupiat, Alaska, USA
Arctic resilience, food sovereignty, environmental scienceLilli Ireland, Melukerdee, South East Nation, Tasmania, Australia
Sea Country governance, Indigenous environmental justice, climate policyNéepa Hyde, Shinnecock Nation and Onondaga Nation, Minnesota/ New York, USA
Food sovereignty, youth leadership, environmental protectionPahonu Coleman, Kanaka Maoli, Native Hawaiian, Hawaiʻi, USA
Climate resilience, food sovereignty, cultural practice, watershed stewardshipXwesultun (Raven Borsey), Lummi Nation and Wewiakai First Nation, Washington, USA / British Columbia, Canada
Coast Salish governance, reef net revitalization, Salish Sea protectionTori Hunt, Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, Illinois, USA
Ocean education, youth engagement, science communicationVeronica Robinson, Ojibwe, Oregon, USA
Health equity, climate justice, public policy, researchZakari Howard, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and Kickapoo, Kansas, USA
Marine research, TEK and science, Indigenous ocean stewardship
Dreamstarter® GOLD / Running Strong for American Indian Youth: indianyouth.org
Indigenous Environmental Network: ienearth.org
Partners
All photos courtesy of the Indigenous Youth Ocean Congress Ocean Ambassadors unless otherwise noted. Additional photo credits: Joel Sheakoski, www.JoelSPhoto.com; Jenya Bird; Mark Cheung; Jack Harris; Swathi Singh; Closa Captures Photography; Sandy Photo Studio.
Header Photo: Unsplash / Vlad Ardeleanu, Resources Photo: Unsplash / Gatis Marcinkevics, Footer Photo: Unsplash/ @earth