The Oneida Indian Nation’s Youth Work/Learn (YWL) Program offers American Indian youth meaningful opportunities for work, education, and cultural enrichment. Designed to cultivate job skills with civic responsibility, the program integrates community service, mentorship, and hands-on learning for its participants.

This year, 14 youth participated: 8 in the Crew (ages 13–15) and 6 in the Mentorship Program (ages 16–20). The Crew balanced work, education, and cultural learning—completing projects like maintaining Nation properties, helping prepare for the Member Family Picnic, and volunteering at The Great Swamp Conservancy.

Participants in the 2025 Youth Work/Learn Crew were Adrian Rockwell, Blake Kaulback (Turtle Clan), Avery Scott, Alyssa Stout (Wolf Clan), Samantha Scott, Hayleigh Pawlikowski, Cavan Jacobs (Wolf Clan) and Toby Torres (Wolf Clan).

Cultural exploration was central to the program. The Crew attended beadwork workshops at Colgate University and visited the university’s greenhouse and Visualization Lab, where they learned about stories told in the stars by various cultures. At the Shako:wi Cultural Center, they toured exhibits, listened to traditional stories, and contributed to a maintenance project by staining the front porch.

Health and wellness activities included pickleball sessions at Turning Stone and community gardening at the Ray Elm Children and Elders Center—promoting teamwork and healthy lifestyles.

A visit to the Nation’s Wáhta̲’ Maple Farm offered a behind-the-scenes look into maple syrup production. Maple Production Manager Brendan Schuler and Technician Neil Kimball guided the Crew through tools, techniques, and sustainable practices, followed by a walk through a maple grove to learn about forest management.

As the summer wrapped up, participants joined a community event at Nichols Pond with children from the Early Learning Center. The day blended history, storytelling, and crafts. Crew members led a fun scavenger hunt, explored the area’s historical significance, and listened to stories shared by Doris Wilkins-Wilt (Wolf Clan), Cultural Programs Coordinator at the Shako:wi Cultural Center, and Ron Patterson (Wolf Clan), the Center’s Manager.

The Mentorship Program placed older participants in Nation enterprises to gain hands-on work experience aligned with their interests, helping them build professional and interpersonal skills. Returning to the program this year for placement with the Nation’s retail operations were Larry Torres (Wolf Clan), Maple Leaf Market, Sherrill; Javlyn Aregano (Turtle Clan), SāvOn Plaza Mart, Oneida; and Braydon Homer, Territory Road SavOn, Oneida. Meanwhile, Daylah Rey Diaz, Rhys Kennedy (Wolf Clan) and Mariah Williams (Turtle Clan) assisted at Turning Stone Golf.