Native women leaders from across the United States are being highlighted in a new publication by the Washington-based Native Action Network (NAN), which is releasing a book of interviews honoring 23 influential Native women serving in leadership roles across Indian Country.
The book, titled Enduring Spirit: Native American Women Leading the Way, profiles elected officials, grassroots organizers, cultural knowledge keepers, educators, artists, advocates, and mothers whose work has shaped communities across generations.
The project recognizes 23 women selected as “Enduring Spirit Honorees,” celebrating leadership grounded in culture, sovereignty, resilience, and community responsibility.
Cheryl Crazy Bull, president and CEO of the American Indian College Fund, is among those featured in the book. She reflected on the recognition as part of a broader commitment to Native communities.
“It is an honor to serve Native communities through my work. When that work is recognized and valued by my peers it makes that work even more meaningful,” Crazy Bull said.
According to NAN, the publication was designed to elevate Native women whose leadership continues to shape both present-day community life and future generations.
“Through these stories, Native Action Network honors the extraordinary leadership, resilience, and impact of Native women whose work continues to inspire and transform communities across generations,” said Iris Friday, founder of Native Action Network.
The interviews were conducted and compiled by Kariel Galbraith (Tlingit), a member of the NAN team, who also authored the manuscript.
Organizers say the book will not be sold commercially. Instead, it will be distributed as a cultural resource within Indian Country and shared at major gatherings and institutions, including NAN’s 25th Silver and Sequins gala in Seattle, Washington, the National Congress of American Indians mid-year conference in Memphis, Tennessee, and the Association of Tribal Libraries and Museums annual conference in Spokane, Washington.
The publication will also be distributed to Native youth programs, with the goal of highlighting role models and strengthening intergenerational leadership pathways in tribal communities.
By centering Native women’s voices and lived experience, Enduring Spirit aims to document leadership that is often overlooked in mainstream narratives while affirming the ongoing role of Native women in shaping sovereignty, culture, and community futures.
