Published March 30, 2026
Lomakatsi was honored to moderate and present during a powerful workshop last week as part of the The Corps Network virtual annual conference, standing alongside four colleagues within the National Indian Youth Service Corps Partnership—together representing 11 states where IYSC programming is being implemented and serving hundreds of tribal youth and young adults.
Panelists shared how long-term, trust-based relationships form the foundation of meaningful collaboration between Tribes and local communities, including through Tribal Government agreements with NGOs and agencies and the Conservation Corps model. Each panelist highlighted how partnerships in their service area are designed to strengthen Tribal sovereignty, build capacity, and create opportunities for tribal members to lead in conservation and ecosystem stewardship.
Lomakatsi Tribal Partnerships Director Belinda Brown opened the panel by recognizing the 575 federally recognized tribes and numerous non-federally recognized tribes across the nation. She also highlighted the policies, mechanisms, and administrative and programmatic elements of starting an Indian Youth Service Corps or tribal workforce development program.Bears Ears Partnership Policy Director Carleton Bowekaty blessed the gathering with a prayer in Zuni and shared how Corps programs that integrate Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge provide a holistic training module for Native youth.Kay Seven, Education Department Career Center Director for the Nez Perce Tribe, shared how to navigate successes and challenges when building strategic external partnerships to advance Tribal education and workforce programs.Chas Robles, Executive Director of Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps, unpacked the process of developing a funding plan and strategy in collaboration with Tribes and other partners to launch programs.Bianca Wahkinney, Site Director for Conservation Corps OK & AR, American YouthWorks, rounded out the panel with a call to action, underscoring the benefits of Corps programming for youth and communities.
We’re honored to be a part of the National Indian Youth Service Corps Partnership, which brings together organizations implementing Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) programming across the U.S., creating career pathways for Tribal and rural youth in stewardship-based work and establishing a national model for Tribally led workforce development. Developed and led in coordination with Native and rural communities, IYSC programs increase local workforce capacity in the face of increasing threats from wildfire, forest health issues, and degradation of valuable natural resources—saving millions of dollars in future investments through field-tested preventative treatments.
Together we celebrated the strength of Tribal Nations in each region, the programs supporting youth stepping into leadership roles, and our shared vision for a future in which Native communities thrive through trust, collaboration, and shared purpose. Thank you to the panelists for sharing your heart and expertise. Shout out to The Corps Network for hosting the virtual conference and for their leadership bringing together Conservation Corps across the nation to learn from each other, share resources, and bolster effective Corps programming.
