Confidence Grown Here: Youth Present Their Story in ACCAP Webinar

By Mason Lambert (YETI)

Copper River Native Association (CRNA) is a Tribal Health Organization that supports Ahtna Tribes and the wider community in reaching their health and wellness goals. Within CRNA, the Tribal Community Services department runs the YETI program—short for Youth Employment and Training Initiative.

The YETI program is important because it teaches teens how to be workforce-ready. We learn communication, planning, leadership, and land stewardship—and some of us even earn college credits. With recent federal funding changes, it wasn’t certain if there would be a YETI season in 2025. Thankfully, the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP) stepped in with a small grant that helped keep the program alive.

This summer, YETI focused on climate change in our region. We partnered with the Copper

River Watershed Project (CRWP) to revegetate the Little Tonsina fish passage site. We also managed invasive plants, helped grow fresh produce in the CRNA community garden for Elders, and learned about traditional Native plants used for food and medicine. We created climate change videos for outreach and traveled to Fairbanks to visit UAF and explore how climate change is impacting permafrost.

On August 1st, ACCAP hosted a statewide webinar in partnership with CRNA to highlight what we accomplished thanks to their support. Daniella Hernandez, our Youth Coordinator, led the presentation with pride and excitement. She shared the projects and experiences we took part in over the summer with ACCAP Program Manager Alison Hayden.

The YETIs worked with amazing partners like the National Park Service, CRWP, and the Native Village of Tazlina to protect land, promote Native knowledge, and grow our skills. From community outreach to hands-on science and environmental work, we really made the most of our summer. The webinar was a chance to show just how much young people can do when given the right support.

During the presentation, Alison asked all of us one question: “What was your favorite trip?”

For me, it was working in the garden. I know it wasn’t a trip, but it was still my favorite part of the summer. I loved watering the plants, making garden beds, spreading mulch, and giving out food. It made me feel like I was doing something meaningful—helping my community, doing science, and preserving the land.

This work isn’t always easy. Invasive plants are a pain. But it’s also rewarding. The garden made me feel like I was feeding people who needed it. Growing food is self-sufficiency. I also raise chickens at home, and it gives me the same feeling—I can give my family fresh eggs without worrying about high prices, freight delays, or contaminants. I’ve learned that building local food systems is one way we adapt to climate change. Eating homegrown food with fewer toxins is healthier than buying processed stuff from the store.

It was cool to be on the webinar with all the YETIs and the youth from the Native Village of Tazlina, sharing our experiences with people across the state. It was my first time speaking in a webinar. I felt smart, like I had something important to say—and people actually listened. I’m not usually confident about public speaking, but this pushed me to grow. I’m heading into the new school year as an upperclassman, and I’ll carry that confidence with me.

Thank you to ACCAP for funding our summer. Thank you to CRWP for the partnership. And a huge thank you to Daniella for being such a great youth coordinator and role model. She’s from Los Angeles, but we turned her into a real Alaskan.

If you want to watch the recorded webinar, check out “Tradition is the Future: The YETIs Have an ACCAP-Funded Summer” at https://uaf-accap.org/.