American Indian Child Resource Center / United National Indian Tribal Youth Council (UNITY)
Oakland, California
United National Indian Tribal Youth Council (UNITY) is a project of the Oakland Indian Education Center, a unit within the American Indian Child Resource Center. The Oakland Indian Education Center will promote cultural awareness, build cultural pride, develop leadership skills, and teach youth the importance of giving back to their community. Their community is multi-tribal, with many youth being from two or three different tribes. The Oakland UNITY program will give native youth a sense of community and belonging, and will build cultural pride in them.

Black Mesa Water Coalition
Hopi and Navajo Reservations, Arizona
Black Mesa Water Coalition (BMWC) is a youth led organizing initiative opposing the pumping of groundwater from the Navajo Aquifer by Peabody Coal. In coalition with other environmental and Native organizations, BMWC has undertaken walks, youth education initiatives and active organizing work to end Peabody Coal's use of the Navajo Aquifer by December 2005. BMWC consists of youth from various cultural backgrounds including Hopi, Dine, Chicano, Maya, African American, and Anglos from the Flagstaff community. BMWC is dedicated to human rights and the protection of the environment for future generations. Part of their mission is to create self-sufficient communities and promote ideas of sustainability, which include the implementation of alternative energy technology and the development of social and political alternatives where the control of resources resides with the people.

Black Mesa Trust
Hopi and Navajo Reservations, Arizona
For work to cease aquifer drainage and ecosystem damage from slurry use by Peabody Coal's Black Mesa Mine and Kayenta Mine on the Hopi and Navajo reservations.
Black Mesa Trust is an organization working to safeguard, preserve and honor the land and water of Black Mesa. They are building a growing coalition to cease aquifer drainage and ecosystem damage from slurry use by Peabody Coal's Black Mesa Mine and Kayenta Mine.

Corporation of Newe Sogobia
Western Shoshone Territyory, Nevada
For work to stop the United States government from siting a high level nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain, Nevada.
The Western Shoshone National Council strives to raise the profile of their fight for tribal survival as a traditional people while uniting the community and broader public to protect these inherent rights. The nuclear industry proposes moving the lethal waste across the country by truck and train to Yucca Mountain, the heart of Newe Segobia/Western Shoshone Nation, and the traditional Council is actively resisting this plan.

Defenders of the Black Hills
Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota
A group of volunteers, without racial or tribal boundaries, whose mission is to ensure that all of the provisions of the Fort Laramie Treaties of 1851 and 1868 are upheld by the federal government of the United States. The Defenders works to protect the Black Hills from mining, logging, and other desecration,.

Dine; Citizens Against Ruining our Environment (Dine Care)
For work to insure reform of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), and the healing of the Dine community from radioactive contamination.
Seeking to protect their land and lifeways, Dine; CARE has battled various environmental injustices that range from fighting incinerator proposals for Dalton Pass to preserving the trees of the Chuska Mountains to successfully seeking real compensation for Navajo families impacted by uranium mining.

Eastern Navajo Dine Against Uranium Mining (ENDAUM)
For work to stop the siting and development of two new uranium mines in the Crownpoint district of the Navajo Reservation
ENDAUM is a grassroots campaign representing the Dine; people of the Eastern Navajo Agency in Crownpoint and Churchrock. Their primary purpose is to stop new uranium mining that would use a chemical solution to extract uranium form a high quality aquifer that supplies drinking water for more than 10,000 residents of the Eastern Navajo Agency.

Environmental Justice Foundation
Skull Valley Reservation, Utah
For Sammy Blackbear's legal campaign to stop a high level nuclear waste dump on the Skull Valley Reservation.
This group of resisters is fighting a limited liability corporation called Private Fuel Storage, a consortium of 12 utilities including Xcel Corporation, which is desperately trying to construct a private 'interim' radioactive waste dump on the Skull Valley Reservation as a private alternative to Yucca Mountain.

Grassy Narrows Youth Training Project / Indigenous Environmental Network
Grassy Narrows Reserve, Ontario, Canada
The Grassy Narrows First Nations community in Northwest Ontario has struggled against mercury contamination, dam projects, the pulp and paper industry, and most recently, proposals to dump nuclear waste in their territory. They are avid organizers, and as such plan to host a pilot training project for twenty Native youth environmental activists. The project is collaboration with the Indigenous Environmental Network. Much of the preliminary work has already taken place, allowing the project to occur in fall of 2002. IEN has already identified youth participants, presenters, and trainers, and an established relationship with Grassy Narrows environmental activists.

Gwich'in Steering Committee
Fairbanks, Alaska
To oppose government plans to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWAR) to oil exploration.
The committee works to protect the ANWAR from oil development that threatens caribou populations and the Gwich'in people. The Gwich'in Committee has raised awareness and support nationally to stop the government and industry from destroying a pristine ecosystem and ancient culture for a six month supply of oil.

Indigenous Youth to Youth Project
Edmonton, Alberta
This project represents months of organizing work between Indigenous youth in Canadian First Nation communities to discuss the issues surrounding sustainable development and youth initiatives and voices regarding sustainable development. These youth wish to have their voices present in national and international deliberations, and engage youth in organizing and conscious work in these arenas. The Indigenous youth facilitation team visited five main First nations communities, and involved over 270 youth. They now seek support for their travel to Johannesburg, South Africa for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and their follow up organizing with youth on these issues.

MoCreebec
Moose Factory Island, Canada
To oppose new mega-dam proposals in Cree territory, including James Bay III.
Three major river systems have already been impacted by the grandiose schemes of Hydro Quebec's mega-dams and entire ecosystems and cultural histories have been flooded as a result.

Mohave Cultural Preservation Program / Arizona Indian Land Youth Environmental Justice Leadership Project
Parker, Arizona
The Mohave Cultural Preservation Program with the Gila River Alliance for a Clean Environment seek to defend their communities. At present their communities are faced with plans for operation of a large commercial medical waste incinerator (burning wastes from several states), and pesticide spraying and dumping near homes. The Westates Carbon/US Filter has a commercial hazardous waste facility, and the Stericycle Corporation operates a commercial incinerator burning medical waste. The project will educate, empower and mobilize Native youth to become involved in their environmental justice struggles. The strategies will involve workshops, toxic tours, elders workshops and trainings, as well as a youth environmental justice camp.

Mole Lake Environmental Committee
Mole Lake Sokaoogan Reservation, Wisconsin
This committe seeks to oppose Crandon Mine and destruction of wild rice beds. This committee seeks to oppose the Crandon Mine and destruction of wild rice beds. In 2003, the work of this organization and a host of allies resulted in the purchase of the mine site by the Forest County Potowatami and Mole Lake Ojibwe.

Native Outdoor Learning Institute: Indigenous Youth Experiences
Cushing, Oklahoma
The Indigenous Youth Experiences seeks to provide indigenous youth with an opportunity to speak with indigenous Elders to become more aware of their responsibilities towards one another and the natural systems. This transfer of indigenous knowledge will be conducted eye-to-eye, breath-to-breath, from one spirit to another and will be guided by the natural world. Honor the Earth funds will be used to provide the Indigenous youth with an opportunity to speak with and receive indigenous knowledge from Seminole Spiritual Leader Bobby C. Billie in the Florida Everglades on January 2-8, 2003. Other Indigenous Youth Experience Elders will be invited to attend this important conference along with other Elders that have not presented to our group.

Native Action
Northern Cheyenne Reservation, Montana
For work to stop coal bed methane development adjacent to the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.
This group is fighting a pitched battle that has lasted over three decades to protect their ancestral homeland from the devastating impacts of strip mining and coal methane development. In addition, Native Action is one of the coordinating groups for Get Out the Indian Vote campaigns in Montana.

Ohngo Gaudadeh Devia Awareness (OGD)
Skull Valley Goshute Reservation, Utah
For Margene Bullcreek's effort to stop Private Fuel Storage from constructing a high level nuclear waste dump on the Skull Valley Reservation.
OGD is a grassroots group working to stop a limited liability corporation called Private Fuel Storage (PFS) from constructing a parking-lot-type high-level nuclear waste dump on the reservation.

Penobscot Nation Boys and Girls Club / Environmental Advocacy and Social Justice Education Initiative
Penobscot Nation, Maine
As a part of its education goals for the Penobscot Nation youth, the Penobscot Nation Boys and Girls Club will provide a program to promote awareness of the environmental issues that threaten the ecological health of the Penobscot River Watershed. It is the goal of the club to instill a sense of responsibility in the youth of the tribe by building awareness of a cultural connection to the river and the impacts of pollution and dams to the river and to the tribe.

Pueblo of Zuni
Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico
For work to stop the Salt Lake Coal Mine on their lands.
The Zuni are working to protect Zuni Salt Lake from a proposed strip mine that would disturb burials, shrines and places of worship. The Salt Lake is the residence of their deity the Zuni Salt Mother. Since pre-Columbian times, the Zuni have been making uninterrupted annual pilgrimages to honor her, make offerings, seek her assistance, initiate new members of religious societies, and gather her sacred salt. In 2003, they succeeded in stopping a coal strip mine but now face new obstacles.

Sicangu Pregnancy Prevention Curriculum
Rapid City, South Dakota
The Sicangu Way of Life Project seeks to re-establish and strengthen sustainable Lakota communities grounded in Lakota thought and philosophy. The goals of the Sicangu Pregnancy Prevention Curriculum are to promote the health and wellness of Lakota youth and prevent teen pregnancy. Based on traditional women's teachings, this unique program will incorporate self-care, Lakota star knowledge and cosmology, reproductive cycles, mentoring, ceremonies of passage, and HIV/AIDS prevention education. This program for young pre-puberty girls is grounded in the sacredness of women's bodies, that in Lakota tradition carry the "mni wiconi" - the water of life, which is there for the development of the child and the nation.

Swinomish Canoe Club
La Conner, Washington
The Swinomish Canoe Club was formed in 1999 with the vision of creating healthier lifestyles and promoting healthy living behavior among the youth, family, and community on the Swinomish reservation in Washington. The canoe is a vehicle for cultural restoration, youth organizing, and development of youth leadership. The intent is to keep high-risk youth alcohol, drug and violence free for the duration of the program. The development of self-confidence, self-respect, physical fitness, nutrition, team building, cooperation, and strong social skills are positive outcome of the program.

Tribal Environmental Watch Alliance
Navajo Reservation, Gallup, New Mexico
Awareness and outreach about the RECA 2000 amendments during a three-month period, leading up to a regional conference, to encourage affected families to reapply and get re-involved.
Tribal Environmental Watch Alliance is a non-profit grassroots environmental organization dedicated to increasing the involvement of Indigenous communities in the decision-making processes on the health risks and the risks posed to our ecosystems from the activities conducted at nuclear research and defense facilities.

Wakanyeja Pawicayapi Inc. / Nagi Kicopi, a Children's Mental Health Services Project
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota
The Nagi Kicopi (Calling The Spirit Back) staff is organizing a Tiwahe (Family) Camp scheduled for August 25-29, 2002 in the sacred Black Hills. The purpose of the camp is to strengthen Lakota Youth and their families, building on the strengths of Lakota culture and social organization. The youth can then build and plan for the future according to traditional Lakota knowledge.

Warrior Woman Fund/Roberta Blackgoat
Austin, Texas
To continue the struggle to oppose Navajo relocation and focus the debate around Peabody Coal Company. The esteemed Dine; elder Roberta Blackgoat (1917-2002) struggled to oppose Navajo relocation and to focus the debate around Peabody Coal strip mine.

Warrior Woman Fund/ Nilak Butler
Austin, Texas
For the salary and health care of Nilak Butler.
Nilak Butler's life has been spent working to protect Native lands, communities, children, and future generations. She was active in the American Indian Movement and one of the members of the Oglala, South Dakota camp on the Pine Ridge Reservation that was attacked by the FBI on June 25, 1976. Leonard Peltier remains in jail unjustly for allegedly killing two FBI agents that day. Nilak has devoted decades of her life to raising awareness about Peltier's case, and working to secure him a new, fair trial. She is a founding mother of the Indigenous Women's Network, and a founding council member of the Indigenous Environmental Network. Nilak Butler, one of the architects of the Native energy policy agenda that is guiding our efforts today.

White Earth Youth Organizing Initiative
Ponsford, Minnesota
White Earth Land Recovery Program's environmental justice initiatives include alternative energy work and training, work to preserve wild rice in the face of globalization and threats of genetic pollution, and economic and anti-racism organizing. The WELRP is a ten-year-old Native organizing project on the White Earth reservation. The youth programs involve over 500 youth in programs ranging from Niigaanikwe, Young Women's Leadership Development work, to anti racism organizing work and environmental justice. In the upcoming months the project will expand the national internship program (for college aged students), pairing these youth with reservation youth, and continue to move an environmental justice and alternative energy agenda, including training two youth from the reservation in wind energy generation and maintenance for tribal wind energy generators.