TRIBAL YOUTH COUNCIL |
The Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribal Youth Council
Tribal Youth Council meets on the same day as Tribal Council and addresses issues that concern youth in the Tribe and youth involvement in Tribal activities and presents it findings to the larger Tribal Council. Tribal youth are active participants in all cultural activities of the tribe, they attend the annual ceremonies, organize a fundraising booth at the Annual Big Time Gathering, and participate weekly in the Rumsen Language Classes and Drum Circle. The Tribe's youth represent the future of the Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe so the youth council is an important way hear ideas that youth have for tribal activities and to draw more youth into taking an active role in Tribal governance.
The Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe Youth Summit 2023
Carla Marie Munoz, the Tribal Liason CRCT : “I heard about this organization called Outward Bound Adventures. And I heard that they took out underserved you to get an outdoor experience. Not only did they get an outdoor experience, but they also learned leadership skills and got eco literacy, which to me is so important for our triple youth, especially being from an urban area. Exposure to parks or getting an outdoor experience is very slim for these kids.”
Dulce, Outward Bound Adventure:” We like to have a combination of environmental education and environmental advocacy part of our program, but also a cultural literacy aspect to the program.”
Carla Marie Munoz, the Tribal Liason CRCT: “As we're bringing out these native kids into these environmental spaces, we want to make sure that their spiritual wellbeing is intact as well, so we had that for them with talking circles, staging off, and of course morning prayers. So we were hoping that these trips would be inspirational, and I think by exposing them to a little bit of our culture, our history, and our songs. Hopefully, it's going to enrich their path, and now the doors are open for them here. They’re all willing to come to the drums now. They all want to help and participate, which is great. I love that, but more so, I hope that they're inspired to support each other and to really believe in what our tribe can offer, which is community and home.”
Lily and Egypt from Onlone Youth: “It’s a really good experience for kids; they don't really get to go out places like where the only place they get to go to school is and stuff like that. I feel like it's a really good experience, like a little vacation away from family and home.”
“In my opinion, I like that we youth kids are coming back together and learning more about ourselves and experiencing this type of stuff because, when we get older, we want to share with our kids who we are and that we're not going anywhere; we're still here.”
“I feel like I experience really happiness that I've never seen before, and being here was really good for me and stuff like that. I just experienced the trip and like making jewelry that I've never made before. I know who I am.”
“I think it was like a bond experience for me because I was with family that I hadn't met before, so it was like a lot at first, but then they just opened up to me so fast. A lot of our society is now like social media and all that, so it's like for us to be with nature and with family, going together and being together, and like doing those songs, being with the tribe, and stuff that makes us feel better.
Eric and Eric from Onlone Youth: “We learned many songs well. We heard many songs and stories, but we didn't really memorize them.”
“We also read a book about how the natives live and how the Hard Tribe lives back there.”
Kayla and Bella from Onlone Youth: “We got to do a lot of fun activities, like learning how to make baskets. We learned how we went hiking and got to see our water sources and stuff.”
“We also Learned about fire and like what it is with.”
Damian from Onlone Youth: “I went on a trip to Carmel, where we're originally from. It was a cool experience. It was nice to see all the things our ancestors did, and it was a fun trip, like going to the museum. We've seen a couple things with animals, our ancestors, and stuff like that. My favorite part, honestly, is just being out there, like being with my family. The tribe was also getting to meet some cousins and stuff, and it was also nice out there with their water. I got to sing to the seals, and it was cool because they were like they were sleeping, and when we were singing, it was like they were waking up and stuff, and that was pretty cool. I'll never forget that moment.
Carla Marie Munoz, the Tribal Liason CRCT: “I would like to say that our youth is our future and that it's a ripple effect. What we show our youth now, how we carry ourselves in these two worlds, and how we show leadership and responsibility—I hope that inspires them. We’re the 7th generation that has the ability to make a difference and make a change, and we hope that by inspiring our youth, that change is going to happen soon.”
Dulce, Outward Bound Adventure:” We like to have a combination of environmental education and environmental advocacy part of our program, but also a cultural literacy aspect to the program.”
Carla Marie Munoz, the Tribal Liason CRCT: “As we're bringing out these native kids into these environmental spaces, we want to make sure that their spiritual wellbeing is intact as well, so we had that for them with talking circles, staging off, and of course morning prayers. So we were hoping that these trips would be inspirational, and I think by exposing them to a little bit of our culture, our history, and our songs. Hopefully, it's going to enrich their path, and now the doors are open for them here. They’re all willing to come to the drums now. They all want to help and participate, which is great. I love that, but more so, I hope that they're inspired to support each other and to really believe in what our tribe can offer, which is community and home.”
Lily and Egypt from Onlone Youth: “It’s a really good experience for kids; they don't really get to go out places like where the only place they get to go to school is and stuff like that. I feel like it's a really good experience, like a little vacation away from family and home.”
“In my opinion, I like that we youth kids are coming back together and learning more about ourselves and experiencing this type of stuff because, when we get older, we want to share with our kids who we are and that we're not going anywhere; we're still here.”
“I feel like I experience really happiness that I've never seen before, and being here was really good for me and stuff like that. I just experienced the trip and like making jewelry that I've never made before. I know who I am.”
“I think it was like a bond experience for me because I was with family that I hadn't met before, so it was like a lot at first, but then they just opened up to me so fast. A lot of our society is now like social media and all that, so it's like for us to be with nature and with family, going together and being together, and like doing those songs, being with the tribe, and stuff that makes us feel better.
Eric and Eric from Onlone Youth: “We learned many songs well. We heard many songs and stories, but we didn't really memorize them.”
“We also read a book about how the natives live and how the Hard Tribe lives back there.”
Kayla and Bella from Onlone Youth: “We got to do a lot of fun activities, like learning how to make baskets. We learned how we went hiking and got to see our water sources and stuff.”
“We also Learned about fire and like what it is with.”
Damian from Onlone Youth: “I went on a trip to Carmel, where we're originally from. It was a cool experience. It was nice to see all the things our ancestors did, and it was a fun trip, like going to the museum. We've seen a couple things with animals, our ancestors, and stuff like that. My favorite part, honestly, is just being out there, like being with my family. The tribe was also getting to meet some cousins and stuff, and it was also nice out there with their water. I got to sing to the seals, and it was cool because they were like they were sleeping, and when we were singing, it was like they were waking up and stuff, and that was pretty cool. I'll never forget that moment.
Carla Marie Munoz, the Tribal Liason CRCT: “I would like to say that our youth is our future and that it's a ripple effect. What we show our youth now, how we carry ourselves in these two worlds, and how we show leadership and responsibility—I hope that inspires them. We’re the 7th generation that has the ability to make a difference and make a change, and we hope that by inspiring our youth, that change is going to happen soon.”
