38th Annual Gila River Youth Conference
GRIN Staff
The annual Gila River Youth Conference, hosted by the Akimel O’otham Pee Posh Youth Council, celebrated the theme “Culture, Continuity, and Change” with a two-day conference held in Tempe on June 20-21.
“This theme was chosen by our District 2 representative, Peyton Charles,” said AOPPYC member Landon Martinez during a welcome address. “In this day and age as we as Native youth, we face many challenges regarding our culture, such as in this ever-changing society, ‘how do we maintain our traditions while still keeping up with the times?’
Martinez added, “Our generation has learned to accomplish this in many ways, one of them being wearing your beautiful jewelry out and about, or even wearing traditional regalia or ribbon skirts in public.”
The conference kicked off with remarks from Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis and keynote speaker, artist Thomas “Breeze” Marcus, followed by AOPPYC elections.
Young participants were offered a diverse range of workshops, covering topics from healthcare, self-esteem building, O’otham culture, content creation, law enforcement, and more. These workshops were designed to cater to a wide range of interests and needs. The conference also featured physical and cultural activities, ensuring a holistic and engaging experience for all.
Brian Yazzie (Navajo), a professional magician, hosted a workshop and performed as the evening’s entertainment, which also featured music by DJ Lokie.
Day two of the Gila River Youth Conference featured inspiring messages from tribal leadership and a special guest whose story resonated with many in attendance.
Lt. Gov. Regina Antone opened the day with remarks encouraging young people to build on their cultural strengths while continuing their education. She emphasized the importance of staying rooted in tradition while stepping confidently into leadership roles.
The keynote speaker, Kusem Goodwind—an actor featured in the Netflix series RezBall—shared his journey in the entertainment industry. He spoke candidly about the obstacles he’s overcome and the significance of Indigenous representation in mainstream media. His story left a lasting impression, motivating participants to pursue their passions and consider paths that align with their values and aspirations.
“I’m very glad to be here. I love being at these types of events, it’s a very special time to be here,” said Goodwind during his remarks.
Following his keynote, Goodwind participated in a Q&A session moderated by AOPPYC member Zyana Flores, where he answered questions about his background, creative work, and experiences as a Native American actor. He later met with the youth during a meet-and-greet, where he took photos, signed autographs, and offered encouragement one-on-one.
The conference also gave special recognition to James Milano, an officer with the Gila River Police Department, who was honored with the Leader of the Year award.
“Every time I’ve been here as I’m working with the youth, you guys teach me something, and you teach me how to be respectful to people, and you teach me how to reach out, so I try to pass that on and go forward,” said Milano.
“The Youth Council sat down and we talked about these awards and who embodies all the values of what we want to be great Community leaders, people who serve the Community, and Officer Milano, as well as the rest of our awardees, fit those bills,” said AOPPYC coordinator Joseph Davis.
The Citizen of the Year award was presented to Terrence Peters, cultural director for the Boys & Girls Club of Gila River Indian Community. “This award’s more of an achievement than anything, it’s a great honor to be handed something from the youth, and I’d just like to say thank you,” said Peters.
The Elder of the Year award was given to Corrina Pino, Native American advisor for the Phoenix Unified School District. “I’m very honored to be accepting this award,” said Pino, “If it wasn’t for the students, I don’t know where I’d be. It was a joy to work with them and see some of them grow.”
Additional awards for Male Youth of the Year go to Omi Antone, and Female Youth of the Year is presented to Amare Pratt. “It’s a great honor to hold this award, and thank you to everyone who nominated me,” said Pratt.
