“I would like to spread the message of hope and resilience by sharing my peoples’ stories,” says 19-year-old advocate and multimedia artist Yang (indigenousiconyang). “As young people, we are often left out, doubted and ignored, but I want you to know: we are sacred, we are the dreams of our ancestors. We are the change we need in this world.” ⁣
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Yang began her advocacy journey at age 15 and three years later was leading thousands of young people in the 2019 global climate strike at the state capitol in New Mexico. ⁣
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“As Indigenous people, we have never been given any opportunities to share our stories and identities,” says Yang, who is Diné and Chicana from Dinétah, the traditional homeland of the Navajo tribe.⁣
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“Historically, my community, facing environmental racism, colonization, discrimination has been sacrificed for the development of the economy. I realized at a young age I had an important and sacred obligation to my people, to speak, make art and bring awareness to these social and environmental injustices. Because at the end of the day, we have to.” ⁣
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Photo of indigenousiconyang by charleykingphotography