H e a d li n e rs Arizona Teens Share Passions with Others at White House Tribal Youth Forum
By Lux Butler, Cronkite News
in the Navajo Nation, did not have access to fresh produce. abriella Nakai says she has tackled the challenges She took this issue into her own hands and began growing facing Indigenous communities on her own, but that heirloom Native produce, like being surrounded by others who the Hopi melon, in her backyard share her passion makes the load garden. a little lighter. “We started focusing more on She says that seeing the amazing traditional and native crops and noticed that those crops actually work that all of these Native national youth leaders are doing grow better in Arizona,” she says.
G
pushes her forward and gives her the feeling that these people have her back.
She was one of two Arizona “Champions for Change” – along with Fort Apache resident Jovi Williams of the White Mountain Apache – at the third annual White House Tribal Youth Forum. It brought together 123 Indigenous teens from across the nation and other countries to share information on the issues affecting their communities today. Discussions at the forum, which was held at the Department of Health and Human Services, ranged from climate change to civic engagement, from the legacy of federal Indian boarding schools to mental health and substance abuse.
The forum is organized in partnership with the White House, the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute and UNITY – the United National Indian Tribal Youth Inc. Started under the Obama administration, it was revived by President Joe Biden after a hiatus during the Trump administration. This was the second trip to the East Coast this fall for Gabriella, who was invited to the White House in October as one of 15 young women by first lady Jill Biden at the Girls Leading Change celebration. Gabriella was the only Indigenous participant at that event.
Gabriella says that having opportunities like this pushes her forward and lets her know she's making an impact, while fighting The topic that brought Gabriella to away at bigger issues. Washington was food insecurity. Lux Butler “I have my Oklahoma tribe expects to (Choctaw) and also my tribe graduate in (Navajo) and seeing the May 2024 from issues that plague both these Arizona State communities are so similar, both University with a having trouble getting access to bachelor’s degree fresh produce,” says Gabriella, a in journalism junior at Arcadia High School in and a certificate Phoenix. in international studies. She is assigned to the Washington bureau During the pandemic, Gabriella of Cronkite News this semester. says her grandparents, who live 10 | DECEMBER 2023 | EPIC KIDS
Gabriella Nakai, far right, smiles for a photo at a table with other teens at the White House Tribal Youth Forum in Washington. Gabriella was one of two Center for Native American Youth “Champions for Change” from Arizona who were at the forum. (Photo by Lux Butler/Cronkite News)
National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi and White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory take part in a panel with Native teens as part of the White House Tribal Youth Forum. (Photo by Lux Butler/Cronkite News) EPICKIDSAZ.COM
