EcoTruths for Indigenous Youth – Winter Camp, January 3 – 5

EcoTruths for Indigenous Youth – Winter Camp, January 3 – 5

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The 2023 – 2024 series focuses on Land

(re)Claiming Our Land, Our Knowledge & Ourselves

Through outdoor field trips, overnight camps and virtual meetups, EcoTruths for Indigenous Youth Internship engages Native youth ages 8-22 in fostering relationships with Mother Earth all her offspring, and the various forms of life that have emerged from her re-creative energies.

In (re)establishing our relationship with her local personalities and powers, we hope to (re)member our responsibility to her and all our relations. (Re)membering one’s relationship to the Lands one shares with others, one may begin to identify their own EcoTruths. Truths that can help better inform pathways into Eco-Leadership and defense through policy creation and development.

This Internship is created and led by Indigenous professionals specifically for Indigenous youth.

Seasonal Labs include: Autumn Lab, Winter Camp, Spring Lab, Summer Mentoring

Thank you to Indigenous Strategies llc. and collaborators for program conception, Indigenous theory, design and mentorship.

A big thank you to the Dietrich Fund as a major financial contributor to this program and supporting decolonized approaches to program design and delivery.

Meet some of the EcoTruths for Indigenous Youth team!

NWilson_IndigenousIntellectualWarriorintheAcademy

Nicholas Wilson - Diné

NWilson_IndigenousIntellectualWarriorintheAcademy
Why I joined the EcoTruth Team?
I envision the creation of a program wherein we (re)learned how to (re)create generations of Peoples “who will come to understand their lives and take up the responsibility to all living things” (Vine Deloria Jr.). Below is Deloria’s full quote.
“The future of mankind lies waiting for those who will come to understand their lives and take up the responsibilities to all living things” – Vine Deloria Jr.
 
With this in mind, how do we get others to fund and sustain this work, as it is important work, not just for Indigenous Peoples but all Peoples and forms of life.
Selso Villegas

Dr Selso Villegas - Tohono O'odham

Selso Villegas

Why I joined the EcoTruth Team?

I believe that it is my duty as an Indigenous Scientist to transfer all relevant information I know about Mother Earth (jewed ka:cim) to the next generation.

Autumn camp profile

Melodie A. Lopez, MSW (Hopi/Dinè/Pueblo/Mexican)

Autumn camp profile
Why I joined the EcoTruths team?
As part of this multigenerational, intertribal team who nurture young Indigenous peoples to find their connection to and understanding of Earth, I believe this generation are our policy creators, tribal leaders and nonprofit board members who will center Indigenous culture, knowledge and language into mainstream environmental spaces.
Patrisia headshot

Dr. Patrisia Gonzales (Kickapoo, Comanche, Macehual)

Patrisia headshot

Why I joined the EcoTruth Team?

I am a baby catcher and a medicine keeper. The elders have instructed me to teach the next generation. As Indigenous peoples, we have deep knowledge of how life works. I am here because we come from the four elements of life – the water, the fire, the air and the earth.  Connect, Respect and Protect – these actions will help us to continue.

Q at Winter Camp 2022

Serenity Joshevama (Hopi) they/them

Q at Winter Camp 2022

Why are you a part of EcoTruths?

After spending a year and a half connecting to water and finding my EcoTruth, I want to expand my leadership skills by mentoring new Seeds.  My favorite part of EcoTruths is exploring new environments and love the Wa:k Hik Dan.