- The Indigenous Youth Council (IYC) was formed in February 2021 following two listening sessions that the IAD held with tribal youth from across the state. Issues discussed ranged from the desire to have access to higher education resources to behavioral and mental health needs for tribal communities.
- IAD recently welcomed the third cohort of youth representatives. IAD provides this space to come together to share mutual experiences, collaborate on shared initiatives, and build community.
- IYC collaborated with Honoring Native Life (UNM – School of Medicine), the National Indian Education Association, and the Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board to raise awareness about Native youth issues in both reservation and metropolitan areas across New Mexico. This collaboration was in response to numerous requests from Tribal leadership and Indigenous youth who expressed concerns and sought to improve access to behavioral and mental health services inside and outside of Tribal communities. Additionally, IYC has used its platform to present reports and recommendations to state and Tribal leadership and share their perspective at educational, health, and youth summits. Throughout the year, IYC also hosted webinars and activities that promote holistic wellbeing, including mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health.
- For the first time, IYC participated in this year’s United National Indian Tribal Youth Inc. (UNITY Inc.) Conference in Portland, Oregon. The Conference provided an opportunity for New Mexico youth to demonstrate their spiritual, mental, physical, and social development, as well as showcase their strong, unified, and self-reliant Native American youth leadership. Additionally, IYC’s attendance helped build national networking opportunities and allowed them to engage with the conference content, which aligned with IYC’s foundational principles of holistic wellness. Finally, by participating in UNITY’s leadership development trainings and managing individual community projects, they gained valuable career skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.
