Panika Teeple

Aanii (Ojibwe), Waqaa (Yup’ik)!

Hello, my name is Panika Teeple and I am Ojibwe, Lakota, and Yup’ik. My Tribal Affiliation is Bay Mills Indian Community in Michigan and in 2017, I moved to Anchorage, Alaska to continue my education. I graduated this semester with a Bachelor of Social Work Degree and plan to use it to help make a positive impact in Indigenous communities.

Breana Brings Plenty

Breana Brings Plenty is an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. She is a youth Indigenous activist and young leader for her community. She has held her place on the frontlines bringing awareness as young Water Protector for both the NoDAPL and NoKXL movements. Breana has learned early, that she holds a passion for creating change to protect what is sacred to her as a young Lakotawoman and traditional steward of the land. She is currently the tenth grade class president at Little Wound High School and aspires to pursue her future academics in environmental policy. 

Rory Wheeler

Rory Wheeler is a citizen of the Seneca Nation and descendant of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation. From 2016-2020, he served on the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Youth Commission as the Vice President and later as President. During his time at NCAI he represented the broad interests of Native youth as well as the promotion and defense of tribal sovereignty. He recently graduated from Niagara University with a BA in Political Science and Pre-Law and serves as a Board Member for the Association on American Indian Affairs, the Center for Native American Youth, and is a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician in his local community.

Keely Driscoll

Ttakimaweakwe ("Little Wolf Woman") is Meskwaki with ties to the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska from Tama, Iowa. She is going into her senior year at the University of Iowa, majoring in International Studies with certificates in Sustainability and Native American and Indigenous Studies. Keely's personal educational goals revolve around her desire to continually improve her cross-cultural competence and to raise awareness about the importance of it. Currently, Keely works for the Native Center for Behavioral Health at the University of Iowa's College of Public Health, Great Plains Action Society, and the Meskwaki Tribal Court.

Devin Hernandez

My name is Devin Hernandez and I am 16 years old. I reside on the Pineridge reservation, and I belong to the Oglala Lakota tribe. In the future, I hope to be affiliated with the ACLU, protecting human rights and working to uplift my community.

Isabella Fridia

My name is Isabella Fridia. I was raised with a strong foundation of traditional, cultural teachings. I am an Indigenous scholar athlete: Junior Olympic Level 10 Gymnast. I am a senior in high school, currently enrolled in college coursework.

Johnny Abeyta

My name is Johnny Abeyta and I am 16 years old. I live in Ohkay Owingeh New Mexico and am going into my junior year of high school. I like to do sports and the sports I do are cross country, track, and baseball.