Our Origin Story
Apsaalooke Immiio is a Native nonprofit incorporated in 2024 and is co-founded by young Apsaalooke leaders who were initially brought together for the Apsáalooke Energy Justice Project (AEJP) Emerging Leaders Cohort. The AEJP started as a research project in 2023 that was dedicated to increasing economic diversification, workforce development, alternative energy, and cultural preservation. The Emerging Leaders Cohort was formed to invest in young leaders to learn about associated issues with coal development and drawdown, tribal energy development, and lead community development projects. We are committed to big ideas of leading community planning efforts that include:
Sustainable, long term, abundant flexible funding, and investments
Useful knowledge and skills to shape and manage healthy ways to live, provide, give back and restore identity to our families, nation, and future generations
Responsible use and protection of natural assets
We have transitioned from the AEJP into Apsaalooke Immiio. Our co-founders are Zac Birdinground, Jordynn Paz, Jae Hugs, and JoRee LaFrance (right to left in photo).
“It has been one of the coolest experiences to be able to connect with other young intelligent, dedicated Apsáalooke leaders who are all experts in their own rights. We always talk about how important it is for our educated people to return home. We are happy to say that our organization is home grown where we have emerging leaders obtaining their college degrees and coming back. We are blossoming from our roots planted in the soil cultivated and protected by our ancestors.”