Meet Our Youth Interns!

Gracie Aragon

Gracie Aragon (She/Her) is from the Pueblo of Acoma. As a Gates Millennium Scholar, she graduated from Whittier College with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and minored in Business Administration. In 2018, she co-founded the United Indigenous Peoples and Nations club – the first club of its kind in the college’s history. The foundation of her undergraduate studies was rooted in Indigenous mobilization through cultural sustainability and community building practices. In obtaining her degree, she pulled much of her experience working with Indigenous youth and as a U.S. Congressional Intern for the U.S. Senate to push for strengthened acknowledgment of tribal sovereignty for Native communities to utilize their inherent right to self-governance – which predates European colonization and imposed Euro-American law. Gracie sees the importance of having tribes in New Mexico included and accurately represented in the development of policies that directly impact them. Her passion to secure greater social equity stems from the resilience of her ancestors who fought in the Acoma battle of 1599 and were never conquered. She is an advocate for returning to Indigenous knowledge systems, which she feels requires the deconstruction of tools of settler privileges, colonial ideologies, and approaches. In addition to her internship with PAA, she also serves as a “Remembering Our Sisters” fellow for the Aspen Institute’s Center for Native American Youth – pushing for comprehensive policies that address the MMIWG2SR crisis.

Derek Capitan

Derek Capitan is an Indigenous male from K’waika (“Laguna”) and Diné (“Navajo”) communities. Derek is currently attending the University of New Mexico pursuing multiple degrees in civil engineering and Business Administration. Derek earns a living through his grocery market position along with his lab assistance at UNM. Through his work he simply wants to create a healthier world along with adding a sprinkle of happiness. His journey continues as he seeks maturity through sincere experiences. It is really an honor to be a part of this first largest youth internship, as its history in the making. It is a special opportunity that will lead to greater endeavors. Has usually been a quiet person but feels he can share more with his voice for his brothers and sisters beyond our Pueblo landbases. Being a part of the internship he realizes there is a responsibility to get out of his comfort zone, he is thankful for being reminded of how powerful we are. Thank you to Pueblo Action Alliance for believing in youth and selecting us as interns. 

Andrea Toledo

Hey’tay’noh’ah, Hello All! My name is Andrea Toledo, I am 19 years old & am from the Village of Walatowa also known as Jemez Pueblo. Along with coming from Jemez, I also represent the Pueblos of Laguna and Santa Ana and the Village of Shungopavi located in the northern Arizona Hopi Tribe. I belong to the water/cloud clan and my parents are Mr. and Mrs. Towan and the late Amelda Toledo.

This year, 2021, I am more than honored to work alongside Pueblo Action Alliance as a Youth Intern for the Cultivating Roots & Resistance Internship. So far this opportunity has allowed me to gain resourceful knowledge about how to make a greater impact on Pueblo youth, people, and land. Being in this program is also steering me in a direction of a career path I would like to educate myself more about and hopefully gain more knowledge that will benefit our upcoming Pueblo generations.

My work, my peers, and my mentors all have greatly impacted how I view our Pueblos today. Because of them and the work I am able to do, I have grown a deep interest in helping indigenous communities grow in a positive way. More so,  I have developed a passion to help our growing generations with mental wellness. I  believe that in order to be a good ancestor, your mental health should be top priority. “She had to learn how to heal herself before she could heal her people.” -Andrea Toledo

With a clear and good mind, you are more able to absorb more beneficial knowledge and teaching from those in our communities.

 Outside of working with PAA, I have many hobbies of my own which include craft making, poetry and story writing, creating and developing food recipes, planting, exploring the outdoors, and making new friends. But i do have a greater love for learning about my Pueblo traditions and teachings.

With that being said, I would like to extend my greatest appreciation to Pueblo Action Alliance for teaching me how to build a strong foundation for myself and my future. Because of PAA I am able to strive for greater things with so much support and motivation!

Thay’bah’noh’pah! Thank you!

Myka Tafoya

Hello my name is Myka Tafoya. I'm 18 years old from Kewa and Laguna pueblo. I love to dance, sing, paint, play music and help out with anything. My journey so far has been a rollercoaster ride. A ride of laughter, fear and love. In 2010, I started entering into the Albuquerque Hip-hop culture. That is when I began an incredible lifestyle of Hip Hop elements to help guide me learn new things each year with successful artists in the city and performing with community organizations. I’ve enjoyed meeting and knowing many public faces that are involved with making a difference for mother earth. I am very proud of myself for how far I've survived in this world, with the new acknowledgment that Indigenous peoples have always been for protecting what is right and preserving the good. I stand with all for helping others and look forward to learning more with Pueblo Action Alliance. 

Kiera Toya

Kiera Toya, 20, is an enrolled member from the Pueblo of Jemez. She is a Junior at the University of New Mexico double majoring in Native American Studies with a concentration in Indigenous leadership Communities and Sociology with a concentration in Human Services and Social Policy. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree, she plans to continue her education in graduate school, with the goal of becoming a Victim Specialist within Native communities. She serves as the Female Co-President of the United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY) National Executive Committee (2020-2021), UNM American Indian Student Services Ambassador, All Pueblo Council of Governors Youth Committee, and an intern with Pueblo Action Alliance (Cultivating Roots & Resistance Internship). She is very passionate about youth within our Pueblo and tribal communities. She is very involved in helping her local communities such as her home, Jemez Pueblo and UNM campus with Kiva Club. She continues to find ways to stay connected to youth and keep them engaged during this global pandemic. Kiera hopes to continue to inspire and work with communities on focusing on youth involvement and perspective. In her free time, she enjoys painting, cooking or baking, enjoys the outdoors, and participates in her traditional dances prior to the pandemic. She is very excited to be involved with Pueblo Action Alliance and all the amazing work they do for our Pueblo relatives. 

Kaylene Loretto

Kaylene Loretto (she/her) is from Jemez Pueblo and is currently living on Tewa territory. She comes from a family of strong, independent Indigenous women who have helped shape her into the woman she is today. Kaylene was a Davis New Mexico Scholar and recently graduated from Loyola Marymount University earning her B.A. in Chicana/o Latina/o Studies and Women’s & Gender Studies. She is currently an AmeriCorps/Indigenous Educators Corps member and an intern with PAA’s Cultivating Roots and Resistance Internship. Kaylene is passionate about bringing awareness to the social and political injustices that our Indigenous peoples have and continue to face. She is determined to help uplift, rebuild and re imagine a world, through a decolonial lens, where BIPOC, LGBTQIA and Two-Spirit peoples can live on their ancestral homelands, are liberated and forever empowered.

Rufina Abeita

Rufina Abeita, Isleta and Laguna Pueblo. 20something. She/ her. Seeking a degree in human services and minor in early childhood education. Creator behind Blue corn creations 

I’m glad to be apart of the Pueblo action alliance internship because I’ll soon be able to take this knowledge back to my community & other organizations I’m part of. So far within the internship I’ve been able to step out of my comfort zone, create new social connections virtually, and have been able to learn from other Pueblo folks. It’s been interesting and I can’t wait to see what the rest of this internship holds for us!

Quincy Walker

Quincy Walker, Is a multi racial youth activist and community leader. He is 18 years old, of Isleta Pueblo and is a naca alumni. Quincy is also a member of the Youth justice Coalition with the Southwest Organizing Project. Also an intern at the Pueblo Action Alliance. A Recipient of the Marguerite Casey foundation 2019 Sergeant shriver youth Warriors against poverty.

Mckenna Armstrong

Mckenna Armstrong grew up in the Pueblo of Laguna in the village of Encinal. She has always been grateful that she was taught by her family to value Pueblo traditions. She sees herself as a passionate and charismatic young adult, currently studying Sociology and Native American Studies at Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. She is very excited for this internship to learn more and gain the tools to give back to her indigenous communities.