The Changing Currents’ Annual Youth Tribal Water Summit is a leadership development and education program. The Summit is designed for students ages 15-24 years of age in high school or early-college.
The Summit is an opportunity for emerging leaders to understand the importance of our water resources and the nature of their stewardship and care for our natural resources.
Summit Participants will build a peer-to-peer network with other like-minded youth, learn from Indigenous environmental professionals, hear from Indigenous leaders, and get exposure to university classes.
Join us and Help Shape the Future of Our Water.
2023 Changing Currents: Tribal Water Summit
The 2024 Changing Currents: Tribal Water Summit is for Tribal Leaders, Professionals, Youth, Educators, and Partners. This year’s summit will have two tracks one for youth, students and educators and a track for tribal leaders, professionals, and collaborators. The youth summit is for students ages 15-24 who are interested in resource management, education and careers in the water sector. Selected students will stay at The Mill Hotel and Casino Resort, all minors must be accompanied by a chaperone or youth adviser. Space is limited to 25 participants.
students may be eligible for a summit scholarship - apply today as scholarships are limited in quantity
ABOUT THE TRIBAL WATER SUMMITS
ABOUT THE YOUTH SUMMIT RESIDENCY
Youth Summit Contact
SHIROD YOUNKER
YOUTH SUMMIT COORDINATOR
Mr. Younker worked for over 20 years in Native Youth education; he worked 19-years for the Oregon College of Art and Craft as the Journeys in Creativity Youth in Exploration of Native Art, Camp Director with youth from the Pacific Northwest and Pacific Rim. He is a graduate of Oregon State University in Fine Arts. He also serves on a number of regional boards, including The Evergreen State Longhouse Community Advisory Board and an esteemed international woodcarver and artist. He is now serving as the Changing Currents: Youth Tribal Water Summit Project Coordinator. He is the Summit’s primary contact, director, and coordinator. Mr. Younker is a citizen of the Coquille Indian Tribe.
PREVIOUS YOUTH SUMMIT SPEAKERS
Past Summits
2022 Tribal Youth Water Summit
2022 Youth Summit Participants pulling in a tribal canoe at Fern Ridge Lake near Eugene, Oregon.
University and College Participants: Keyen Singer (Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation), Spencer Delos Walton (Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians), Eliza Patricia Porter (Yakama Nation), Angela Noah (White Mountain Apache), Megan VanPelt (Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation), and Roman Alcantar (Huachichitl Mexican indigenous), and Chrissa Wilkie (Turtle Mountain Chippewa and Klamath Tribes), and Audrey Saing (Cambodian)
High School Participants: Bilįį’binełį Miles Blackhorn (Navajo and Northern Cheyenne), Cilxusasqet Samuel Friedlander Jr. (Confederated Colville Tribes and Athabascan), Ashlynn Haelie Emanoff (Tlingit and Unangax (Aleut)), Abigail W Whitman (Nez Perce Tribe)
2021 Tribal Youth Water Summit - Hybrid Event
2020 Tribal Youth Water Summit - Virtual
2020 Tribal Youth Summit Participants: Tia Butler (Siletz Tribes) - Moya Maeko Moses (Nez Perce) - Savana lia Semallie (Navajo/Samoan) - Jacelyn Jordan Lowley (Coeur d’Alene Tribe/Nez Perce/Colville) - Kailiyah Krehbiel (Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde) - Ryan Andresen (Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw) - Mia Walker (Seminole/Creek) - Keyen Singer (Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation) - Jaslyn Kay Young (Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians) - Maritza Martinez-Matt (Coeur d’Alene Tribe)- Shaileen Gonzales (Hualapai Tribe) - Alexis Lewis (Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation) - Angelina Woods (Makah Tribe) - Eileen Gonzales (Hualapai Tribe) - Leya Descombes (Native Village of Barrow) - Wyatt Avery Davis (Chinook/Snohomish) - Gwendolyn Skye Andreasen VanOtten (Non-affiliated Native)
Mentors: Estrella Soto (Apache/Yaqui) - Audie Davis (Chinook/Snohomish) - Serina Fast Horse (Sicangu Lakota & Amskapi Piikuni (Blackfeet))
2019 Tribal Youth Water Summit - Residency
2019 Tribal Youth Summit Participants: Megan VanPelt (Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation) - Julia HighEagle (Chehalis/Nez Perce) - Calista Foster (Nisqually) - Wocus Gibbon (Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde/Chinook/Klamath) - Anona Francis (Umatilla/Warm Springs) - Estrella Soto (Apache/Yaqui) - Kailani Sirois (Confederated Colville Tribes/Okakagan/Methow/Wenatchi/Plains Cree) - Raquel Helms (Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umqupa and Siuslaw) - Liliana Bugarin (Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs) - Coby HighEagle (Chehalis/Nez Perce) - Tyler Buck (Warm Springs/Wanapum) - Audie Davis (Chinook/Snohomish - Syrille Jone (Tulalip Tribes )
Mentors: Kale’a Calica-Younker (Coquille Indian Tribe/Warm Springs/Wasco/Yakama/Tulalip/Snoqualamie) - Larae Ellenwood (Blackfeet/Nez Perce) - Jessica Douglas (Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians) - Kezia Setyawan - Michaela Madrid (Lower Brule Lakota Sioux Tribe)