2023 Dreamstarter® Noah Proctor

We should have an inalienable right to live off the land that rightfully belonged to us.

Noah Proctor

Noah Proctor, 21, a Piscataway Conoy student studying Criminal Justice at Towson University, has always known the importance of having a space where tribal members can gather to share knowledge and traditional practices. A tribe finally recognized by the state of Maryland in 2012, the Piscataway Conoy people have been fighting for their rights to their land and natural resources since they were stolen at first contact.

Noah is passionate about giving back to his community and, through the Piscataway Community Garden, he will address hunger and lack of access to healthy foods within his tribal community and he will reconnect youth with traditional Piscataway foods and growing practices.

In the fight for land rights, environmental justice, and visibility, Noah demonstrates the importance of the Piscataway people

gathering to understand their history, share traditional knowledge, promote their food sovereignty, and revitalize cultural practices so youth can proudly stand in their Piscataway identity.

“Educating other young people about gardening, agriculture, and ecology is part of how we’ll overcome poverty because they’ll grow up understanding how we need to take care of our land so it does not deplete and continues giving us life.”

Billy Mills Implores the 2023 Dreamstarters to “Follow their Dreams” at Dreamstarter Academy

Billy Mills implored them to “follow their dreams”, and by the end of the 2023 Dreamstarter Academy, they are better able to! The cohort of 2023 Running Strong for American Indian Youth® Dreamstarters and their mentors converged in Alexandria, Virginia

April 11, 2023