2025 Indigenous Resilience Awards

The 2025 Indigenous Resilience Awards, held during the Tribal Environmental Health Forum, recognized outstanding individuals and organizations who are committed to uplifting, communities, protecting cultural knowledge, and leading with care and strength. This year’s awardees were the following;

Roman Orona

Roman is Apache, Pueblo, and Yaqui. Roman has worked in the environmental field for over 16 years. Roman, currently is the Environmental Programs Manager for the Ak-Chin Indian Community in Maricopa, AZ and the US EPA Region 9 RTOC Tribal Chair. Prior to that, he served as the Environmental Engineer with the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community-Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Department in Scottsdale AZ and as the Deputy Director and Director of Operations of Earth Conservation Corps-Salmon Corps in Portland, Oregon. Roman has a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology, Civil Engineering and a Master’s in Arts, Culture, and Technology. Roman is a Native American performer (dancer, singer, flutist), producer, director and owner of iamHUMAN Media. iamHUMAN Media is a national nonprofit that develops programs to address social discourse, create community and unite humanity through the arts. In 2016, Roman was awarded the Best Male Vocalist Award at the Native American Music Awards for his album “Circling Spirits.”

Trent Teegerstrom 

Trent is the Former Sr. Associate Director of Tribal Extension Programs and Extension Specialist, The University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension and The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics.

Trent is a highly experienced professional in agricultural economics and tribal relations. He served as the Senior Associate Director of the Tribal Extension Program at the University of Arizona and held the role of Extension Specialist in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. Trent’s diverse expertise spans dryland farming in the Midwest, irrigated agriculture in the Southwest, and livestock production across the Northeast, Mountain West, and Southwest regions. With over three decades of dedicated service, Trent has supported tribal communities nationwide, addressing agricultural production and economic development challenges. Since joining the University of Arizona’s Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics in 1997, he has been instrumental in fostering tribal relations within CALS Cooperative Extension. Trent’s areas of concentration include production economics, tribal agriculture, risk management, agricultural entrepreneurship, and agricultural taxation. His invaluable contributions have empowered agricultural enterprises and tribal communities to achieve sustainable development and growth.

 San Xavier Co-Op Farm 

Representing over 4,000 years of desert farming, the San Xavier Cooperative Farm symbolizes the resiliency of Tohono O’odham foods and culture. The San Xavier Cooperative Farm was established in 1971, and became a way for the landowners to reclaim communal ownership of the land, and utilize the farm as a means of stewarding the land, water and seeds with the added benefit of economic development for the community.

San Xavier Cooperative Farm considers the following aspects of the Tohono O’odham Himdag in all they do:

Respect for Land

Sacredness of Water

Respect for Elders

Respect for Animals

Respect for Plants

Today, “The Co-op” consists of over 1000 acres of certified naturally grown fields, and employs 22 community members between the ages of 21 and 60+, who range in expertise from harvesting, cooking, ranching, and farming who create the amazing team who represent the values of being, “S-wa:gima”, which means to be hardworking and industrious. We believe wholeheartedly that O’odham agriculture embodies practices, values and observations of our environment that protect it for future generations.

The 2025 Indigenous Resilience Awards celebrated the dedication and leadership of those working to strengthen Indigenous communities through environmental and cultural resilience. It offered a meaningful moment to acknowledge the efforts of individuals and organizations working to support Indigenous communities and environmental wellbeing. Honorees Trent Teegerstrom, Roman Orona, and the San Xavier Co-Op were recognized for their continued commitment and contributions. As the event came to a close, it offered space for reflection, gratitude, and a reminder of the importance of lifting up the work happening across our communities. 

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 2025 Indigenous Resilience Awardees!