Welcome to our 8th #aroundtheworld! Today, we will be discussing 5 Native American activists that are become game changers. Enjoy our article on Jasilyn Charger, EllaMae Looney, Autumn Peltier, Naelyn Pike, and Charitie Ropati!
Jasilyn Charger
Jasilyn Charger is a twenty three year old Native American activist. She co-founded the International Indigenous Youth Council, which strives to protect the Cannonball and Missouri Rivers from the construction of the Dakota Access Pipelines. Additionally, the organization recommends that teenagers perform volunteer work and develop leadership skills. The One Mind Movement, another organization that Charger co-founded, works to reach out to rural areas and assist them with problems they face. The movement focuses on educating the children, as they say that “the children are literally our future. They are the sacred seeds of our ancestors, inherently instilled with the values passed down through generations.”
EllaMae Looney
EllaMae Looney is a young activist who spreads awareness about the injustice Native Americans face in society daily through poetry. Her captivating poem Make America Native Again mentioned how Native Americans are forced to assimilate to American culture. She says “I learned your religion. You learned my nothing.” In addition, Looney is aiming to preserve three Native American languages. She is learning Walla Walla, Nez Perce and Umatilla currently, and is planning to teach the languages to kinds, with a goal of passing the language on for generations. She also talked to Northwest tribe leaders into promoting teenage leadership and empowering youth using education programs.
Autumn Peltier
Frustrated at Canada's Prime Minister for his lack of water protection for Indigenous people, Autumn Peltier became a recognizable activist once she stood up to the Prime Minister for her community. Her statement resulted in the Prime Minister making a promise to pay more attention towards the Native American community. She became known for supporting water protection, including assisting Indigenous people to access clean water. At the young age of fourteen, Peltier was awarded the Water Warrior Award at the Water Docs Film Festival. Peltier is currently serving as the Chief Water Commissioner for the Anishinabek Nation.
Naelyn Pike
Naelyn Pike is a 19 year old activist from the San Carlos Apache Tribe in Arizona. She is a part of a family of activists with her grandmother and mother fighting for the rights of sacred land. She along with her family founded the Apache Stronghold which is trying to stop a mining project that would go through and violate Oak Flat, an Apache sacred site. She is incredibly passionate about getting young people to be more involved in activism in their communities and is a great role model for young Native American girls wanting to make a difference.
Charitie Ropati
Charitie Ropati is a 17 year old from the Native Village of Kongiganak and is a fierce advocate for indigenous students. According to her, she learned about her people through “stories [that her] grandmother told [her]” and never “saw [herself] in the history [that she] learned in primary and secondary school”. So far, she has been successful in getting her school district in Alaska to allow culture regalia at graduations and continues her quest to increase the number of graduating indigenous students.
What have you done recently to benefit your community? Comment below!