Jizelle Juan of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Named 2025-26 UNITY Earth Ambassador
UNITY proudly announces the selection of Jizelle Juan, an 18-year-old leader from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of Arizona, as a 2025-26 Earth Ambassador. Representing the Western Region, Jizelle brings a powerful blend of cultural knowledge, environmental action, and peer leadership to the national platform, honoring her roots while protecting her community’s natural future.
“To me, being an environmental ambassador means honoring and protecting the land, water, and natural resources that have sustained our people for generations,” said Jizelle. “As O’odham, even our name—Onk Akimel O’odham, meaning Salt River People—reflects our deep connection to the environment.”
Jizelle’s relationship with the land is not theoretical—it’s lived and shared. As President of the Young River People’s Council (YRPC), she leads by example, uplifting other Native youth while promoting environmental education and cultural sustainability. From harvesting traditional plant medicines at the sacred Red Mountain Preserve to gathering wood for toka sticks and basket-weaving materials, Jizelle practices what she teaches. Her nominator and Youth Council Advisor, Janyse Salinas, shared: “She often encourages her peers to accompany her, creating opportunities for young people to reconnect with nature.”
A passionate advocate for cultural learning, Jizelle helped organize the 2024 Native Youth Identity Conference, where she co-developed the theme Weaving the Baskets of Our Future and facilitated a hands-on shell-making workshop. Through it, she emphasized the importance of environmental stewardship to sustain cultural traditions. “To continue these traditional activities, it is essential to care for our land and natural resources,” Jizelle explained.
Her leadership is shaped by humility, reciprocity, and a sense of sacred responsibility. She brings these values to every initiative she touches—from environmental gatherings like the annual Earth Day celebration to civic action like Salt River’s youth-led Get Out the Vote campaign. Salinas affirmed: “Jizelle is a leader who understands the importance of environmental preservation and actively practices and promotes it within her community.”
As an Earth Ambassador, Jizelle will implement a project rooted in Indigenous ecology: reintroducing native tree species like the mesquite through propagation. “Over time, we have seen a decline in native tree species, which has resulted in the spread of invasive trees like the tamarisk,” she shared. Her plan includes collecting cuttings from remaining native trees to cultivate and replant throughout the community.
“This project ties directly to our O’odham traditions,” she explained. “Mesquite trees play a vital role in our way of life. The bean pods can be ground into flour… the roots enrich the soil… the wood is used in traditional cooking, structures, and ceremonies. We ensure that future generations can continue practicing these traditions by planting and protecting these trees.”
Her project is not only ecological—it is also spiritual, cultural, and practical. It exemplifies how Native youth leadership addresses the climate crisis today with ancestral knowledge and modern innovation.
Jizelle Juan now joins a proud legacy of UNITY Earth Ambassadors—youth leaders who protect Indigenous homelands and culture in the face of growing climate threats. As part of this new generation, she will collaborate with other Ambassadors nationwide, creating impactful solutions that blend environmental science and Native tradition.
“This project is more than just restoring trees,” Jizelle said. “It’s about preserving culture, sustainability, and ensuring that the environment our people once thrived in can continue to support us for years to come.”