During a speech delivered to Congress on July 8, 1970, U.S. President Richard Nixon said it best, “Let Indian tribes govern themselves.”

He added, “We must assure the Indian that he can assume control of his own life without being separated involuntarily from the tribal group.”

Nixon’s speech proved to be a turning point regarding tribal nations having the ability to have greater autonomy, or the right of self-government. His speech encouraged tribal self-determination and rejected America’s outdated policy of termination. 

Five years later, the “Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975” was enacted.

The act allowed tribes to establish contracts with the federal government to administer programs and services such as healthcare, education and housing. The ISDAEAA of 1975 gave tribes greater control of how federal funds are used. 

Following the act, tribes could hire their own staff, curate culturally significant programs and allocate resources according to need. 

Nearly two decades later in 1994, tribal leaders from across Indian Country gathered for the inaugural “Tribal Self Governance Conference,” a multi-day event that features workshops, networking opportunities, panel discussions and more.  

The conference allows for tribal leaders, councils and federal partners the opportunity to learn more about the specific needs of Indian Country and how to establish plans that will improve tribal communities.

O’odham Action News was at last year’s conference which saw Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Nancy Mangieri and Health and Human Services Director Joseph Remitera facilitating their presentation entitled “Five in Five: Increasing the Average Age of Mortality of Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Members by Five Years in Five Years.” 

This year’s conference began on April 7 and was hosted at the Gila River Indian Community’s Wild Horse Pass Resort and Casino in Chandler, Ariz. The first day saw presenters and speakers which included: Michael Silvas, Ysleta del Sur Pueblo governor, Delia Carlyle, Ak-Chin Indian Community vice chairman, Candice Skenandore, Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut director of Self-Governance and Grants, Mark Rogers, Osage Nation CEO and many more. 

On day 2, Janyse Salinas, SRPMIC Young River People Council supervisor, and Sommer Lopez, SRPMIC youth development specialist, served on the “Developing the Next Generation of Tribal Leaders” panel. Joined by Rudy Pina from Tribal Unite, Salinas and Lopez shared their expertise on the impact the Young River People’s Council has in the SRPMIC as well as what the future holds. 

Heather Washington, SRPMIC Self-Governance director, served as the moderator for the panel discussion which was held outside on the Wild Horse Pass Resort event lawn. SRPMIC Council member Su:k Fulwilder was seated in the crowd and would later congratulate Salinas and Lopez on a job well done following their presentation on the panel. 

“Our youth council, they’re the voice of the youth of the SRPMIC,” began Salinas. She would go on to detail for attendees that the YRPC is like SRPMIC’s tribal council as both have a president, vice-president, correspondent secretary, clerical secretary and a treasurer. “Then we have our at-large members, we’re not broken up into districts, we just represent the Community as a whole,” she said. 

Lopez has been involved with the YRPC since she was 12 years old. “Basically, all of middle and high school,” she said with a smile. 

She continued, “[YRPC] has helped me a lot, just not only in my professional development but in my personal confidence and connections. It’s something I really encourage all teens and middle schoolers to at least try out and to get out of their comfort zones,” she said. 

Salinas and Lopez reiterated that the YRPC has helped many youths, including themselves, find their purpose as well as refine their skillsets while representing their community. Additionally, being involved with the YRPC also allows for Community members to learn more about their own traditions, cultures and language. 

Lopez shared, “When the youth get into learning these different parts of our culture, they help the rest of their peers take interest and I think that’s pretty awesome.”

The YRPC also attends the annual United National Indian Tribal Youth, or UNITY, conference which brings together tribal youth from Indian Country to continue to empower our next generation of leaders. 

When you look at it one way, one could determine that youth who attend U.N.I.T.Y. will undoubtedly be involved with future tribal self-governance conferences, just like Salinas and Lopez were at this year’s conference. 

“We do need leaders that are going to make some hard decisions for our Community,” said Salinas. “But we want to make sure they’re ready, not just educational wise, but physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We want them to do well.”

Interested individuals looking for more information on joining the Young River People’s Council can follow YRPC on Instagram @youngriverpeoplescouncil  and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Young-River-Peoples-Council-YRPC-544046952437068/.