Ariella Gaughan

For Ariella Gaughan, being surrounded by nature feels timeless. It's in these moments that she feels most connected to her Chickasaw heritage, a connection she credits with lighting her fire and solidifying her identity.

"I feel like I'm getting to experience something that I know my ancestors experienced, and it's something that I know the future generations will get to experience."

Gaughan is determined to protect the land for future generations through her work as a tribal conservation advocate, collaborating with spiritual and tribal leaders to safeguard sacred areas, burial sites and culturally relevant artifacts in southeastern Montana. Though she's earned a traditional academic education, she says learning tribal history and cultural stories is a different form of learning that’s equally powerful.

"I always am excited to learn ... there's some things that just can only be taught when you're there in person with your elders ...or near the lands. That experiential knowledge has become just as important to me now."

But it wasn't long ago that Ariella was in the ICU, unsure if she would ever walk again. On October 31, 2023, she was in a car accident that, after 8 months of learning to walk again, reignited her passions and shifted her perspective toward what she holds precious. Today, she walks carrying with her the idea that with rights to land comes a great responsibility to maintain and protect it.

"We're the only planet in the solar system that can sustain life because of the water that we have here. It makes the world seem a little bit smaller. And it makes it seem like this truly is our only home ... I think protecting it and caring about future generations to come is what's most important."