Warrior Butterflies Walking With the Ancestors: A Study of Indigenous Youth Becoming Transformative Leaders

• In Event: Empowering Educators and Youth of Color: Culturally Sustaining Pathways in Education

Abstract

This ten-year study explores how urban high school youth leaders revitalized El Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx of Aztlán to enhance cultural awareness, community connections, and higher education. Students and community members fundraised for an educational trip to Mexico, emphasizing the integration of ancestral knowledge into daily life. Following these youth into adulthood, the research uses a decolonial theoretical framework to analyze how ancestral knowledge systems (AKS) shape their identity, belonging, and leadership. Findings show that from 2010-2020, youth developed stronger ancestral identities, leading to increased confidence and transformative leadership. The study argues that fostering AKS in daily life builds confidence and wellness while challenging the pervasive impact of white supremacy on Black Indigenous People of Color.

Authors

• Cueponcaxochitl D. Moreno Sandoval, California State University - Stanislaus

• Miriam G. Valdovinos, University of Denver

• Elisa Contreras, Los Angeles Unified School District

• Xela Madrigal Segura, Los Angeles County Office of Education