The Indigenous Correspondents Program is housed and supported by Planet Forward in partnership with the University of Arizona through the Arizona Institute for Resilience and the Indigenous Resilience Center. Our partnership centers on sharing the voices of Indigenous students and highlighting their unique perspectives in environmental communication.

Stories published through the Indigenous Correspondents Program and Planet Forward help to bring broader awareness to Indigenous communities and concerns, including centering Indigenous ways of knowing, amplifying environmental solutions from across Indian Country, while highlighting cultural resilience.

Now in its fourth year, the Indigenous Correspondents Program has supported nearly 40 undergraduate and graduate students representing 26 Tribes and Indigenous communities and 21 universities across the U.S. – including four Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).

The 10-month program includes one-on-one editorial and mentorship support from ICP’s Editor & Story Mentor, Ivey Camille Manybeads Tso (Diné), a series of eight workshops led by primarily Indigenous communication experts, as well as peer-review sessions and social gatherings. The program culminates with the students receiving a travel grant to attend the annual Planet Forward Summit in Washington, D.C., where they engage in workshops led by global environmental leaders, present their work, meet with their cohort, and learn about environmental communication efforts from national leaders working in DC. Indigenous Correspondents receive a stipend for their involvement and publish at least one story on PlanetForward.org. They also share their work with community members, sustainability experts, professionals, and thought leaders through Planet Forward and University of Arizona events and partners.

Download our full annual report here.