Strengthening Indigenous Leadership in Ocean Protection, Policy, and Justice
Dr. Kelsey Leonard (Shinnecock Nation) is restoring environmental sovereignty for her people and Indigenous nations globally by asserting Indigenous leadership over Ocean protection, policy, and justice through her work supported by Running Strong.
Dreamstarter: Protecting Shinnecock Shores and Combating Marine Debris
Through Running Strong’s support, Kelsey launched her original Dreamstarter project, “Sewa Stewards: Ocean Protectors Against Marine Debris,” to mobilize Shinnecock youth to protect their ancestral coastline from pollution, specifically addressing cigarette butt waste—a leading cause of marine debris in New York waters. Her project combined environmental science, community education, and cultural stewardship to clean Shinnecock beaches and restore respect for the waters that sustain her people.
As Kelsey explained, “Shinnecock means ‘People of the Stony Shore,’ and protection of the shore and ocean resources is integral to our survival”. Through the campaign, she:
Led community cleanups and installed new waste receptacles on Shinnecock territory.
Partnered with local businesses to reduce marine debris and distributed reusable ashtray bags to prevent littering.
Educated Tribal members and the public on the link between pollution and Indigenous sovereignty — demonstrating that protecting the ocean is a sacred duty rooted in Shinnecock identity and resilience.
This early work grounded Kelsey’s advocacy in Indigenous stewardship and self-determination, reclaiming the Shinnecock’s authority to care for and govern their coastal homelands.
Scaling Impact Through Dreamstarter GOLD: The Indigenous Youth Rights of Nature Tribunal for Ocean Justice
Building on that foundation, Kelsey’s Dreamstarter GOLD project, “Ocean Guardians: An Indigenous Youth Rights of Nature Tribunal for Ocean Justice,” expands her local work into a global Indigenous environmental sovereignty movement.
Her initiative will:
Host the first Indigenous Youth Rights of Nature Tribunal focused on Ocean protection, empowering Indigenous youth to act as legal advocates for the ocean during New York Climate Week 2026.
Develop and present an “Indigenous Youth Declaration for the Rights of the Ocean” at the UN Ocean Conference and Our Ocean Conference, ensuring that Indigenous law and worldview shape international Ocean governance.
Collaborate with major partners such as the Earth Law Center, Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN), and Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) to advance global legal recognition of the Ocean’s inherent rights and Indigenous sovereignty in marine conservation.
Through Running Strong’s Dreamstarter programs, Kelsey’s work represents a reclamation of Indigenous governance over ocean ecosystems. By asserting that the Ocean itself has rights—a principle rooted in Indigenous worldviews—she is reshaping environmentalism to center Indigenous authority, values, and responsibility. Her environmental action work restores environmental sovereignty by bringing Indigenous law, youth leadership, and ocean protection together. From cleaning her people’s beaches to advocating at the United Nations, she is helping the tribal nations—and Indigenous peoples worldwide—reclaim their rightful place as sovereign caretakers of the planet’s waters.
Running Strong’s support for Kelsey has generated ripple effects that now reach far beyond Shinnecock territory:
Strengthened Indigenous youth leadership in climate and Ocean justice movements.
Elevated Indigenous worldviews—especially the belief that water and the ocean are living relatives deserving of protection.
Connected tribal communities across the U.S. and globally through collaborative Rights of Nature networks.
Amplified Indigenous sovereignty within international law and environmental policy arenas.
