Indigenous Activist Jade Begay Demands Equity in Climate Funding and Leadership

What is one defining moment in your career or life that empowered you to create change, and how has it shaped the path you’re on today?

It’s not necessarily one moment, but a series of moments where I saw firsthand the ways climate change was impacting the people I cared about, whether it was seeing the river that used to flow through my Tribe dry up due to drought or lack of snowpack, which then impacted our traditional ceremonies. Or visiting friends in Alaska and seeing glaciers turn into lakes. While I observed these changes in the natural world growing up, from a young age, I was also exposed to ways that the built environment for my community looked very different from the built environment of those who lived in cities or in nicer neighborhoods. And it wasn’t too hard to connect the dots between the health of my community and the lack of infrastructure we had or access to basic things like running water, electricity, and so on. Observing all of these things throughout my life, instilled in me a deep desire to change it, to make sure that my communities (Tribal/Native) had everything they needed to live healthy lives and thrive.

As we look to the future, what is one key change or innovation you believe is essential for advancing equality and empowerment in your field?

More women of color, from historically disadvantaged communities holding elected office.

Who is a woman who has inspired or mentored you, and what lessons from her influence have stayed with you?

It’s not just one woman, there are so many women throughout my life who helped me break those “glass ceilings” that held me back or kept me small. People like my mom, my boss at my first “real” job, or the Indigenous activist who I admired from afar, and when I finally met her, was the most inviting and humble person, so much so, she continues to mentor me. All these women made sure that I felt like I belonged, that I could do things like stand up in crowds and talk truth to power, and they showed me what it means to not be a gatekeeper; to bring people with you and lift others up when you get success, or access or “power”. That things are to be shared, not hoarded or kept to oneself.

What is the legacy you hope to leave behind as a changemaker and leader in your industry?

Yikes! This question freaks me out a bit because I don’t really ever think about legacy in regard to my work. Honestly, I hope I’m known as someone who really did THE WORK but who also

brought joy and fun and ease. I really make it a point to integrate care, well-being, and softness into my work, so that I’m not always on edge or high alert. Ya know, lots of people in this work share a sentiment that goes something like “It’s hard for me to rest” and I just don’t want that to be me. I want to be able to drop into rest when it’s available, I want my nervous system to be not so out of whack that I struggle to be calm when there’s calm. I also think that being a leader with these types of practices supports you in having a grounded response to urgency or helps you understand the “long game.”

In honor of Gloria Steinem’s 90 years of advocacy, what do you believe is her most enduring contribution to women’s empowerment, and how has it inspired your own journey?

As a Native woman and an organizer, I grew up being aware that Native American and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women and girls experience higher rates of violence and that the systems to support Native women in accessing safety or pathways of justice are deeply flawed, underfunded and frankly, ignored. I really value the ways in which Gloria has uplifted the issue of domestic violence and violence against women in general, and has brought this issue into the mainstream so that people, of all genders, feel affirmed in their experiences and able to speak out and seek accountability. In 2025, sadly, it seems violence against women is having a resurgence. I’m talking about the far-right/conservative slogan “your body, my choice” that began to trend after the 2024 U.S. elections, not to mention all of the attacks on women’s rights by the Republican Party. That being said, I feel inspired more than ever to lift up the leadership of women and non-binary folks in order to counter these desperate attempts to take away our power and agency. I see these attacks, not as a growing status quo, but as a last-stitch effort by the patriarchy to grasp onto the power that is slipping away from them.