Much like their elders before them, the youth of Salt River have a lot to say. Four young leaders had the opportunity to share their views and dreams for Salt River on July 28 as the Summer Speaker Series continued at the Council Chambers. The panelists for this session were Young River People’s Council President Jizelle Juan, Council Correspondent Secretary Myson Galindo, Council Treasurer Amelia Lasiloo and Council member Aarick Mack.

The experience of speaking in front of a large group isn’t entirely new for the panelists, but doing so at a significant event inside the chambers is enough to make anyone feel a little nervous. After dinner and prayer, the soft-spoken young adults showed they were also well-spoken Community advocates.

In the first question of, “What is one word to describe how you feel about our Community?” all four participants shared different answers explaining what led them to those feelings. The answers centered on the connections we have with one another as families and as a Community of two distinct tribes. Further questions explored where they would take someone on their first trip into the Community, what people might not know about the youth, and reminders that the kids are capable but are also learning and may need to take a couple of tries to get things right.

When asked to share memories and favorite foods, their answers echoed those of their elders in many ways. Stories of swimming in ditches, steering the car from grandma’s lap, and eating lazy bread had the audience laughing as they too related to these experiences. 

The seated crowd listened intently as the panelists went on to discuss what they see as opportunities to support and uplift youth. Ultimately, they all agreed that there needs to be space for youth to come together and share their experiences safely. Having a sense that you belong is key to feeling safe in expressing your identity, especially at a young age. When kids don’t feel like they belong, they can turn to negative influences that create an artificial sense of belonging through gangs and substances to replace the missing sense of identity. The discussion of how to create those spaces was bigger than the setting allowed for, but it was the start of a meaningful conversation. 

The panel opened up the discussion to the audience, where attendees, both in-person and several from online, asked questions and received feedback from the panelists. The youth encouraged people to always learn and use every resource available, including using FaceTime and technology to connect to one another online if unable to do so in person. 

A full recording of the evening’s presentation is available on the Community’s Facebook page, where it was live-streamed. The next event is scheduled for August 26. It will feature a presentation by Katie Gertz, president of the Family History Society of Arizona, exploring the importance of family history and identity and tips and tricks to get started. The series is open to all and includes a light meal before each presentation.