Jaren Roberson

Board Member

Hello Ya’ah’teeh,

My name is Jaren Roberson and I’m from the Dine (Navajo) and Hopi tribe. I am a(n) outdoor industry worker spending my time in the summers as a River guide and my winters as a snowmaker/ cat driver.

I was introduced to the outdoor industry through a non profit program call Grand Canyon Youth which sparked my interest for river trips. They later introduced me to the Rios to Rivers program where I was on the 2019 Klamath exchange and completely changed the course of my life. From that exchange I started my outdoor career working for OARS Oregon on the Klamath and Rogue River. Which gave me enough experience to start guiding on the Grand Canyon for AZRA. Building up my guiding career I’ve worked on a hand full of rivers all along the west coast and am still an avid river worker looking to build his skill seeking new rivers to work on.

Spending my time on the River and getting to know other people in the industry I would always get the same question, “what do you do in the winters?”. Never being a skier I didn’t think working at a resort was a possibility; until I took a chance and started working up in Salt Lake City at Snowbird. I started out as a snowmaker and built my way up to being a cat driver in the nights.

Currently I’m working towards being on the board for Grand Canyon Youth and just recently was accepted into the Rios to River board! This program has taught and given me the confidence to become a River steward and indigenous advocate. I look forward to helping other indigenous youth around the country finding their own voice in this modern world where native voices are muted with commercial/ political bias.

Thank you.

Ahehee’.

Kwakwaii.