“Your mouth is like a bow. Your tongue is the arrow. Your voice is that arrow you let fly and you have the power to speak good or harm,” eloquently shared by Azalia Harvey, one of our 2026-2027 correspondents. The Ilíiaitchik: Indigenous Correspondents Program is just that. Ilíiaitchik means to speak good words in the Biiluuke/Our Side/Crow language and has been the overarching mission of our program. Over the past four years, our correspondents have told stories that reflect who they are and where they come from, teachings from the land and their people, highlighting critical issues that need to be heard but often overlooked, and, most importantly, remembering the past to build a better future.

The Indigenous Correspondents Program has submitted 24 stories to Planet Forward’s Storyfest competition, has had 14 Storyfest finalists, and four Storyfest winners. These stories had 6,829 views across the 14 finalists and 3,768 views across our four winners. We have had a total of 40 correspondents come through ICP, and host seven monthly workshops each year. We have had representation from 28 Tribal Nations throughout our four years. 

Going into year five, we are excited to welcome 10 Indigenous students from across the country representing eight universities/colleges and a wide range of Indigenous Nations including Oglala Lakota, Akimel O’odham of the Gila River Indian Community, Seminole Tribe of Florida, Quecha, Cora and Huichol Indigenous, Cherokee, Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona (Yoeme), Diné, Nambe Pueblo, and Hopi.

Over the next eight months, our correspondents will work closely with Ivey-Camille Manybeads Tso, our ICP editor, to develop a story of their choice. They will also learn from Indigenous experts covering topics like healing through storytelling, developing a compelling story and pitch, learning the art of the interview, multimedia communication, using sounds and songs to tell a story, Indigenous knowledge in science communication, and Indigenous journalism. We look forward to the stories that our correspondents will tell and are excited to walk alongside them on this new journey together.

• Azalia Harvey – Leo (Diné) – Diné College
• Cailinn Allen (Akimel O’odham of the Gila River Indian Community) – Stanford University
• Cheyenne Kippenburger (Seminole Tribe of Florida) – Everglades University
• Halie Tewa (Hopi) – University of Arizona
• Hayle Bobbie Trujillo (Name Pueblo) – University of Arizona
• Julia Perez – Pacheco (Quecha, Cora and Huichol Indigenous) – Columbia University
• Lúta Keegan – Two Bulls (Oglala Lakota) – Stanford University
• Mya Benally (Diné) – Bard College
• Tossi-Masso Molina (Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona Yoeme) – Tohono O’odham Community College
• Tyler Moore (Cherokee) – University of Kansas