In May 2025, I partnered with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s Natural Resource Department to support the HEAL (Health, Environment, Agriculture, and Land) Gathering. This five-day environmental justice training brought together 40 Tribal youth to learn about the HEAL Act, leadership, and the connections between culture, health, and the land.

My role was to design and lead a series of hands-on storytelling and digital media workshops. From exploring the environmental history of the Coeur d’Alene people to teaching video recording, social media strategy, and food storytelling, I worked with youth to strengthen their voices and give them tools to share their own perspectives.

Beyond the workshops, I was on the ground throughout the gathering—mentoring youth, supporting breakout sessions, and helping weave storytelling into the event itself. The experience underscored how digital tools, when paired with traditional knowledge, can help the next generation carry forward their stories of resilience and leadership.