Colleen Cooley is a Diné facilitator and consultant, originally from the communities of Shonto and Blue Gap, Arizona. She has over 12 years of experience working in intertribal, multiparty collaborative spaces to advance community-led solutions including climate adaptation, co-management research

The Council of Indigenous Ambassadors of Northern Arizona University (NAU) is a student-led organization dedicated to representing, supporting, and advocating for Indigenous students on campus. Through events, meetings, and outreach, members work to strengthen cultural identity, build solidarity, and address

Craig Childs is a hopeless tracker of wonder, a writer and wanderer living off-grid in Colorado near the Utah border. His work has appeared in The Atlantic, Outside, The New York Times, High Country News, and he's been featured on

Elizabeth Silkes joined Grand Canyon Conservancy as Chief Executive Officer in February 2025, bringing a dynamic vision and a strong commitment to strengthening the organization’s role as the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park. In her first year,

Ethan Aumack grew up in Flagstaff, exploring the canyon country of northern Arizona since childhood. Ethan left the Southwest to attend Swarthmore College before feeling the strong pull of deserts, mountains, and rivers that ultimately brought him back to Flagstaff.

Hosava Kretzmann is from the Hotevilla village on the Hopi Reservation and is the first Native American runner to qualify for the 2028 Olympic marathon trials. He completed his first marathon just three years ago and is now hoping to

Jason Nez is a Diné Archaeologist from Coalmine Mesa, Arizona. He is currently an Archaeologist (Fire), Resource advisor, and wildland firefighter at Grand Canyon National Park, where he works with both the Science and Resource Management and Fire and Aviation

Jenna Ortega is a Climate Program Manager with the City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office, leading resilience and equity-centered initiatives that advance the City’s Carbon Neutrality Plan. She manages community-serving programs, including flood prevention grants, resilience hubs, advisory groups, wildfire resilience,

JEREMY COLLINS is a multifaceted artist, climber, and adventurer whose work intertwines the grit of the wild with a mastery of visual storytelling. Known for his breathtaking illustrations and striking narratives, Collins captures the raw beauty and intensity of the

Jim E. Warne is a member of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) Nation. He is president of Warrior Society Development, LLC and Gen7 Productions. Jim consults with various government agencies, organizations and Tribal Nations. He is currently an Administrative Affiliate for

Jr Rodriguez is a first-generation bilingual, bicultural filmmaker, photographer and BIPOC activist. His work focuses on the intersectional relationship between nature and people with projects that empower communities to tell their own stories. He has worked as a director, cinematographer,

Karime Rodriguez was born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, México and migrated to the United States at the age of two. She is a storyteller at heart, a self-proclaimed writer, organizer, and lifelong advocate for immigrant and human rights. Her work is

Kevin Fedarko is a seasoned author and journalist renowned for his exploration of the American Southwest and his fervent advocacy for environmental conservation. He has been a staff writer at Time magazine, where he worked primarily on the foreign affairs

Leroy Shingoitewa is a respected Hopi elder known for his dedication to preserving and sharing the cultural traditions, spiritual teachings, and values of the Hopi people. As a former Chairman and longtime tribal council member representing the Upper Village of

Michellsey Benally is originally from Sháá tóhi, Arizona. She graduated from Northern Arizona University in 2009 and has spent her career working with communities and across landscapes in the West. She began as an outdoor educator and river guide, later

Nikki Cooley is a Diné woman from Shonto and Blue Gap, Arizona, on the Diné Nation. She is of the Towering House People and born for the Reed People. Ms. Cooley is an alumna of Northern Arizona University (NAU), where

Robert Stieve is the editor of Arizona Highways magazine. He’s been serving in that role since April 2007. Prior to his arrival at Arizona Highways, he served as editor of PHOENIX magazine for eight years, and another three years as

SARA SPRAGUE has been engaged in the local food system through gardening, farming, and coalition-building. Her interests pertain to the nexus of food and social justice, along with cultivating resilience through sharing food, supporting growers, and connecting people to one

Shelby Estocado is an adaptive athlete known for her resilience, versatility, and commitment to breaking barriers in sports. After a life-changing injury, she turned to adaptive sports as a way to rebuild strength and confidence, eventually finding her stride again

Zelzin Aketzalli is a pioneering Mexican thru-hiker and outdoor advocate from Mexico City, best known as the first Mexican to complete the “Triple Crown” of hiking—the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, and Continental Divide Trail. She began hiking in 2017