This Fall, UNITY Earth Ambassador Nizhoni Deschene (Navajo Nation, Turtle Mountain Chippewa) began a new chapter at the University of California, Berkeley, stepping into his role as the Director of Indigenous and Native Advocacy in the ASUC Senate office. His leadership is already shaping initiatives that prioritize Native student representation and cultural visibility. “We are in the early stages of developing projects that will create lasting opportunities for Native voices and visibility on campus,” he explained.
Beyond Berkeley, Nizhoni continues to advance Indigenous leadership nationwide through his work with the All Indigenous Recruiting Organization (AIRO). He is helping design a fellowship program for Native leaders in healthcare, finance, and education while creating mentorship and career-readiness resources. “My responsibilities include designing a national fellowship application and cohort curriculum aimed at developing Native leaders,” he shared.
As an Earth Ambassador, Nizhoni’s platform focuses on renewable energy sovereignty. “I aim to launch a nonprofit dedicated to restoring and expanding kelp forest coverage in Northern California,” he said. Alongside this effort, he plans to publish monthly podcasts to make energy policy accessible to Native youth and communities. His work demonstrates how education, advocacy, and environmental stewardship are intertwined for a sustainable future.
UNITY Earth Ambassadors: Guiding the Way Forward
The UNITY Earth Ambassador program empowers Native youth leaders to merge traditional ecological knowledge with modern sustainability practices. Each Ambassador carries out a service project before Earth Day, uplifting communities while protecting the Earth. This September, leaders like Nizhoni Deschene, Jizelle Juan, and Jada Allen are showing how Native youth are shaping the future through advocacy, cultural revitalization, and resilience planning. Together, they remind us that Indigenous leadership is essential to a sustainable tomorrow.