2026 "Her Voice: Indigenous Women in Climate Justice" cohort
The NC Climate Justice Collective (NCCJC) is proud to announce the selection of nine extraordinary leaders for the 2026 "Her Voice: Indigenous Women in Climate Justice" cohort.
Representing the Meherrin, Lumbee, Coharie, Haliwa-Saponi, Waccamaw-Siouan, and Tuscarora nations, these women embody NCCJC's "4 R’s" of Social Transformation: Re-Imagine, Re-Create, Resist, and Reform. From PhD researchers and licensed realtors to traditional firekeepers and early childhood educators, this group brings a multidisciplinary approach to defending our lands, waters, and future generations.
Meet the Her Voice leadership cohort!
Scientists & Researchers
Rachel Wood (Meherrin): A PhD Candidate in Environmental Toxicology at NC State, Rachel investigates the health impacts of industrial emissions on tribal communities, bridging the gap between the lab and the front lines.
Lily Rose Hunt (Lumbee): An Environmental Health and Urban Planning student at ECU and Co-president of ECNAO, Lily Rose is a dedicated "Water Protector" focused on reforming public health policy.
Organizers & Advocates
Brianna Howard (Meherrin): An organizer with the NC Conservation Network, Brianna fights for corporate accountability and systemic reform, specifically addressing industrial impacts like the Enviva plant.
Breana Chavis (Haliwa-Saponi): A Program Coordinator focused on restorative justice; Breana advocates for the purification of lands impacted by legacy toxic waste through the lens of human rights and faith.
Land Stewards & Specialists
Windy Daniels (Waccamaw-Siouan): A Natural Resource Management student and Editor-in-Chief, Windy leads the Hooheh Cultural Burn & Reforestation Program, revitalizing "fire as medicine."
Tessa Morgan (Lumbee): A Horticulture and Turfgrass Management specialist, Tessa is "re-creating" the Indigenous agricultural footprint through holistic land management and food sovereignty.
Cultural Educators & Visionaries
Cheyenne S. Daniel (Haliwa-Saponi): A licensed Realtor, business owner of Initiative4Hope LLC, and former Miss Indian NC, Cheyenne merges professional expertise with a drive to implement immediate tribal infrastructure solutions.
Alexandra Monk (Coharie): A student of American Indian Studies and former Miss Coharie, Alexandra is a "translator for nature," reclaiming traditional healing and inclusive community gardening.
Jennifer S. Brown (Waccamaw-Siouan): A Pre-K educator and UNCP alumna, Jennifer draws on Waccamaw creation stories to teach the symbiotic relationship between humans and the earth.
The Journey Ahead: Grounding in Tradition and Resilience
The cohort’s journey begins with a deep immersion into the ancestral lands of the Blue Ridge Mountains during the Western NC Launch Retreat (May 1–3). To center this work in matrilineal wisdom and tribal sovereignty, the retreat will open with a Cultural Welcome and Traditional Talking Circle led by esteemed Tribal Elder Mary Crowe and Lisa Montelongo of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI).
This sacred space will allow the cohort to connect directly with the history, traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), and resilience of the Cherokee people. Mary and Lisa will guide the group in understanding indigenous approaches to Just Transition —witnessing first hand how Indigenous stewardship provides a blueprint for responding to the climate crisis and addressing climate disasters like Hurricane Helene.
Building upon this foundation, the cohort will spend the next six months developing climate justice campaigns and implementing tangible solutions within their own tribal communities across the state.
"These women are not just responding to a crisis; they are the architects of a new, sovereign future," Hannah Jeffries, Her Voice Program Coordinator. "By centering the voices of young Indigenous women and learning from our Indigenous women elders, we are returning to a model of leadership that has sustained this land for thousands of years."
