Native America Issues
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Youth Leadership Council
Gathering participants, convinced of the immediate need to include tribal youth in the Gathering process, created a Youth Subcommittee to rejuvenate the communication between elders and youth and ensure the passing of traditional knowledge from both groups through the organization of tribal youth events.
In an effort to build the youth component, our Native America Program hosted and facilitated a 2-day youth immersion camp in Sweetwater, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation in summer 2011. Participants had the opportunity to learn more about preparing traditional foods, identifying traditional herbs, and understanding the kinship and the core values of Dine’ philosophy. Gathering participants attended the camp, led traditional workshops, and provided guidance to camp leaders.
Young leaders of the Youth Subcommittee
Through the 2-day immersion camp, the Native America Program was able to identify and recruit three Native participants to serve on the Youth Subcommittee. Individuals were chosen based on the natural leadership qualities demonstrated during the camp. Aretta Begay, a young Navajo woman from Teec Nos Pos, Arizona, works for Baa Baad Wool Co-Op under Diné be’ Iina Inc. (The Navajo Lifeway), a nonprofit organization that helps Navajo weavers and creators regain economic autonomy. James McKenzie of Tsaile, Arizona is a young Navajo researcher working for the Diné Policy Institute at Diné College, which aims to combine Western exploration techniques with traditional Navajo principles and values. Apryl Joe, also from Tsaile, works for the Student Services Office on the Diné College Campus as an academic advisor for younger Navajos who require guidance through academic and career goals. The Native America Program will identify additional youth from Colorado Plateau tribes for recruitment into the Youth Subcommittee.
Youth Opportunity Fund
With the success of the Intertribal Opportunity Fund, the Gathering participants and program team recognized the need for continued funding for youth projects across the Colorado Plateau. As a result, it was decided a Youth Opportunity Fund similar to the general Opportunity Fund would be created, organized, and managed by the Youth Subcommittee. Youth participants have accepted all the necessary responsibilities of producing and implementing this fund including developing funding criteria and applications and taking charge of funding projects that follow the Gathering setting.
Since the beginning of 2012, the Youth Council has been granted $22,000 to allocate to four Native youth projects on the Plateau under the direct guidance of the Gathering group. Projects must focus on preserving traditional knowledge and fall within the four priority areas identified by the Gathering. The Youth Subcommittee has been developing an outreach action to educate prospective Plateau tribes seeking funding. The Fund will be targeting tribes who missed the initial opportunity to apply to the Intertribal Opportunity Fund such as White Mountain Apache, Havasupai, Ute Mountain, and Kaibab.
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