The IYLC united six Indigenous youth leaders from Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and the U.S. with four Native youth leaders from Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, and New Mexico. These remarkable young leaders collaborated on key issues such as preserving Indigenous knowledge and languages, climate resilience, and health equity.
As part of their experience, the cohort visited the Gila River Indian Community, where they toured the Huhugam Heritage Center and enjoyed a traditional meal prepared by a local Indigenous chef using locally sourced ingredients. This visit provided valuable insights into the deep history and cultural traditions of the Gila River Indian Community. Following the tour, the group traveled to Sacaton Flats Village to explore the Gila River Interpretive Trail, learning about the community’s land, water, and environmental stewardship efforts. They also witnessed cultural dances performed by the Keli Akimel Hua Modk Traditional Dance Group and joined local youth council members in a cultural exchange. The off-site visit concluded with another traditional meal before returning to the conference.
A highlight of the conference was the panel discussion, Indigenous Stories of Hope, which provided a powerful platform for Indigenous youth leaders to share their experiences of resilience, advocacy, and empowerment. Moderated by IYLC members Watson Whitford and Kainoa Azama, the panel aligned with UNITY’s mission to foster leadership and collaboration among Native American and Indigenous youth, ensuring their voices are included in global discussions shaping the future.
Panelists included Daisy Lahache from Canada, a Mohawk artist and founder of the Healing Arts Project, who champions Indigenous arts and youth governance. “I found a sense of healing in being able to learn my cultural crafts and experiment with them through mixed mediums as I was trying to find a way to bridge the gap between youth and our cultural way of life,” said Lahache.
Noamby Lucas-Castillo from Colombia, the first Zenú graduate of the University of Los Andes, works as a legal advisor for Indigenous women and serves as a Judicial Assistant at the Tribunal for Peace. “Where I come from, harmony is absolutely important to us and absolutely necessary for us because life for the tribes in Colombia, harmony is important. Your life is always going to have trouble but always have a happy thought,” she shared.
Edna Marly Figueroa Cuc from Guatemala, a Q’eqchi’ sociolinguist and educator, founded the “Let’s Learn Q’eqchi’” project and empowers Indigenous women through digital literacy. She highlighted the role of language in cultural identity: “For me, language isn’t just a way to communicate but it’s also very important so that we can share our values and give thanks to the original people that founded these lands as well as for our ancestors and culture.” She added, “For me it’s very important to share these languages because not only are we carrying on the language of our grandmas and grandpas but also we are sharing this language and this culture with the people who are here now and the people who are to come.”
Josefina Bautista Peña from Mexico, an Indigenous Náhuatl and Totonac speaker, strengthens educational programs and advocates for women’s empowerment through community leadership. “In Mexico, there are 78 different languages and 264 different dialects and of those they are slowly disappearing because the young people are not learning them and passing them on. They are not being taught but also they’re being discouraged in schools,” she explained.
The Indigenous Stories of Hope panel served as a testament to the strength and resilience of Indigenous youth worldwide. Their experiences underscore the importance of Indigenous leadership in cultural preservation, climate action, and social justice. By sharing their stories, these young leaders are fostering a brighter and more inclusive future for Indigenous peoples across the globe.
