The Tribal Youth Advisory Council (TYAC) was established by the National Indian Health Board to ensure that Native youth have a seat at the table when it comes to shaping the future of Tribal Public Health. TYAC creates a space for Native youth to lead, share thei experiences, and offer feedback on policies and programs that impact their communities.
This council includes representatives from the 12 Indian Health Service (IHS) regions and a few additional youth leaders whose voices and passion made them impossible to overlook.
Whether addressing mental health, substance use, suicide prevention, or other public health topics, TYAC brings unique perspectives to the forefront of NIHB’s work.
Through regular meetings, collaborative projects, and national advocacy efforts, TYAC plays an active role in helping NIHB develop programs and policy recommendations that are not only effective but also rooted in native values, traditions, and the voices of Native youth.
TYAC is a space where Native youth lead with purpose, using their strength and vision to reclaim, reimagine, and rebuild a healthier, stronger future for their Tribal communities
We are proud to introduce the 15 Native youth leaders who make up this year’s 2025 Tribal Youth Advisory Council. Representing the 12 IHS regions and beyond, these individuals bring passion, experience, and vision. Click on the photo to see their bios and learn more about each council member
Salt River Pima Maricopa, Phoenix
Salt River Pima Maricopa, Phoenix
Kamduum?/Kamaduu?/Samai Cu’ig? Nyip
‘iim mulyk Aarick Mack, Inyep ‘imuuly Aarick Mack, Añi añ hap ce:gig Aarick Mack. My name is Aarick Mack. I am Xalychidom Piipaash/Pee-Posh, Pipa Aha Macav, and Akimel O’odham.
I am an enrolled member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, with ancestral ties to the Gila River Indian Community (District 7/Maricopa Colony) and the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe (Oach clan). I am a traditional singer of Yuman bird songs and also learn and sing O’odham songs. In my free time, I enjoy beading. I am super excited to be a part of TYAC. I hope to bring good energy and figure out ways to help and uplift more Indigenous communities around the country. Thank you!
Lac Du Flambreau Chippewa, Portland
Lac Du Flambreau Chippewa, Portland
Boozhoo gakina! My name is Animikiikwe,
and I am Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe but currently reside in Washington State on the traditional homelands of the Puyallup Tribe.
Over the next year, I am looking forward to meeting likeminded youth who are also passionate about mental health advocacy in our communities. I am also excited to gain a deeper understanding of what healing through tradition can look like across the country.
Pueblo of Tesuque, Albuquerque
Pueblo of Tesuque, Albuquerque
My name is Athena Archuleta, and I am from the Pueblo of Tesuque, located just north of Santa Fe, New Mexico. I am a senior at the University of Notre Dame studying mechanical engineering with a passion for product design and development. I care deeply about mental health and visibility for Native communities, and I’m excited t o part of the TYAC.
Colville, Portland
Colville, Portland
My name is Chenoa Erickson, and I am a proud member of the Colville Tribes from Inchelium, Washington. I am a certified medical assistant, specializing in pediatric vaccinations, and I aspire to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing to expand my role in community health. I am committed to breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health, especially its ties to addiction. I am passionate about advocating for access to behavioral health resources and creating a future where mental health is prioritized.
Lumbee Tribe, Nashville
Lumbee Tribe, Nashville
My name is Jada Allen. I ’m from Robeson County, North Carolina. I am a citizen of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, and a recent graduate of Duke University, where I studied Public Policy, minored in Global Health, and earned a Health Policy Certificate. During my time at Duke, I conducted quality improvement research for hypertension management, led Native student advocacy efforts, and volunteered at a local non-profit.
I am currently in a gap year as I prepare for a career in law. I’m excited to contribute to TYAC by developing a project with my cohort and learning more about the health equity in Indian Country. In my free time, I enjoy reading, making beadwork, and spending time with friends and family.
Spirit Lake Sioux, Great Plains
Spirit Lake Sioux, Great Plains
My name is Jenna Makes Good (She/Her), and I am an enrolled citizen of the Spirit Lake Nation in North Dakota, with roots in the Osage, Pawnee, Potawatomi, and Blackfeet Nations. I am a student at Haskell Indian Nations University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Indigenous and American Indian Studies.
I’ve been honored as a Brave Heart Fellow, a UNITY 25 Under 25 honoree, and a Native Action Network Ambassador. I am deeply committed to supporting efforts that address addiction, violence, and the MMIP crisis impacting Native communities.
Salt River Pima Maricopa, Phoenix
alt River Pima Maricopa, Phoenix
Blackfeet, Billings
Blackfeet, Billings
My name is Joelnell Momberg and I am an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation in Browning, Montana. I was raised in Box Elder, MT on the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation and currently serve as a Prevention Specialist at the Rocky Boy Health Center. I recently earned my bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Montana Western, I also played collegiate basketball. I am passionate about promoting health and wellness in Tribal communities and committed to empowering Native youth through culturally grounded prevention efforts.
Pala Band of Mission Indians, California
Pala Band of Mission Indians, California
My name is Joseph Ravago and I am Cupeño, growing up on the Pala Band of Mission Indians reservation in California. I currently serve as the Program Manager for Indian Health Council’s Community Opioid Intervention Prevention Program, funded by Indian Health Service. I earned a B.A. in Anthropology and African American Studies from Georgetown University. Through TYAC, I look forward to learning more about tribes across the nation and advocating for youth-centered behavioral health approaches across Indian Country.
Navajo Nation, Navajo
Navajo Nation, Navajo
My name is Jowun Ben, and I am Diné (Navajo). I was raised in a traditional household, where I ’ve learned the importance of Navajo cultural teachings and their connection to health. After experiencing the loss of my grandmother, I became committed to a future in medicine that bridges traditional healing with western medicine. I am excited to join TYAC. I hope to amplify Native youth voices, contribute to mental health and substance use prevention efforts, and ensure that our voices shape future health policies for our communities.
Hualapai, Phoenix
Hualapai, Phoenix
My name is Juliana Nez, and I am a proud member of the Hualapai Tribe in Arizona. I am passionate about connecting Native youth with elders and learning our cultural roots, while showing others that change can lead to growth and healing. I am excited to be part of TYAC and to help create safe, supportive spaces within my own community, where Native youth feel seen, heard, and empowered to lead.
Crow, Bemidji
Crow, Bemidji
Boozhoo! My name is Neeji Singer, but I also go by my spirit name Nagwayaash, which means “the Calm Before the Storm.” I’m an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe and a descendant of the Rocky Boy Chippewa Cree Tribe. I have lived in the community of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians for most of my life. I am passionate about continuing to learn about my culture and stand strongly behind my cultural and spiritual way of living. While I am very introverted, I try to step out of my comfort zones whenever I can or when the opportunity arises. I am currently studying to become a substance abuse counselor at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University. As someone who has faced mental health challenges and past substance use, I want to be part of something larger than myself, which is helping others realize that healing is possible and we can overcome what life throws at us.
Grant Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa, Bemidji
Grant Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa, Bemidji
My name is Stevie Quijas, and I am a proud member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan. I earned a B.A. in Social Relations and Policy from Michigan State University, where I served as the At- Large Student Liaison to the MSU Board of Trustees. This led me to become an Emergency Medical Technician, congressional intern, and U.S. Senate staffer. I now work in
politics and public policy, doing what I can to make a difference for the next seven generations.
Curyung & Supiaq, Alaska
Curyung & Supiaq, Alaska
Cama’i! My name is Taralynn Agnacuungaq Agluryaq-Calista Chesley, and I am from Bristol Bay, Alaska. I am a member of the Curyung Tribe, with Sugpiaq heritage and adopted Yupik ties. I am aspire to become a traditional healer and believe that participating in TYAC will help guide me toward that path. I have many hobbies, just ask!
Facilitator
facilitator
My name is Dacia Red Thunder Griego, and I am Chippewa Cree and Mexican. I am a community advocate, cultural consultant, and passionate leader in Indigenous health equity, education, and youth empowerment. Based in Missoula, Montana, I bring over a decade of experience working across nonprofits, schools, and health systems to support and uplift Indigenous communities. My work has been centered around Indigenous knowledge, cultural revitalization, and intergenerational strength. I am honored to support the Tribal Youth Advisory Council and to help amplify the voices of Indigenous youth across the country.
TYAC Supervisor
TYAC Supervisor
My name is Tyrone Peterson, and I am a citizen of the Diné (Navajo) Nation and the Yoeme (Pascua Yaqui) Nation of Arizona. I earned a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Johns Hopkins University and have collaborated with the Johns Hopkins Center for Suicide Prevention. I also serve on the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) Working Group, contributing to national efforts focused on mental health and suicide prevention in AIAN communities. I serve as the TYAC Supervisor, where I have the privilege of working alongside a passionate group of young Native leaders dedicated to building a healthier future for all.
NIHB is proud to announce the 2025 cohort of TSHS Program. These emerging leaders bring unique perspectives and commitments to Tribal health equity and their Tribal communities.
Anchorage, AK
Anchorage, AK
School: Alaska Pacific University
Major: Health Sciences with a concentration in Healthcare Management
Future school: In the fall, I will begin my MPH at University of Colorado Anschutz
Goal: I am especially interested in the ability to work with Tribal health systems in my community to strengthen data systems. These data systems play an important role in population health trends, targeting specific needs, and guiding public health strategies. Data sets can be divided into sets with benchmarks that can eventually reach the goals of an analyst. Essentially for Indigenous people and our healthcare systems, data systems are vital to us already under resourced systems of care.
I'm from the village of Kykotsmovi on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona.
I'm from the village of Kykotsmovi on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona.
School: Arizona State University
Current degree program: Master’s in Social Work
Goal: My work and goals are directly tied to workforce infrastructure because behavioral health is critical and often underserved in Tribal communities. By becoming a licensed therapist and eventually striving to open a substance abuse treatment center on the Hopi Reservation, I aim to strengthen and expand the behavioral health workforce where it’s needed most. Not only will this provide essential services to individuals facing addiction and incarceration, but it will also create jobs and training opportunities within the community. Investing in mental health professionals and treatment resources is a key part of building sustainable, responsive workforce infrastructure, particularly in rural and Indigenous communities that have long faced barriers to care.
I'm from the village of Kykotsmovi on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona.
Santa Fe, NM
School: Stanford University
Major: Human Biology with a concentration in Epidemiology and Community Health
Future school: In the fall, I will begin my MPH at Dartmouth College
Goal: I’m interested in an infectious disease project because of its intersection and connection to broader public health challenges in Native communities. Many infectious diseases like hepatitis C, HIV, and even the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affect Indigenous populations. These are often in connection with structural issues such as lack of access to care or housing insecurity. My interest lies in how these determinants intersect these diseases in a Native population. I am also focused on the topics of substance use and mental health. For example, the rise in hepatitis C and HIV among Native people is closely linked to injection drug use and gaps in harm reduction services. Exploring these issues through an infectious disease lens allows for a syndemic approach to understanding how co-occurring epidemics affect one another. I want to use this lens to develop community-informed, culturally grounded responses that address these overlapping public health concerns.
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Registration for NIHB’s 2025 National Tribal Health Conference is now open! Join us this September in Arizona for an experience where Culture is Medicine & Community is Healing.