This program is for Oakland high school aged youth or those who live in the surrounding bay area.
Due to the spread of COVID-19, the Fall sessions will be held in a hybrid format: half of the time meeting virtually via zoom and the other half of the time meeting in person. Online sessions will take place on Thursdays from 4-6PM. This is subject to change.
Our mission for the program is to combine youth leadership, community development, political education, liberation, and place based learning on returned and rematriated Indigenous land in Lisjan (Ohlone) territory in the Village of Huichin (East bay area). We hope to grow future generations of engaged, active, knowledgeable, and resilient Black and Indigenous youth of color, connected to history, land, and community while contributing to Indigenous led land return and social justice movements.
On weekdays during our virtual sessions, we will provide a zoom link and any materials needed for the session or they will be supplied online and distributed during zoom. On our Tuesday in-person sessions, we will be at our youth space and offices. On Saturday in-person sessions, we will be visiting different rematriated sites in the Bay Area including Rammay, Sequoia Point, Lisjan, Pinnantak, Irhite Ujima, and other important sites. We will be focusing on land and water based learning, meaning we will be learning about how to take care of the land and how we can practice Indigenous ways of life. Some activities we have planned are learning how to harvest, basket making, and land tasks. Meals will be provided and transportation vouchers via clipper tickets to youth who participate in the program, as well as a stipend at the end of each season. For land and water days certain materials will be required like boots and gloves, which will be provided by the coordinators.
This is atleast a nine month commitment to be able to participate in wave one. It is okay to join us seasonally if that is the commitment the youth would like to make to the program, but we do encourage participation throughout the whole program.
The type of commitment we are looking for are youth who are are able to make it to the majority if not all sessions with the exception of a heads up notice and emergency situations. If a youth misses sessions they can make them up by communicating with Program Coordinators Araceli N. and Eliana H.
We hope to have active and engaged youth in sessions throughout all waves and seasons of the program including Spring, Summer and Fall, as a youth and as a part of the mentorship program in following seasons.
If this speaks to you please fill out this application and submit it back as soon as possible. Thank you and we cannot wait to start the program!
Eliana Hernandez and Araceli Nunez
Youth Program
Sogorea Te’ Land Trust