b"Together As OneKotlik, Tribal Youth ProgramTasha Tonuchuk, Tribal Youth Planner for Kotlik,AlaskasAtauciquutYouthProgram:GrowingTogetherAsOne,readilysharesthatshewishesaprogramlikethisexistedwhenshewasgrowingupinthecommunity.Iwasmotivated by this program because I grew uploving the cultural and traditional lifestyle, andatthesametime,Iwaschoosingthewrong Throughtheprogram,youthlearnpath,Tashashared,thisisexactlywhatI subsistencehuntingandgatheringskills,needed when I was in my youth years. Now, as gainpracticalknowledge,andbuildtheTribalYouthPlanner,Tashaseesmany outdoorlifeskillsthatwillservethemforyoung people continuing to struggle with what the rest of their lives. Recently, Tasha led ashefacedasayoungperson,beingcaught communityboatingtrip,wherethestaffbetween wanting to do what I loved and doing andyouthspentthedaytogetherandwhatothersthoughttheyloved.AsTashais learned to pick berries. Tasha shared thatquick to share, it is for this reason that she is during this boating trip I had a young boytaking this opportunity to help the youth and who is very culturally active and would tellmy community. manystoriesofhisexperienceswithThe program, serving youth between the ages subsistence lifestyle which are hunting andof10-17,emphasizestradition,cultural gathering. She noted that this youth waspractices,andintentionalcommunitybuilding the first to take a permission slip and theasameanstoprovideameaningful firsttoreturnit,andhisexcitementwasfoundationforyouthtofeelempoweredin palpable as he frequently asked when theytheir lives. Community building actually means would be leaving for the trip. Out here inso much to me, Tasha notes, reflecting on the mycommunity,noteveryonegetstheshifts away from cultural ways of life. It seems opportunity to go out and do what otherstomethatthesemoderndaysareeatingup canbecausetheydon'thaveaboatortheoldwaysoflifeIwanttostrengthenthe anyone to take them out, nor do they haveknowledge of our youth to [return to] the way funding for it, Tasha continued. Becauseit used to be, or at least to know where they of this program, youth are able to go andcome from and carry that on. Tasha and her get the things they need that they or theirteamworktobuildandsustainthiscultural familiescan'taffordtogetontheirown,foundation through group activities that foster [including]foodandgatheringintheirrelationship-buildingthroughshared freezers for the events and activities yet toexperience.come.Youthwillnotonlygainaccesstofood in their freezers but will also earn"