ABOUT US
Coast Salish Youth Coalition
Mission
Empower Indigenous youth through cultural collaboration and environmental stewardship, centering on traditional foods and ancestral lands. We foster inter-tribal healing and inspire the next generation of leaders in cultural revitalization and sustainable stewardship.
Vision
We envision a thriving community of Coast Salish youth deeply connected to their cultural heritage, engaged in environmental stewardship, and leading with respect for the land. By restoring kinship ties and fostering collaboration across tribes and agencies, we aim to create a future where traditional practices flourish, and all generations share the responsibility of caring for the Salish Sea.
History of the Program
Founded in 2017, The Coast Salish Youth Coalition (CSYC) addresses the need to provide meaningful employment to tribal youth and continue the legacy of Coast Salish stewardship to care for our treasured landscapes. In its early years, CSYC operated as a seven-week summer youth stewardship corps in the San Juan Islands focusing on restoring traditional habitats and culturally significant plants.
Today, the CSYC has grown into a fully-fledged nonprofit with a 100% Indigenous-led board. Its programming has expanded to include annual canoe journeys, camas bakes, and family workshops on traditional land management techniques, fostering intergenerational learning, cultural revitalization, and ecosystem restoration.
Key activities include restoring native food ecosystems and organizing cultural events that bring together tribal members of all ages to share knowledge and strengthen community bonds. Participants engage in hands-on stewardship projects such as cultural burning and eelgrass planting while learning sustainable practices grounded in traditional ecological knowledge.
Through these projects, CSYC empowers Indigenous youth to embrace their cultural heritage, develop leadership skills, and contribute to the restoration of Coast Salish homelands for future generations.
*This program does not presume to teach medicine ways or spiritual ways. Learning topics include traditional ecological knowledge, ethnobotany, history of land use, and traditional skills such as seafaring, camping, fire-making, and cooking. Some feasting activities include aspects of ceremony such as singing shared songs, but not family-sensitive spiritual practices. Managers of the program are always open to feedback to ensure the cultural safety of all participants.*
About the Logo
Our logo was designed by Jason LaClair, a renowned Coast Salish artist from the Lummi Nation. Jason is celebrated for his ability to honor traditional Coast Salish design motifs while creating art that resonates with modern times.
The four corners of the design symbolize the four seasons, the four corners of the longhouse, and the four directions of our relations. Central to the logo are eagles and wolves, two revered animals in the history of the San Juan Islands. Also featured prominently around the border are Canoes and camas, representing foundational activities of our program and Coast Salish traditions.
Staff
Sam Qol7ánten Barr (Samish), Erin Licata, Kelsey Kittleson
Board of Directors
Marco Hatch (Samish), Molly Walker (Samish), Patti Gobin (Tulalip), Brian Porter (Swinomish), Buddy Gray (Cowichan), Tracey Boser (Stillaguamish), Lisa Lawrence-Nash (Swinomish)
