NATIVE CHILDREN'S
SURVIVAL
FOR THE COMING GENERATIONS
ABOUT NCS
Native Children’s Survival (NCS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit grassroots Indigenous Peoples Organization in special consultative status with United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Founded in 1989 by Native Rock Music artist, Robby Romero, NCS has championed Indigenous Peoples, Children, and the Environment for more than three decades.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to raise global awareness and garner support for the protection of the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Mother Earth, and All Our Relations. Encourage Member States to fully respect and implement the United Nations ‘Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,’ advancing social progress toward sustainable peace, justice, and freedom for present and future generations.
INTRODUCING
RED THUNDER MUSIC ACADEMY
EMPOWERING INDIGENOUS YOUTH THROUGH THE ART OF MUSIC
FIRST NATIONS YOUTH PROGRAM
Education & Freedom
“Our vision is to foster Indigenous thought, develop a teachable curriculum for communities globally, and assemble a toolkit to help our generation return to our lands. To reincarnate our Indigenous law is to reject the notion that colonialism is permanent, that devastation is inevitable, and that the suffering in our communities is the result of a deficit inherent to our people. For Indigenous youth to confront, address, and end our suffering, our people must be reunited with our wealth of knowledge. Our people must reach and share an understanding about what is causing the suffering and why we have been violently conditioned for generations to perpetuate it.”
Ta’Kaiya Blaney | NCS Director of Programs
Ta’Kaiya Blaney is a 22 year old Indigenous singer, award-winning actor, land defender and Native Children's Survival Ambassador from the Tla’Amin First Nation. She has been featured in documentaries, addressed the United Nations, and performed at environmental events, classrooms and Indigenous gatherings across Canada and internationally. Since the age of 10, Ta’Kaiya has been vocal about the protection of lands, waters, and climate and has worked within Indigenous movements combatting extractive industries, climate change, and oil pipelines that threaten the present and future survival of her people. Ta’Kaiya seeks to address colonialism as the root of climate change and the driving force of extractive industrial projects that continue to facilitate land cessation, Indigenous genocide and ecological collapse in the northwest coast, the most biodiverse region in North America. She utilizes traditional and contemporary art mediums to convey messages of Indigenous sovereignty and liberation critical to ensuring livable futures for all. Ta’Kaiya currently conducts work from her homelands relating to language revitalization, Indigenous knowledge transmission, and river restoration as the Director of Programs for Native Children’s Survival.
Ace Harry | NCS Director of Education
Ace Harry is a 22 year old Indigenous youth from Xwe’malhkwu. Due to the relocation of her family, she grew up on Tla’amin lands. As a child, she listened to elders speak of Tla’amin territory as having the largest herring spawn on the west coast, the second largest salmon run, and an abundance of old growth forests. She represents one of the first generations in her lineage to grow up removed from the ancient forests and waters her people belong to. She is committed to ensuring that her generation will be the last to grow up separated from trees big enough to build canoes from and waters healthy enough to support life. She is the founder of Mumatla Kanem (White People Words), a partner in her family’s business, 15 years into a classical piano education, and an International Baccalaureate and Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific graduate. She currently works from Tla’amin lands as the Director of Education at Native Children’s Survival.
OUR IMPACT
OUR CAMPAIGNS HELP DISPEL FICTITIOUS MYTHS AND DEROGATORY STEREOTYPES IN POPULAR CULTURE WHILE RAISING AWARENESS AND GENERATING SUPPORT FOR THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, MOTHER EARTH, AND ALL OUR RELATIONS.
WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT POSITIVE CHANGE...
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD
“The United States of America and its allies can no longer circumvent their responsibilities to Native Peoples. The time has come to honor our Human Rights, our Treaty Rights, and our Civil Rights and to fully respect and execute the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) — for the well-being and protection of Mother Earth and the generations to come.”
Join us in supporting Grassroots campaigns that champion Indigenous Peoples, Children, and the Environment!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS & ADVISORS
The success of NCS would not be possible without our Board of Directors and the wisdom, guidance, and support of our relatives who have advised and worked with us over the years. We appreciate your commitment and contributions.
DIRECTORS
Ta’Kaiya Blaney | Youth Ambassador
Ta'Kaiya grew up along the shores of the Salish Sea and is an award-winning singer-songwriter, actress, and youth activist. Her work with Native Children's Survival began in 2013. For more than a decade, Ta'Kaiya has spoken and performed at grassroots Indigenous gatherings and rallies and International conferences and forums across the globe. At 13, Ta'Kaiya delivered an intervention establishing the Native Children's Survival Indigenous Children's Fund at the Thirteenth Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues held at United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Most recently, Ta'Kaiya addressed the People's Plenary and initiated a "Walk Out" during the United Nations 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) on Climate Change in Glasgow and led a youth delegation at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in Montreal, Canada.
Dakhóta Romero | Goodwill Ambassador
Dakhóta grew up between the multicultural societies of Taos, New Mexico, and Los Angeles, California. She is a singer, dancer, dance instructor, actress, and business owner. Dakota's work with Native Children's Survival began at the age of four when Dakhóta traveled to Kari-Oca and Kayapo villages in the Amazon Rainforest. From the International Children's Choir at the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to the Sacred Run for Land & Life, to Standing Rock, Dakhóta has participated in and performed at local and global cultural, human rights, and environmental events worldwide. On Indigenous Peoples' Day, Dakhóta performed at the National Museum of Denmark during the United Nations Conference of the Parties, COP15 in Copenhagen, and at the closing ceremony of ArtCOP21, during COP21 in Paris, France. Dakhóta's work with Native Children's Survival has helped bridge the gap between Indigenous Peoples, Children, and the Environment.
Delaney Blaney | Vice-Chairperson
Delaney hails from the Tla'Amin Nation on the Northwest Coast of Turtle Island. He grew up on the reservation, playing in the woods and living on berries and shellfish during his summer breaks. As a child, Del was constantly gathering, fishing and hunting. He was sent to St. Mary residential school in Mission, BC. He attended University and worked in forestry, making good money. But, the landslides and deforestation that came with every tree cut down and each mountain clear-cut was disheartening and caused him to quit. Del has a wealth of traditional knowledge and a Master's in Education. He uses his gifts to advocate for the rights of Indigenous peoples and Mother Earth.
Robby Romero | Founder & Chairperson
Robby grew up traveling between N'de, Pueblo, and Dené Territory in New Mexico, and Gabrieleño Tongva, Fernandeño Tataviam, and Ventureño Chumash Territory in Hollywood. He rose to prominence with the global broadcast of his first internationally televised music picture campaign, IS IT TOO LATE, and his designation as a United Nations Ambassador of Youth for the Environment. His stereotype-breaking PSAs, music pictures, and social and environmental-themed films broadcast on MTV and VH1 introduced Native Rock Music to the music television generation. His groundbreaking and critically acclaimed "Indian Country Tour" crossed boundaries into the music industry's renowned theaters, pavilions, amphitheaters, and arenas. His work and profits from give-back merchandise and lifestyle products have supported the traditional practices of Indigenous Peoples and human rights and environmental organizations on the front lines of social and ecological justice. Robby has received multiple cultural honors and awards.
ADVISORS ~ Past To Present
Melanie Benjamin
Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
Casey Camp-Horinek
Native Rights Activist, Actress, Environmentalist, Traditional Drumkeeper Ponca Pa-tha-ta, Woman’s Scalp Dance Society
Marcella Gilbert
Lakota and Dakota Community Organizer, Warrior Women Project
Sarah James
Award-winning Environmentalist, Co-founder Gwich’in Steering Community, Neetsaii' Gwich’in Tribal Spokesperson for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Floyd "Buck" Jourdain, Jr.
Red Lake Nation Chairman (2004 to 2014), 2016 recipient of the Bush Fellowship for Leadership Development, Director of Equity, Cultural Education, and Archives at Red Lake Nation College.
Dune Lankard
Award-winning Environmentalist, Founder of RedZone and the Eyak Preservation Council
Chief Arvol Looking Horse
19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe of the Lakota, Dakota, Nakota Sioux Nation
Chief Oren Lyons
Faithkeeper, Grand Council of Chiefs of the Haudenosaunee, Professor and Professor Emeritus of American Indian Studies, Co-Founder Native Studies Program, SUNY Buffalo, International Activist for Native Sovereignty
Richard Moves Camp
Oglala Lakota Spiritual Leader
Terrence Nelson
Councillor, 5-term Chief of Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation, Former Grand Chief Southern Chiefs' Organization
Madonna Thunder Hawk
Elder of the American Indian Movement, Co-Founder Women Of All Red Nations, Black Hills Alliance, and Warrior Women Project
IN MEMORY
Our gratitude, love and prayers go out to the families and friends of our board of advisors who have taken their journey to the spirit world. Their unwavering dedication to uphold and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Mother Earth, remains a source of strength for our people and the coming generations.
Dennis Banks
(1937-2017)
Activist, Teacher, Author, Traditional Singer, Honorary Founding Member of Native Children’s Survival, Co-Founder and Leader of the American Indian Movement, Founder of the Sacred Run
Ole Cassadore-Davis
(1924-2012)
Apache Spiritual Leader, Founder of the Apache Survival Coalition
Tonya Gonnella Frichner, Esq.
(1948-2015)
Attorney, Founder of the American Indian Law Alliance, Member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (2008-2011)
Janet McCloud
(1934–2003)
Mother of Movements, Founder of the Sapa Dawn Center, Co-founder of Women Of All Red Nations, Indigenous Women's Network, the "the Rosa Parks of the American Indian Movement"
Rita Rogers
(1937-2012)
Actress, Dancer, Honorary Founding Member of Native Children’s Survival, Advocate for Gender Equality and the Inclusion of Indigenous Peoples and People of Color in Hollywood
Audrey Shenandoah
(1926-2012)
Clan Mother, Onondaga Nation, Writer, Teacher, Adviser to the United Nations
Reuben A. Snake
(1937-1993)
National Chairman American Indian Movement, Chairman Winnebago Nation, Roadman, Spokesperson Native American Church
Austin Two Moons
(1927-1994)
Northern Cheyenne Spiritual Leader
NCS APPRECIATES THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE FOLLOWING NATIVE NATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, & COMPANIES
JOIN OUR GLOBAL MOVEMENT
Help us support the preservation of Indigenous autonomy, sovereignty, and cultural and human dignity. It is crucial to ensure that these values are upheld in order to respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Our campaigns have reached millions to protect Mother Earth and empower Indigenous voices in critical social and human rights issues.
