NorthWestern Region

Northwest Region Youth Councils

1. Regional Youth Advisory Council (RYAC)
2. Togiak UNITY YC “The Beat Goes On”
3. Native Village of Eyak
4. Yaghanen Youth Council
5. Qikiqtagruk Inupiaq Youth Council
6. Tanana Chiefs Conference Emerging Leaders Advisory Council
7. Leaders of Tomorrow
8. Aniak Traditional Youth Center
9. Aleut UNITY Tribal Youth Council
10. Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich’in Tribal YC
11. Native Village of Port Heiden
12. Coeurd’Alene Tribal Youth Council
13. Fort Hall Youth Council
14. Burns Paiute Tribe Youth Leadership Council
15. Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians
16. Siletz Youth Council
17. Cow Creek Tribal Youth Council
18. Many Nations as One Youth Council
19. The Klamath Tribes Youth Council
20. Chemawa Indian School Student Council
21. Cowlitz Indian Tribe Youth Council
22. Elwha Tribal Youth Council
23. Kiis Council
24. Nevplelem Youth Council
25. Nooksack Tribal Teen Council
26. Tulalip Youth Counci
27. Inchelium Youth Council
28. Kalispel Youth Council
29. Colville Tribes’ Omak District Youth Council
30. Nisqually Youth Council
31. Quinault Teen Council
32. Suquamish Youth Council
33. Swinomish Youth Council
34. River Ridge High School YC
35. Yakama Nation Youth Council
36. Toppenish Youth Council
37. Clover Park School Dist. Native Pride YC
38. Omak District Youth Council
39. Puyallup Tribal Youth Council
40. Squaxin Island Tribe
41. Chehalis Tribal Youth Council

Faith Iukes, 14, Tulalip, Washington

School: Sophomore, Penn Foster

Platform: Organizing a collaborative diabetes prevention program with the local YMCA in Marysville, WA. The program will feature fitness and nutrition workshops designed to promote diabetes prevention, including exercise classes and cooking demonstrations tailored to healthy eating. Community members will be encouraged to participate actively in these sessions to foster a healthier lifestyle. Additionally, partnering with healthcare professionals will enable the provision of screenings and informational sessions on diabetes management. This initiative aims to create a supportive environment for those at risk of diabetes, leveraging the YMCA’s resources and community outreach to enhance overall well-being.

Gabriel Jurado, 19, Siletz, Oregon

School: Junior, Oregon State University; Major: Oceanography; Minor: Marine Biology

Platform: I plan to organize a youth council activity to learn traditional food gathering practices, either along the coast to collect mussels or at a camas plot. This initiative aims to preserve and pass on essential knowledge from our elders about gathering and preparing traditional foods, which is at risk of being lost as elders age. To facilitate this, I will collaborate with the female co-president to schedule a gathering in November and work with our culture and elders departments for guidance and preparation. The project will start with outreach to these departments in July to handle logistics and secure shellfish licenses for up to 30 youth. Following the gathering, we will return to the Siletz community center for a lesson on preparing the food from elders and host a community meal to share the food collected. I will lead the project, sharing responsibilities with the co-president and seeking additional help as needed.

Sophia Turning Robe, 21, Spokane/Siksika, Washington

School: Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science (2024), Whitworth University

Platform: As a Native American student at a university with a small Native population, I am initiating the Indigenous Futures Collective to address the challenges of cultural disconnection and isolation. This club will unite Native youth from local schools to foster community, pride, and academic support. Activities will include academic tutoring, cultural workshops on traditional practices, community service projects, and peer support sessions. My role will involve overseeing the planning and execution of these activities, recruiting volunteers, securing resources, and evaluating the club’s impact through ongoing feedback and assessment.