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GRIN Articles > Youth council members inaugurated in District 2

Youth council members inaugurated in District 2

November 3, 2017

 

Thomas R. Throssell

Gila River Indian News

 

The 2017 Akimel O’odham/Pee Posh Youth Council (AOPPYC) Inauguration was held inside District 2’s Service Center’s gymnasium on Oct. 28, where 18 new members were sworn in to their seats, and outgoing members were recognized for fully completing their terms.

 

The inauguration was attended by several tribal dignitaries, including Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis, Lt. Gov. Monica Antone, and District 5 Representative Robert Stone. 

 

Lt. Gov. Antone congratulated both incoming and outgoing members of youth council, saying their leadership is important to the community and that she was happy to be part of their inauguration.

 

Outgoing youth council member, and former president of the AOPPYC, Autumn Cooper, gave an emotional goodbye to the gathered crowd. She said her time spent on youth council was an amazing experience and she learned a lot working in the organization and from its members.

 

Youth Coordinator, Michael Preston, honored each of the outgoing youth council, telling a personal anecdote about each member, emphasizing that everyone who participated was able to learn from their experience, but each individual also brought their own knowledge into the group.

 

Following Preston’s farewell to outgoing members, GRIC Children’s Court Judge, Jay Pedro, swore in each of the incoming AOPPYC  members.

 

Gov. Lewis gave the inaugurations closing remarks, saying each of the members deserve recognition and respect, and it is important the youth council members remember that they are standing on the shoulder of all who came before them.

 

“This is a sacred duty,” Gov. Lewis said. “What you are doing, every activity, every duty, it is a sacred act on top of all who have gone before you. It has been thirty years from the council’s humble beginnings to where we are at today. Always remember who has laid the foundation and has sacrificed to bring us where we are at today.”

 

Gov. Lewis closed the inauguration with a quote from George Webb’s “A Pima Remembers.” 

 

“Now another day is coming,

Awake from the slumber,

Look toward the east,

See the rising of the sun,

Which means another day to toil.

Another day to hunt for meat,

To put the seed in the ground

That the yield might be good,

So our people may not go hungry.

The great Father provided us the sun

To give life to our earth so

That it might give us a good yield.

And that we might see

To hunt our game for meat.

So arise and muse of the day

And do not get in the way

Of the women as they go about

Fixing up the camp and the

Needed task of preparing meals for you.

Many moon, many suns have come and gone

Since our forefathers here on this same ground

Toiled and struggled so that we might

Enjoy life today.

So let us not waste this day.

But get your tools, go out to the field, or

Take down your bow and arrows

And go after the game, so that

Your family will not be in need of meat

So now I hope you will strive

To make this day the best in your life.”

 

Incoming 2017-2018 Youth Council members:

 

District 1

Tianna Sanchez

 

District 2

Dedric Osife

 

District 3

Elaysia Colt

 

District 4

Lorenza Aleman

 

District 5

Deirdre Copperfield

Adrian Thomas

 

District 6

Alexis Thomas

 

District 7

Angel Molina

 

At-Large Membership

Enrique Holguin

Sineca Jackson

Alexander Bustamante

Samaira Juan

 

Executive Officers

Lehua Lani Dosela – Treasurer

Nathaniel Talamantez – Secretary

Angel Ortiz – Vice President

Randel Curran – President

Anissa Garcia – Miss Gila River 2017-2018

Haili Gonzalez – Jr. Miss Gila River 2017-2018

 

AOPPYC members recognized for completing their terms:

 

At-Large members

Tristan Kirkpatrick

Frances Smith

Wesley Larrabee

Randel Curran

Joseph Davis

 

Advisory Board Member

Corrina Pino

Duane Jackson Jr.

 

District 3 Representative

Daniel Lewis

 

District 6 Representative

Alexis Flores – Treasurer

 

District 5 Representative

Enrique Holguin – Secretary

 

District 1 Representative

Precious Vicente – Vice President

 

District 4 Representative

Autumn Cooper – President

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