Indigenous Youth Environmental Justice (IYEJ) Program
We connect Indigenous youth with resources and opportunities as they relate to environmental justice, while uplifting coastal issues such as conservation, restoration, traditional ecological knowledge and coastal access, including multiple coastal visits in Orange and LA Counties.
Our Indigenous Youth Environmental Justice (IYEJ) Program builds student relationships with traditional cultural practitioners, scholars, Native community leaders, environmental scientists, advocates for land and water conservation, and environmental justice and coastal access grassroots leaders; supports ongoing and renewed connection to Tribal lands and waters by substantially increasing coastal and ocean water access for underserved youth and their families; provides culturally relevant educational resources to students that supports language revitalization; increases the hope the students have for their own futures and creates a culture in which the coast is accessible to the youth that we serve; and, raises youth awareness about the environmental justice concerns of Native Nations and issues impacting California’s coasts, estuaries, bays, and rivers:
Marine Protected Area Cruises: In partnership with Crystal Cove Conservancy, we bring Indigenous youth to visit the Crystal Cove Marine Protected Area (MPA). Youth work in research teams to collect data on plankton and fish populations and to test water quality in the MPA while connecting with traditional cultural practitioners, scholars, Native community leaders, environmental scientists, advocates for land/water conservation, and environmental justice/coastal access grassroots leaders. The trips connect Youth with California Coastal Tribal Culture Bearers to prioritize Tribal connection to moomat (ocean waters) and cultural practices around the lands and waters.
Indigenous Ocean Adventure Camp: This camp supports Indigenous peoples from local coastal tribes in obtaining a closer connection with the ocean (Moomat/Sxa'min) by combining traditional ecological knowledge with surfing, kayaking, snorkeling, and swimming.
Visits to Aquarium of the Pacific, Moompetam Festival for Native Youth :This 2-day festival celebrates Indigenous California maritime cultures, including Tongva, Chumash, Acjachemen, Costanoan, Luiseno, and Kumeyaay with traditional cultural craft demonstrations, storytelling, music, and dance. This provides Native Youth opportunities to learn about cultural practices from Indigenous maritime cultures. In addition to the educational booths, tribal leaders share stories and perform songs and dances.
Wellness Circles at Sherman Indian High School: SPI’s Director of Water, Land and Climate Justice, Jessa Calderon, hosts wellness circles for female-identifying youth centered on breathwork, meditations, writing, music, and poetry to facilitate positive ways to identify and process thoughts and emotions. Jessa is a cultural practitioner of Tongva, Chumash, and Yoeme descent, and is a renowned Native songwriter, singer, and rapper with a background in healing body practices.
Earth Day at Sherman Indian High School: We collaborate with Sherman Indian High School to bring awareness of environmental justice issues to students by hosting an annual Earth Day event at Sherman Indian High School featuring Native musical guests and cultural activities. Students participate in an artwork competition where they create artwork based on the Earth Day theme for the year, and the winners have their artwork printed on t-shirts and tote bags for the event.
