now accepting youth council applications!

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Hello, my name is Inez Gilson. I am 20 years old. I am from the San Carlos Apache tribe and Seneca Nation of Indians. I live in Salamanca, New York. I am a junior at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania. I am an International Studies and English double major, and I am in the Law & Policy program. I am a member of the United Natives Youth Council. I decided to be apart of this youth group because their goals align with mine. I am personally aware of the problems that plague our community. Native Americans struggle to overcome drugs, alcohol, poverty, assimilation, and many other social issues. My generation has claimed the responsibility to improve the conditions within our fragmented communities. We have made an obligation to our ancestors to restore our language, culture, and environment. Our reservations are full of brilliant and passionate youth who are ready for change, but improving our communities is challenging when our youth don't have the funding, resources, or support. As a member of the United Natives Youth council my goals are to raise awareness of the problems within Indian country, to give the youth a platform to speak, to implement ideas that will help our communities, to guide or mentor fellow youth, and establish a group of likeminded individuals. I, as well as many other youth, want to end the cycle of suffering and create the foundations for a prosperous future. I am honored to represent my people and enthusiastic to start this journey of healing.         

Carson is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Currently, she is a candidate for the MPhil in Socio-Legal Studies at the University of Oxford. While there, she co-founded the Oxford Indigenous Research and Discussion Group. In 2019, Carson graduated

with honors from Stanford University, where she received a BA in Political Science with a minor in Native American Studies. Carson is a member of the

Native American Rights Fund (NARF) Indigenous Peacemaking Initiative Advisory Committee, where she works with indigenous leaders around North America to collaborate on peacemaking initiatives. In

the past, Carson has been invited to present her work in various settings, including the Caux Forum on Just Governance and Human Security and Stanford University Law School. She has previous teaching experience at the Stanford University Design School. 

Ya’a’teeh my name is Erin Johns. I am from the Navajo reservation. My clans are the tobacco

people, born for the folded arms people, my maternal grandparents are the cliff dwelling people,

and my paternal grandparents are the red house clan. I am 22 years, and a junior at the University of New Mexico.

Currently I am a Pre-Med student majoring in medical laboratory science and planning to go into dermatology or cardiology as profession. As a youth with a whole future ahead of me, I plan to go get another degree in Native American studies. Being in Pre-Med I plan to go to medical school or do my residency at University of Michigan or UCLA. I also serve on the United Natives youth council and an intern for the University of New Mexico’s Biomedical Research program. Being active in these projects with many more to come, I believe they will help me on my academic journey and far more internships to come.

Yá’át’ééh my name is Cheyanne Begay. My clans are Kin ł ichinii (The red house people) born for Táchiinii (Red Running into the Water people), my maternal grandparents are the Naaneeshtézhi Táchiinii (The Charcoal Streak People ) and my paternal grandparents are Bit'ahnii (Within His Cover). I was born in Las Vegas, Nevada and raised in Window Rock, Arizona on the Navajo Reservation. I graduated from Navajo Preparatory School in Farmington, New Mexico. I am 20 years old and I have obtained an Associates of Arts Degree from Chandler-Gilbert Community College where I played Women’s College Basketball. I am currently a senior at Northern Arizona University where I am pursuing a Bachelor Degree of Interdisciplinary Studies of Justice Studies. I do plan on furthering my education with attending the University of Oregon to obtain a Master’s degree. I serve on the United Native Youth Council to share the importance of becoming a role model for Indigenous Youth.

Yá'át'ééh (Hello). Shí éí Renae Blackwater yinishyé. Bit'áá'níh nishłį. Nahłaanhíí báshíshchíín. Tó baazhníázhí dashicheii. nahłaaníí dashinalí. Ákót'éego Diné asdzáán nishłį. Anpétu Washté Mitákuyepi. Hó Mní Sápa Win le miyé. Arizona el imáchagin na hanké. MaLakxota na hanké maDiné. Hó cha, thokéyehćin iyúha chantéwashtéya napé-chiyúzapi kshto. Hello, My name is Renae Blackwater. I am Diné and Oglala Lakota, born and raised in Mesa, Arizona. I recently graduated Mesa Community College with an Associates in Arts- emphasis on American Indian Studies. In the fall, I will be transferring to Arizona State University to get a bachelor's degree in American Indian Studies with the emphasis on Art Curating.  This internship will allow me to broaden my skills within my academic career and outside of my area of focus. This will also help me advocate for urban indigenous communities as well as for those on reservations.  

Yá’át’ééh (Hello). Shí éí Brooke Betsuie yinishyé. Naasht'ézhi Tábąąhá nishłį́.  Kinłichii'nii bashishchiin. Kinyaa'áanii dashicheii. Tó'aheedlíinii dashinalí. Ákót’éego Diné asdzáán nishłį́. Hello, my name is Brooke Betsuie. I am from the Zuni Edge Water clan and born for the Red House People. I come from my maternal grandfather’s clan, Towering house clan, and my paternal grandfather’s clan, Water Comes Together clan. I grew up in rural parts of the Navajo reservation called Tse’ Łigai Haasti’, meaning white rock that sticks out. My family and I called this White Mesa, our home. I am an incoming senior attending Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona with a major in Public Health and minor in Applied Indigenous Studies. I applied to be an intern to be a part of the resolution in helping Indigenous communities as well as advocating for these people. I also would like to learn from this experience and gain public speaking skills and interpersonal relationship skills. This internship will also aid in my experiences within the field of public and help in my knowledge of prevention and intervention research within my academic career.