WASHINGTON, D.C. — At this year’s Close Up and United South and Eastern Tribes (USET) Impact Week Youth Summit, 30 high school students represented the Seminole Tribe of Florida in Washington, D.C.

Throughout the six-day program, participating students from USET Member Tribal Nations examined self-determination in Indian Country and the relationship between tribal nations and the federal government. With organized visits to the nation’s iconic memorials and institutional landmarks, and opportunities to engage with tribal leaders, students deepened their insight into tribal sovereignty and self-determination.

From March 7 to 12, a total of 84 Close Up USET students represented tribes from Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, South Carolina and Texas.

Embodying their nations with a dazzling array of patchwork, flagbearers kicked off the USET flag and opening ceremony alongside the honor guard.

“As always, a big highlight for us here is our youth,” President of USET Chief Kirk Francis Sr. said, welcoming students and commencing the youth summit.

Through a sacred drum ceremony, students and leadership focused on grounding themselves in the beliefs, traditions, and principles that have served their people.

Shawn Ralston, member of the Seneca Nation of Indians and manager of Curriculum Design with the Close Up Foundation, led workshops on tribal government, tribal action initiatives, and tribal sovereignty. By the end of the week, students experienced what it takes to tackle important issues together.

“If you were to sit in one of our sessions you might have noticed that we were occasionally off topic,” Jr. Miss Florida Seminole Chaka Yani Smith said. “But somehow, we were also on topic at the same time. Our conversations had a way of wandering, but they always circled back to the bigger ideas we were working on. I think that’s what made us better. We got closer and we found our success, no matter how many rabbit holes we went down.”

On March 8, students worked with peers from their tribal nations to create a presentation about their government, economy, and culture. The Arlington Ballroom resounded with one-on-one conversations that discussed the similarities and differences between tribal governments and how they are organized and make decisions.

“I love Close Up a lot because I’m able to learn more about other tribes,” said Kalina Cavazos from the Hollywood Reservation. “I love that it’s a big group and that I’m able to learn about their own traditions and cultures.”

From March 9 to 11, tribes re-grouped to brainstorm tribal action initiatives. Built around a central issue, students proffered different forms of civic action as solutions; these included awareness, community-based action, and policies. Not only did Close Up participants confer among themselves, but they had the opportunity to share their tribal
action initiatives with tribal leaders and attendees of the USET Impact Week.

For the Seminole Tribe of Florida, central issues veered toward bullying and discrimination in schools, negligence, and substance abuse.

“Negligence centers around today’s youth,” said Brian Billie Jr. “People our age have gotten lazy…I, personally, try to stay active. I love volleyball; sports keep me involved.”

Throughout the week, Native panelists such as Karly Toledo with the National American Indian Housing Council, Vince Redhouse of the Navajo Washington office, and Samantha Hintz with the Aspen Institute were invited to speak on Indian law and policy, while the USET executive board joined students for an in-depth discussion on Indigenous agency.

“Part of this experience that you’re getting, to learn about this relationship, is that our people were done wrong,” said Kitcki Carroll, USET executive director. “It’s a very complicated story, and we are on the back end of that story, trying to remedy all that happened. Now you must make a choice. Do you want to be a part of that solution?” USET’s Tihtiyas Dee Sabattus (deputy director), Katie Klass (general counsel) and Liz Malerba (director of Policy and Legislative Affairs) took part in the discussion alongside Carroll.

“You shouldn’t be sitting here right now,” Carroll added. “If their intentions were completely successful, we would be completely assimilated, removed, and terminated. But we are here, because there were people that came before us that fought to make sure that didn’t happen.”

Discussions on Indigenous agency prepared students for the program’s final collaboration: Close Up’s Sovereignty Statement Workshop. Students were split into smaller groups, facilitated by a designated program instructor, to collaborate with their peers and create a statement about tribal sovereignty and its importance.

“Sovereignty is not something that’s given to Native people,” said Abby Manning, USET Special Programs coordinator. “It exists, but it is not something that’s given to tribal nations.”

Chaka Yani Smith, Ila Trueblood, and Cornelius Nels from the Seminole Tribe of Florida, presented the 2026 USET Youth Statement on Tribal Sovereignty to the USET SPF Board of Directors alongside James Lowry from the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut, and Helen Rodriguez from the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas.

“Representing my tribe and presenting our sovereignty statements to USET was very exciting,” Smith said. “Taking on that role and answering their questions gave me the floor to say what, I feel, a lot of people felt.”

The comprehensive statement encompassed four sectors: economic development, public safety, health, and education.

“Thank you for all your work this week and all the work you’re doing to stay focused on the future,” said Chief Kirk Francis Sr. “Every year, we see what the future looks like through you all. I want you to know this isn’t just some exercise you’re doing—we take your comments to heart and implement them into our everyday process.”