2024 Brave Heart Fellowship Application

The Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) at the Aspen Institute is proud to announce a call for applicants for the 2024 Brave Heart Fellowship (BHF). This year’s cohort will be based in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and Alaska. Native youth working, or interested in working, to address the representation gap and inequities facing Indigenous Peoples in the fight for climate justice are encouraged to apply!

The Brave Heart Fellowship is for self-identified Native American and Indigenous youth, ages 18-24 years old, living in the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Northern California. The program will enhance the advocacy skills of fellows and support their individual and collective efforts to mobilize across their communities to protect our environment, lands, waterways, and sacred sites. Offering a culturally immersive and experiential curriculum, the fellowship prioritizes intergenerational learning and knowledge sharing spaces with various individuals and organizations who have long been on the front lines of climate change. 

The Brave Heart program directly supports community members and like-minded organizations addressing environmental disruption. The program is continuously developing a national network of climate activists and climate-driven organizations. CNAY believes that when we work together as a community, we can change the discourse surrounding environmental education and social change. 

The application deadline is December 1, 2023 at 11:59 PM PCT.

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* 1. Name (First and Last)

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* 2. Email Address

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* 3. Tribal Affiliation(s)

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* 4. Pronouns

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* 5. Mailing address (must be in the Pacific Northwest)

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* 6. Describe how this fellowship will support your current work, goals, and/or hopes for the future. (200 word count max)

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* 7. Tell us about one of the following in 200 words or less:

1. Your leadership or desire to lead

2. Your impact in school and/or community (i.e. activities or initiatives you may have lead)

3. Any challenges you have overcome to make a difference in your community

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* 8. Why is it important to address the representation gap and inequities facing Indigenous Peoples in the fight for climate justice and education? (200 word count max)

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* 9. Given that this fellowship is six months in duration, please note a possible climate or environmental-focused project you can do within your home community. Please describe why this project is important for your community. (Please note that CNAY will provide some funding to allow these projects to occur.)

Example: community gathering, community knowledge share gathering, preservation of stories, seed bank, etc.

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* 10. Please upload a recent headshot.

PNG, JPG, JPEG file types only.
Choose File

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* 11. Electronic Signature.

Please type your full name in the box below: I certify that all the information provided in this form is true and complete to the best of my knowledge.

By electronically signing you agree to the terms outlined in the above application.

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