“Youth In Action: Indigenous Ecosystems Exhibition for Earth Day 2024”

Native youth activists are leading the conversation on envisioning a sustainable future and addressing the unique impact of climate change on Native communities. This Earth Day, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian will present Youth In Action: Indigenous Ecosystems, featuring Seneca Johnson (Mvskoke) and Sgaahl Siid Xyáahl Jaad (Marina Anderson [Haida/Tlingit]), moderated by Jade Begay (Tesuque Pueblo/Diné).

The panelists will discuss their efforts to create a more equitable and sustainable future. The event will take place on Saturday, April 20, at 2 p.m. in the museum’s Rasmuson Theater. This event is open to the public, with ASL interpretation provided.

Johnson, a community organizer at Earth Care, has been involved in social justice and community organizing since the age of 15. She co-founded the youth-of-color-led environmental justice organization Youth United for Climate Crisis Action (YUCCA) in 2019. Jaad, from Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, directs the Sustainable Southeast Partnership, working towards a regenerative and sustainable economy in southeast Alaska. Begay focuses on climate and environmental justice policy and Indigenous rights, advocating for Indigenous-led solutions and self-determination.

Youth In Action is an online series hosted by the National Museum of the American Indian, amplifying the efforts of Native changemakers engaged in social justice work for Indigenous peoples. The museum aims to foster understanding and equity for Native peoples through education and empowerment.

For more information about the museum, visit their website or follow them on social media. Let’s celebrate Earth Day with discussions and actions for a sustainable future led by Native youth activists.