We Want To Protect Our Youth And Also Empower Them


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Indigenous Youth Voices (IYV) – Winter 2026 Ancestral Homelands Experience
April 16–19, 2026 | Estes Park, Colorado

Indigenous Youth Voices (IYV) invites Indigenous and BIPOC youth to join us for a powerful 4-day land-based learning and leadership experience in the ancestral homelands of the Arapaho people in Estes Park, Colorado.

This experience brings together youth, elders, knowledge sharers, and mentors to strengthen identity, build leadership, and reconnect with land through Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), cultural teachings, and outdoor experiences.

Youth will participate in snowboarding at Breckenridge Ski Resort, land-based learning in Rocky Mountain National Park, and hands-on cultural activities including archery, storytelling, beading, and medicine bag making. Programming also includes important conversations around environmental justice, healthy boundaries, and MMIWR and human trafficking prevention.

Throughout the experience, youth will engage in circle talks, connect with Native-led organizations, and build lasting relationships rooted in community, culture, and responsibility.

This is more than a trip—it is a space for youth to grow, reflect, and step into their voice as future leaders.

All meals, transportation, lodging, and program materials are provided.

Safety & Support
The safety and wellbeing of our youth is our highest priority. All staff, chaperones, and elders/knowledge sharers complete background checks and follow established youth safety protocols. Our team includes CPR-certified staff and chaperones, with a certified outdoor/wilderness responder present throughout the program.

Additional Information
A detailed itinerary and packing list will be provided upon acceptance. If your youth needs any support or accommodations to participate, we are here to help.

This program is made possible with support from the Colorado Health Foundation, whose investment helps expand culturally grounded prevention, leadership development, and wellness opportunities for Indigenous youth.

Sign-up Here - IYV April 2026
Sign-up Here - IYV April 2026

Visit Our Indigenous Youth Voices Website

We are excited to share the launch of IndigenousYouthVoices.org, a dedicated platform highlighting the growth, leadership, and land-based learning work of our youth program. While Indigenous Youth Voices now has its own website to better showcase programming, events, and youth leadership initiatives, it remains a program of Not Our Native Daughters.

This expanded platform allows us to share more of our youth-driven work while continuing to operate under the mission, governance, and fiscal oversight of Not Our Native Daughters.

We invite you to visit www.indigenousyouthvoices.org to learn more.

Indigenous Youth Voices: Our Mission in Action

In 2022, NOND launched a transformative Native Youth Group on the Wind River Reservation, designed for Indigenous youth ages 14 to 27 interested in environmental justice, conservation, and meaningful outdoor experiences. What began as a local initiative has now expanded to include youth from the Denver metro area and Pine Ridge (Oglala Nation), creating a vibrant, intertribal community rooted in healing, leadership, and cultural connection.

Our partnerships allow youth to engage with public lands through an Indigenous lens—exploring land stewardship, environmental careers, and cultural identity.

Our seasonal programming includes annual snowboarding trips and immersive summer expeditions. Last summer, youth participated in a week-long journey that included white-water rafting, kayaking, hiking, and wildlife exploration. Elders and knowledge keepers guided the experience, sharing Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and oral storytelling passed down through generations.

As the program has grown, it has evolved into a year-round leadership and wellness model. We now host monthly youth healing circles, which provide ongoing spaces for cultural grounding, peer connection, and emotional growth. These circles center Indigenous approaches to wellness while addressing the modern-day challenges our youth face.

Our Mission is to empower Indigenous youth through culturally rooted leadership development, environmental engagement, and wellness education. A key part of this mission is to educate youth on trauma-informed care—what trauma is, how it can shape behaviors and identity, and how self-awareness, emotional regulation, and healthy communication can support healing and growth. By combining traditional knowledge with practical tools, we help youth build the foundation to thrive in their personal lives, communities, and careers.

These transformative experiences are made possible through strong partnerships with national parks, community allies, and generous funders. We remain committed to uplifting Indigenous youth and creating safe, empowering spaces where they can connect to the land, their culture, and their leadership potential.

"Opportunities like this are rare for Native youth—many have never experienced these kinds of adventures on ancestral lands. Through Indigenous Youth Voices, we are not only creating memories, but also restoring joy, connection, and a sense of belonging where it has long been denied."

Our aim is to inspire Native youth to become independent thinkers and visionaries. Through partnerships with conservation and outdoor recreation groups that align with our mission, we foster diverse experiences. This approach not only broadens conservation efforts but also nurtures the upcoming generation of Indigenous environmental leaders, empowering them to enact impactful change in the world.

At NOND, we believe in the strength of community, the principle that “each one teach one,” and the power of prayer as foundations for healing and growth. We see nurturing community well-being as a core facet of leadership and recognize the responsibility it carries—to foster emerging tribal youth leaders with wisdom, purpose, and heart.

A key part of our work includes providing trauma-informed care education—helping youth understand how trauma shapes behaviors, relationships, and identity. Through talking circles, we create culturally safe spaces to explore real-life topics like healthy relationships, emotional regulation, self-awareness, and making grounded decisions. These circles are guided by elders, mentors, and peers to promote connection, healing, and personal responsibility.

Investing in our youth not only cultivates future leadership but also strengthens the enduring Indigenous values that form the bedrock of our heritage. By empowering Native youth to ascend to new heights, we affirm their sacred role within the tribe and the world. We ensure every Indigenous youth has the support, guidance, and spiritual grounding to flourish and realize their fullest potential.

Not Our Native Daughters strives for the growth of a future where Native Americans prevail in all the same areas where other ethnicities succeed.

Indigenous Conservation

Indigenous Conservation refers to the practice of preserving, managing, and sustaining natural resources by Indigenous communities using traditional knowledge, cultural practices, and holistic approaches. It involves a deep understanding and respect for the interconnectedness between humans and the environment, emphasizing sustainable use and protection of land, water, wildlife, and ecosystems. Indigenous Conservation integrates ancestral wisdom, passed down through generations, and aims to maintain biodiversity, ecological balance, and the well-being of both the environment and Indigenous communities.


Raising Indigenous social identities that have been traditionally underrepresented in the environmental industry


One of the ways to cultivate knowledge is reducing barriers to outdoor recreation and with the partnerships of others build pathways to employment in the conservation community

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Annual Snowboarding Trip

    The Indigenous Youth Voices Group will be taking a trip to Snow King Ski Resort in Jackson, Wyoming. Snowboarding instructors will provide an in-depth introduction training to snowboarding.

  • Traditional Ecology Knowledge & Kayaking

    The NOND Native Youth Group champions Indigenous youth voices through immersive kayaking expeditions, intricately woven with wisdom from ecologists and Native elders. These transformative journeys extend beyond the thrill of paddling; they serve as gateways to embracing Traditional Ecology Knowledge (TEK). As these young minds navigate the waters, they absorb invaluable insights from ecologists, unlocking the intricate balance between ecosystems and Indigenous cultures. Alongside this scientific exploration, the voices of Native elders echo through these experiences, sharing oral traditions and deep-rooted ecological wisdom. This holistic approach intertwines adventure with ancestral knowledge, fostering a profound connection to nature and heritage, nurturing a generation poised to become stewards of both environmental preservation and Indigenous heritage.

  • Citizens for the Red Desert

    The Red Desert where wildlife thrive, undeveloped lands are connected, traditional and ancestral uses continue, histories are honored, and to it from the oil & gas industry. In the efforts of the preservation of the Red Desert— the Indigenous Youth Voices Group will take a day trip to the Red Desert and learn from experts the importance of conservation and the preservation of Indigenous cultural lands.

    Thank you to our partners, Citizens for The Red Desert and Wyoming Outdoor Council.

  • Learning from our Elders

    At NOND, amplifying Indigenous voices is paramount. We, as Indigenous People, treasure our ability to narrate our own stories. Our youth, equipped with educational expertise, are also enriched by the invaluable wisdom of our esteemed elders. In every Indigenous Youth Voices Expedition Trip, we ensure the presence and guidance of elders from diverse tribal communities. Recognizing our deep-rooted connections to these lands, we prioritize learning from a tapestry of tribes and revered elders, seeking to uncover the authentic history embedded within the landscapes and regions we traverse

  • Preservation of Ceremonial Plants

    Red cedar, sage, and red willows are some of the main elements utilized in our ceremonial way of life. The group will learn where these plants grow, how to cultivate more growth, how to harvest these plants, and why it’s important we promote the growth and preservation. Our Lakota and Dakota, Northern Arapaho & Eastern Shoshone ceremonial elders snd phyotologist will be the educators of this day trip of learning and oral story telling.

  • Teton School of Science

    The Indigenous Youth Voices Group, led by NOND, has forged a collaborative partnership with the Teton School of Science, embodying a visionary alliance that nurtures the voices and perspectives of Indigenous youth. This alliance is a testament to their shared commitment to education, empowerment, and the environment. Through this partnership, Indigenous youth are provided with a unique platform to engage in scientific exploration while embracing their cultural heritage. The collaboration between NOND and the Teton School of Science exemplifies a powerful synergy that bridges knowledge, culture, and conservation, fostering the growth of the next generation of Indigenous leaders.Description goes here

  • "When Native youth are on the water, they’re not just paddling — they’re reclaiming space, strength, and connection. Every stroke forward is a step toward healing, leadership, and remembering who they are."

  • "In this circle, knowledge is not taught—it’s shared. Our classrooms are filled with stories, healing, and cultural wisdom, where every voice matters and every lesson shapes a future leader."

  • "For many Native youth, this is a first. Snowboarding isn't just recreation—it's liberation. It’s a chance to experience joy, confidence, and the freedom to take up space in places they've often been left out of."

  • "When science meets tradition on the mountain, Native youth see what’s possible. Here, they’re not just learning about the land—they’re being prepared to protect it."

  • "In these circles, laughter, rhythm, and tradition come together. Through hand games, Native youth reconnect with culture, community, and the joy of shared identity and ancestral memory."

  • "Surrounded by healing waters and sacred land, Native youth learn from those protecting it. With every lesson from the ranger, they’re reminded that they, too, are stewards of these places."

  • "Together, these Native youth stand strong—connected by culture, empowered by community, and ready to lead with purpose and pride."

Contact us.

If you are interested in collaboration with our Wind River Youth Leadership Group, please contact us. We would love to hear from you!

notournativedaughters@gmail.com
307.438.0214

PO Box 1661

Fort Washakie, WY 82514