Young River Peoples Council President and Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community member Jizelle Juan was selected by UNITY, Inc. to be one of 10 2025-2026 Earth Ambassadors. The announcement was made on Earth Day.

“I was honored to be selected,” said Juan, who will be representing the Western Region of UNITY.

UNITY, which stands for United National Indian Tribal Youth, is a nonprofit organization focused on the spiritual, mental, physical and social development of youth in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Juan was nominated for the role by Young River Peoples Council youth advisor Jaynse Salinas.

“To me, being an environmental ambassador means honoring and protecting the land, water, and natural resources that have sustained our people for generations,” said Juan. “As O’odham, even our name—Onk Akimel O’odham, meaning Salt River people—reflects our deep connection to the environment.”

As an ambassador, Juan will attend training sessions to increase her knowledge of environmental issues affecting Native American communities and will eventually complete a community project focused on restoring trees and culture.

“This effort is about more than planting trees—it’s about preserving our culture, protecting the environment, and ensuring future generations stay connected to our land and traditions,” said Juan.

Her project will introduce native trees, like the cottonwood, into the Community using tree cuttings.

“We’ve seen a decline in native species and an increase in invasive trees like tamarisk. By propagating native trees, I hope to restore environmental balance and promote sustainability,” said Juan.

“This project ties directly to our traditions. Trees like mesquite are also vital to our culture—they’re used in ceremonies, traditional cooking, and even for making tools and cultural items. Mesquite bean pods can be ground into flour, and their roots help enrich the soil. Other native trees are used to cook traditional foods like cemait and sitol.”

Juan and her fellow ambassadors will travel to the 2025 National UNITY Conference in San Diego, California at the end of June. Two days before the main conference, Juan will participate in Earth Ambassador training.

During those two days, Juan will participate in workshops and get to know other ambassadors. “We’re all coming from different places with unique backgrounds and ideas,” said Juan.

From there, the group will collaborate and gain a better understanding of their roles and the projects they will be focusing on throughout the year.

Juan initially became involved with UNITY through her role in the Young River Peoples Council when the Council attended UNITY Midyear Conferences as a group, which she said introduced the group to the larger UNITY network.

“It wasn’t until the recent National UNITY Conference in Oregon that I truly felt called to take on more leadership within UNITY,” said Juan.

“Being surrounded by Native youth from across the country who are passionate about change and culture really inspired me to step up and get more involved.”

Juan is thankful for all the encouragement and support she has received from the Community for her new ambassador role. “It means so much to me,” she said.

“I hope my journey inspires others—especially other youth—to get involved, make a difference and recognize how important it is to protect and care for our environment.”

It took Juan some time over her youth to come out of her shell and use her voice more. “I wasn’t always this involved or this outgoing,” she said.

“By taking that first step to get involved, you never know where it can take you or what opportunities can come up. So [don’t] be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and get involved.”

Juan, who is an active member of the Bird Singing and Dancing by the River group, was recently accepted into the Tribal Youth Advisory Board, a nationwide youth council that focuses on substance abuse prevention and mental health awareness. She just graduated from Mountain View High School and the East Valley Institute of Technology, where she earned certifications in both medical assisting and phlebotomy.