Enei Begaye's Bio

My YES! Jams
2002 World Jam
2003 World Jam
2006 World Jam

Org: Black Mesa Water Coalition / Indigenous Environmental Network
Location: Flagstaff
Website

Bio:

Enei Begaye is of the Diné (Navajo) & Tohono O’odham Nations. She grew up on the Navajo reservation. Enei is a recognized advocate of Indigenous Peoples rights, youth, and the environment. Enei has been working with grassroots organizations and communities within the local, national and international arenas for many years now. She is an active speaker, strategist, writer, and organizer. Her experience includes work within the United Nations as well as national and local governments, representing Indigenous and environmental interests. Enei is co-founder and active board member of the grassroots organization Black Mesa Water Coalition, which has been working to address the issues of energy and water exploitation on both the Navajo and Hopi reservations and throughout the Southwest. She is also the co-founder of Native Movement Collective, a non profit organization working to build community and healthy relationships between all people. She is currently the water campaigner for the Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN), where she works with Indigenous communities throughout the U.S. to protect their water resources. Enei serves on the board and steering committee of a number of national networks. Among other recognitions, Enei has recently been presented with Arizona’s Native American “Woman of Our Community” award as well as the Southwest’s “Water Guardian” award. Enei is currently based out of Flagstaff, AZ, where she lives with her daughter, Na'ni'eezh and husband, Evon Peter. Enei and Evon met at a YES! World Jam and together founded Native Movement to help build healthy and sustainable Indigenous communities.

"Not only did I find many friends and future collaborators at World Jams, I found my greatest partner, my husband. Together we are building a life, a family, a community and a world based on the values and collective experiences Iwe’ve been so fortunate to be apart of at the Jams."