“This work is restorative…”
By Reuben Schafir
This story was produced for the Sustainable Southeast Partnership's monthly column with the Juneau Empire, 'Resilient Peoples & Place.' Read the full story here. The story shares the work of the Alaskan Youth Stewards, several of whose projects are supported by SASS.
AYS students Allison Mills and Ricardo Sanchez help Quinn Aboudara rig a system to haul a log into 2.5 Mile Creek as a part of the crew’s stream restoration work (Courtesy Photo / John Hudson, SAWC)
Founded in 2017 and originally referred to as TRAYLS (Training Rural Alaskan Youth Leaders & Students), AYS provides rural and Indigenous youth with opportunities to learn marketable skills and grow as leaders, while advancing community driven projects that span from trailwork and salmon stream restoration to gathering and processing wild foods for elders. AYS is region wide with active crews in Hoonah, Prince of Wales, Angoon and Kake.
The story is also available at the Sustainable Southeast Partnership's website: https://sustainablesoutheast.net/alaska-youth-stewards-equips-next-generation-of-prince-of-wales-land-managers/