We Want To Protect Our Youth And Also Empower Them

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Join a movement led by Indigenous and multicultural youth ages 15–29. Help shape seasonal gatherings, healing circles, and cultural programs rooted in identity, resilience, and community.

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Our annual Indigenous Youth Voices Summer Trip is happening August 6–11, 2025.

Not Our Native Daughters is a national Native-led nonprofit that advocates for the protection of Indigenous People, Native women and children by addressing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Not Our Native Daughters is a national Indigenous-led nonprofit that advocates for the protection of Relatives (MMIWR) and the human trafficking of Indigenous people. In 2021, we launched Indigenous Youth Voices, a youth empowerment initiative designed to take Native youth from reservations into outdoor spaces where healing, learning, and leadership can take root.

Our goal is to provide culturally-grounded, science-informed outdoor experiences that Native youth are often denied access to—such as white water rafting, snowboarding, hiking, and visiting national parks. Some of our youth live just a few hours from Yellowstone, yet had never stepped foot in the park until this program. We aim to change that.

Through our summer trips, we don’t just explore—we connect. Our youth gather in daily circle talks for heart-led discussions, share in group responsibilities like cooking and cleaning, and learn to build community through shared values. Elders accompany us to share Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), stories, and cultural teachings. These trips offer not only fun and adventure, but also deep healing and intergenerational learning.

Our upcoming trip is August 6th–11th, 2025, beginning at Bear’s Lodge (commonly known as Devils Tower National Monument), a sacred site in Wyoming. From there, we’ll travel to Jackson Hole, where our programming includes white water rafting, hiking to waterfalls in Yellowstone, kayaking in Grand Teton National Park, and visits to hot springs—all woven with cultural and ecological education from both Indigenous knowledge holders and environmental scientists.

This year’s theme is:

“Water is Life: The Science and Spirit of Water.”

We’ll explore the importance of water through both traditional and scientific lenses—highlighting its sacredness, its threats, and the responsibility we all share in protecting it.

Our youth learn that water connects everything. And in learning this, they learn how deeply connected they are to each other, to the Earth, and to a future they are being empowered to shape.

Due to recent cuts in federal funding—funds that were intended to sustain us for two full years—we are now relying on community support to continue this vital work. We are actively fundraising to cover costs for travel, food, gear, cultural guides, and outdoor experiences.

We believe in advocating for Indigenous justice, but we also believe in empowering the next generation to be leaders, goal-chasers, and changemakers. Our mission is to create pathways for employment, cultural learning, and values, while providing safe spaces for growth. We are committed to supporting Native youth-led initiatives because we believe in the power of uplifting our young people. We not only pray for our youth, but we also pray with them and empower them.

If you believe in Native-led solutions, youth empowerment, and environmental justice, we invite you to support this project.

We would love to hear from you—connecting is what we do! If you’d like to learn more or have any questions, please contact us at: notournativedaughters@gmail.com

Tokša ake wówašte kiŋ yeló.

Wičhóuŋyaŋpi kiŋ hé miyé k’a okíčhize.

Wówahwaŋpi kte ló, tȟokáta kiŋ hé miyé.

We thank you for your willingness to help.

Youth empowerment is sacred work.

May all your actions be successful, and your path be good.

Indigenous Youth Voices: Our Mission in Action

In 2022, NOND initiated a transformative journey by establishing a Native Youth Group comprising individuals aged 14 to 27 eager to delve into environmental justice, conservation efforts, and exhilarating outdoor experiences. This inclusive platform began with a vision to expand horizons and create opportunities for Indigenous youth. We've since embarked on annual snowboarding trips during winter seasons, fostering excitement and exploration. As we gear up for the upcoming year, our focus is on fundraising to ensure the continuation of these enriching journeys.

Our youth group has evolved to encompass not just the Wind River Reservation but also youths from Pine Ridge, Standing Rock, and Cheyenne River, fostering a diverse and dynamic learning community. Last summer, we embarked on an immersive week-long expedition, engaging in outdoor adventures like white-water rafting, kayaking, hiking, and wildlife exploration. Guided by our elders, we learned invaluable Traditional Ecology Knowledge (TEK) and treasured oral stories passed down through generations.

Our core mission is to pave paths to employment and higher education, empowering Indigenous youth to actively contribute to conservation and environmental justice initiatives. These transformative adventures would not be possible without the vital partnerships we've cultivated with organizations like Teton School of Science, Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, collaborative partners, and our valued funders. Our goal remains steadfast: to empower and inspire Indigenous youth to embrace these opportunities, fostering their growth and connection to their heritage.

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 see nurturing community well-being as a core facet of leadership. We recognize the duty it carries—to foster emerging tribal youth leaders. 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 integral role within the tribe, ensuring all Indigenous youth have the support to flourish and realize their utmost 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. - L. GreyBull

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