About Tatiwyat

Tatiwyat Buck

Youth Fellow, Indigenous Just Transition
Indigenous Youth Leader and Advocate

​

Early Life and Cultural Roots

Tatiwyat Buck is a young Indigenous leader of Wanapum, Yakama, and Colville heritage from Washington State. She was raised in Priest Rapids Village along the Columbia River, where her life was deeply shaped by the spirituality and ancestral teachings of her people. Her cultural foundation informs every step of her leadership. Tatiwyat carries the stories of her ancestors and the land, especially as she uplifts her community’s traditional territories, many of which were impacted by the Manhattan Project’s Hanford Site. The environmental and spiritual disruptions caused by nuclear development on her homelands instilled in her a powerful sense of duty to protect her culture and speak out for those harmed by historical and ongoing injustices.

​

Education and Academic Pursuits

Tatiwyat attended The Northwest School in Seattle, where she emerged as a student leader and Šináata Scholar. In 2025, she graduated and matriculated to Whitman College, where she is majoring in Indigeneity, Race, and Ethnicity Studies along with pursuing a pre-medical track. Her long-term goal is to become an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine; a calling that blends her passion for athletics with a deep commitment to improving healthcare access for Indigenous communities.

​

Advocacy in Youth Wellness and Sports

Tatiwyat’s leadership in youth wellness and sports equity has made a lasting impact. At age 13, she was one of the first recipients of the OL Reign Academy Boeing Scholarship, awarded for her powerful writing about sports, identity, and community. That opportunity connected her with mentors and role models in professional soccer, reinforcing her commitment to racial justice and Indigenous visibility in athletics.

​

She has also served on the King County Play Equity Coalition’s Youth Action Team, where she helped research and recommend solutions to make sports more inclusive for youth of color. As a returning cohort member, she worked closely with peers to build stronger pathways for BIPOC youth to access sports historically dominated by white athletes. Her creativity also shines through in the arts, particularly in painting, fashion, and ceramics, as a means of honoring culture and promoting mental wellness.

​

Environmental Leadership and Cultural Preservation

Tatiwyat’s commitment to protecting culture and environment is central to her work. In 2025, she was selected as a Brave Heart Fellow through the Center for Native American Youth. Her project centers on First Foods, traditional foods vital to Indigenous health, sovereignty, and ecological knowledge. She is documenting their significance through community storytelling and data, blending cultural preservation with environmental advocacy.

​

She also participated as a Youth Co-Creator and advisor with Headstream Innovation, supporting Indigenous wellness through digital co-design. Her advocacy focuses on culturally informed mental health solutions, especially for young athletes and Indigenous youth navigating multiple worlds.

​

Addressing Nuclear Legacy and Community Health

Tatiwyat’s leadership includes confronting the legacy of nuclear weapons on Indigenous lands. In 2025, she joined Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility’s Emerging Leaders in Nuclear Weapons Abolition program. As one of the youngest participants, she uplifted stories from nuclear-impacted communities, like her own, and called attention to the health and spiritual harms caused by weapons production.

​

She advocates for nuclear disarmament, environmental cleanup, and Indigenous-led policy change. Through this work, Tatiwyat connects local environmental justice with global peace efforts, demonstrating the power of intersectional, culturally rooted leadership.

​

Vision and Future Goals

Tatiwyat Buck’s leadership is guided by community, culture, and healing. Whether organizing youth, speaking out for justice, or pursuing a career in medicine, she brings an unwavering Indigenous perspective to the spaces she enters. She believes youth are powerful agents of change, and she leads with empathy, brilliance, and deep purpose.

From preserving First Foods to breaking barriers in sports and advocating for nuclear justice, Tatiwyat’s journey is a testament to the strength of Indigenous youth leadership. Her story is still unfolding, but her impact is already felt; and she continues to uplift those around her, lighting the path forward for future generations.