NCAI’s Youth Commission offers youth ages 16-23 the opportunity to engage on National scale along-side tribal leaders to help address the issues facing Indian Country. Established in 1997, the NCAI Youth Commission has been a space for tribal youth to come together and discuss solutions to the unique challenges they face within their communities. – NCAI
Yanenowi (She Guards the Corn) Logan, Deer Clan, Cattaraugus Territory, has been elected to serve as the President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Youth Commission– she has previously served as the Co-Vice Chair of the Commission. She attended and spoke at the 79th Annual NCAI Convention and Marketplace in Sacramento, CA from October 29th – November 4th.
Yanenowi, Madison Brown and Aubrey Hogan, both from Allegany, are new additions to the National Youth Commission. Madison been elected Secretary. Let’s celebrate and support these young Seneca women in leading the next generation! Ja:goh!
Councillor Arlene Bova represented the Seneca Nation Council Office and supported our youth representatives.
NCAI works to ensure that Tribal Youth thrive by equipping tribal leaders with the resources necessary to support the young people in their communities and by providing young leaders with the tools needed to be successful in their endeavors. – NCAI
Next week, Yanenowi will be honored as the recipient of the Emerging Young Leader award by the WNY Peace Center. She is also the Co-chair of NAISAC, the Cornell University Native American Indigenous Students at Cornell student organization. She is a junior studying environment and sustainability with a minor in American Indian Indigenous Studies.
Statement from Madison Brown, Secretary, National Youth Commission:
Yanenowi Logan, Aubrey Hogan, and I had attended the Youth Leadership Summit at the National Congress of American Indians 79th Annual Convention in Sacramento, California.
During the conference we were able to attend breakout sessions on civic engagements, Movement is Medicine, writing resolutions, and so much more informative topics throughout Indian Country. We were able to hear stories and gain wisdom from elders such as Gary Farmer and Oren Lyons. It was an opportunity to learn and bring back valuable information back to our communities. I’m thankful for this opportunity and I’m happy to say it wont be my last.
At this years Annual Convention the NCAI Youth Commission held elections for their 2022-2024 officers. Yanenowi was elected as the Youth Commission Co-President, and I was elected Secretary. To say I’m grateful is an understatement. I couldn’t have imagined my journey would bring me here. Beyond the thankfulness and gratefulness, this position is a true responsibility. To learn and work alongside the NCAI Youth Commission; to bring real change at the national level. With that said, I hope to serve our community, and take real action against the attempts to dismantle our sovereignty, not just as Seneca people, but Turtle Island as a whole. I look forward to bringing resources across Indian Country to our communities. I hope to represent the Keepers of the Western door along with the entire Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and take our people to the national stage. Above all I aspire to lead by example and show the rez kids that anything is possible.
I’m hopeful that the young ones in our communities will see this as an opportunity to learn, grow, and take action.
“Fight for it & take it. That’s YOUR heritage”- Oren Lyons
