Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Youth Services and the Young River People’s Council brought a day of fun to the Ske:g Himdag Ki: on Feb. 7. Community students in grades 7 to 12 gathered for the ninth annual Native Youth Identity Conference.

The youth council kicked off the morning with a welcome from YRPC Vice-President Cruz Lasiloo, along with Miss Salt River Emma Scabby and a prayer by Jr. Miss Salt River Tiaré Begay-Smith. The focus for the day was cultural identity, self-expression, leadership and personal growth. 

“Most importantly, be yourself! This is a youth-centered space and your voice matters here,” said Lasiloo. Over the course of the day, students had the option to choose from different workshops being presented in four blocks. The workshop blocks, Traditional, Future and Modern, were focused on culture and success for emerging leaders.

To get the blood flowing and the minds moving, students first participated in a physical wellness session, which consisted of stretching and both male and female traditional games. After some fun in the sun, students enjoyed a familiar meal for lunch: green chili pork with lazy bread, beans, and squash and cheese. 

The Traditional workshop block was next, in which students had four different workshops to choose from. Natasha Martinez led the “Etched in Tradition: O’odham Shell Etching” workshop. Students were provided shells and were introduced to the blending of modern and historical etching techniques. Issac Lopez led “Say It in O’odham: Learning to Introduce Yourself.” The focus of this workshop was for students to become more comfortable speaking with others by practicing introducing themselves in a supportive and welcoming environment. The YRPC girls offered a workshop titled “O’odham Shell Necklace Making.” Students were educated about the significance of shells in O’odham culture and made their own necklaces to take home. Rounding out the choices among the Traditional workshops was a hands-on lesson on how to make cemait (tortillas) with Alyssa Rodriguez.

Next up was the Future block, which consisted of life skills and leadership workshops. Vurlene Notsinneh-Bowekaty shared tips in a workshop titled “Healthy Relationships: Understanding Teen Dating Violence.” She focused on learning the signs of teen dating violence and how to build healthy relationships. John Paul Saspe hosted “Smart Tools for the Future: Using AI for Resumes and Scholarships.” In this workshop, students learned how they can use artificial intelligence to build resumes and explore scholarships. Crystal Banuelos shared how to start a career pathway using the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) in her “Pathways to Your Future: Careers and WIOA Opportunities” workshop. 

After that, the Modern workshop block focused on creativity and expression. “Color Your Culture: Spray Paint Mural” was hosted by Natasha Martinez to teach students basic spray-painting skills while using collaborations to express creativity in community and culture. Saspe led “Wear Your Art: T-Shirt Design,” where students learned how to turn their own artistic ideas into wearable clothing. Council member Su:k Fulwilder shared her experiences with expressing herself through poetry in her “Finding Your Voice: Poetry and Self-Expression” workshop. 

At the end of the day, YRPC members shared their closing remarks. SRPMIC Council member Su:k Fulwilder was the keynote speaker for the event. She began, “You know this conference is about Native identity, and I want you to take that home with you. Always be proud of who you are and where you come from; it does not matter the tribes you are. I know some of you probably have other tribes, like myself; you might be mixed with other nationalities, and that’s okay.” 

Fulwilder wanted the students to cherish themselves. “What defines you as a Native person isn’t your blood quantum or what skin tone you are. What qualifies you is just how much heart you have and how much you love yourself and how much you love your people,” she said.

The day concluded with the O’odham Going Home Song performed by YRPC members. 

To learn more about SRPMIC Youth Services and the Young River People’s Council, call (480) 362-6390.