Vydell Willie of the Navajo Nation Named 2025-26 UNITY Earth Ambassador
UNITY is honored to recognize Vydell Willie of the Navajo Nation as one of its 2025 UNITY Earth Ambassadors. Representing the Western Region, Vydell exemplifies the next generation of Indigenous climate leaders, combining scientific research, cultural tradition, and youth engagement to address urgent environmental concerns within the Navajo Nation and beyond.
“Being an environmental ambassador means advocating for sustainability, engaging in conservation efforts, and inspiring others to take action,” Vydell shared. “By combining scientific research, leadership, and cultural values, I strive to create meaningful change.”
A senior at Navajo Preparatory School, Vydell has spent his high school years immersed in environmental science and stewardship. His research includes testing air quality across the Navajo Nation through a project titled “Statistical Modeling of Empirical Particulate Matter Measurements Made with an Arduino UNO”, as well as a wildfire impact study in Perkinsville, Arizona, analyzing how wildfires affect soil pH and long-term land sustainability.
“These projects help provide valuable data to inform community members about environmental hazards and potential solutions,” he explained. “Environmental stewardship isn’t just about science—it’s about protecting our communities and healing our lands.”
Through the Science Gifted and Talented Program at Navajo Prep, Vydell has taken on leadership roles that include organizing campus-wide Zero Waste initiatives, Green Garden projects, and beautification programs such as the Adopt-a-Highway campaign and Hogan Clean-Ups. As President of the Natural Helpers and Public Relations Officer for the science program, he’s helped blend Navajo teachings with environmental education, leading traditional food demonstrations using native plants, and incorporating cultural sustainability into all aspects of his advocacy.
His nominator, Yolanda G. Flores, praised Vydell’s wide-reaching impact: “He is a diligent, responsible, and community-minded leader. Vydell inspires others to make environmentally friendly choices and always leads by example.”
In 2023, Vydell took his efforts to the national level as a delegate to the Native Youth Climate Adaptation and Leadership Congress (NYCALC), learning advanced conservation strategies and collaborating with Indigenous peers from across the country. He also interned at the Round Rock Chapter House, distributing PPE, assisting with food programs, and helping with weaving projects that emphasize sustainable material use.
As a 2025 Earth Ambassador, Vydell will launch a powerful new initiative centered on food security and soil health: a composting advocacy campaign directed at Chapter House Officials within the Navajo Nation. “This initiative aims to improve soil health, promote sustainable agriculture, and reduce food waste,” he said. “Composting can be crucial in restoring soil fertility, especially in arid regions like mine.”
Titled “From Waste to Wellness,” the campaign will include letter-writing workshops, social media outreach, and public petitions to push for composting regulations and incentives across tribal lands. Vydell also plans to build partnerships with environmental organizations, tapping into research and grassroots support to secure policy change. “I want to encourage legislation that provides incentives for households and businesses to compost,” he said. “And I want to show that we can lead our own sustainable future without relying solely on outside institutions.”
With his impressive background in STEM research, cultural leadership, and legislative advocacy, Vydell is ready to join the legacy of Earth Ambassadors who are reclaiming environmental stewardship through Indigenous innovation and youth-driven solutions.
“Protecting and preserving the Earth is a shared responsibility,” Vydell said. “And by integrating our traditional knowledge with science, we can build a better future for the next seven generations.”