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.
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)
Meet our Team
Sam Qol7ánten Barr (He/him), Executive Director
Sam@coastsalishyouth.org
As a Samish tribal citizen Sam is a lifelong learner of Coast Salish culture and is particularly interested in studying traditional language, canoe seafaring, and traditional carving. Sam graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Resource Management. He is passionate about combining his skills and experience to inspire others to take care of this beautiful territory in the Salish Sea.
Tayna Joseph-Greene (She/hers), Ethnobotany Field Manager
Tayna@coastsalishyouth.org
Tayna is an enrolled member of the Tulalip Tribes and a descendant of Wenatchi, Sauk-Suiattle, Duwamish, and Snohomish peoples. She grew up in Snohomish and Sauk-Suiattle territories. She holds a Bachelor’s in Community Advocacy and Human Services and an Associates from Northwest Indian College. She’s worked as an Indigenous plant specialist since 2020, focusing on health, cultural revitalization, and land restoration through traditional foods and plant medicines.
Corinna Kruger (She/hers), Connecting Generations Program Manager
Corinna@coastsalishyouth.org
Corinna Kruger is a member of the Yakama Nation and a descendant of the Syilx nation. She spent the majority of her life on the Yakama Nation Reservation. She has been living full-time in Coast Salish territory in the Seattle area for 4 years. She has spent the past 5 years offering mental health counseling and other helping services to Native peoples in the Seattle area. She graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor’s in English and a Master’s in Social Work. Corinna values Indigenous health and wellness, and she often finds ways that she can support either her own Tribal people or other Tribal peoples in living a full life.
Erin Licata (She/hers), Administrative Director
Erin@coastsalishyouth.org
Erin supports administration and operations for the Coast Salish Youth Coalition. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Western Washington University and has a background in environmental compliance, biological monitoring, GIS mapping, and youth-focused outdoor education. Erin is passionate about fostering youth engagement with nature and empowering the next generations.
Kelsey Kittleson (She/hers), Communications & Grants Coordinator
Kelsey@coastsalishyouth.org
Kelsey has a background in environmental education, community engagement, and program coordination. She holds a BA in environmental studies from Western Washington University. She is passionate about advancing environmental justice by supporting Indigenous and underserved communities through non-performative allyship, relationship & trust building, and culturally-informed approaches to education, communication, and storytelling.
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