Brave Heart Fellowship
Champions for Change
CA Native Youth Collective
Remembering Our Sisters
Building Communities of Hope
Creative Native
Democracy is Indigenous
Yá’át’ééh/Oki! Oteskwebeeksaki (Oteskwe) Shebala comes from the Blackfeet and Navajo Nations. She grew up in Coeur d’Alene Idaho and is currently a sophomore at Stanford University studying Environmental Systems Engineering.
Growing up, Oteskwe was always immersed in Indigenous teachings and ways of life. She envisions a future where she can positively contribute to the preservation of traditional lands and the lessons that come with it.
About Oteskwe’s Project
During her time as a 2024 Brave Heart Fellow, Oteskwe worked to start a nursery at the Salish School of Spokane, helping to revitalize traditional practices and knowledge. Mentored by Valerie Huff, she learned about the ethical growth of camas, the importance of native plant stewardship and to propagate camas root for food and educational purposes.
Her hope is that her community becomes involved in the nursery and that she can provide resources, Indigenous wisdom and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) for future generations.
