At just 17 years old, Dexter (Paasch) Carrimon is already doing the kind of work many people don’t step into until much later in life, showing up in legislative spaces, speaking truth about Native history, and pushing for real change that impacts communities across Minnesota and beyond.

     An enrolled member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, Paasch is a senior at Harding Senior High School in St. Paul and one of this year’s recipients of the Optimist Club of St. Paul Youth Appreciation College Awards. Each of the 16 students selected received a $3,000 scholarship.

     Over the past year, he helped advance legislation requiring opioid and fentanyl awareness education in Minnesota high schools, a bill that was ultimately adopted into law. What began as a school opportunity quickly turned into something much bigger.

     “I thought it was just a mock trial or a mock legislature,” Paasch said. “But after I presented my stuff, they reached out again, saying that they wanted to keep pushing forward to make these bills a reality.”

     That moment opened the door to a deeper interest in politics and law through a program called Catalyst for System Change, also known as Changemakers. The work became real when he found himself giving testimony directly to lawmakers.

     “When I gave my testimony in the House, where I was actually having to speak to the House of Representatives, getting to be in that environment, that’s when it felt real,” Paasch said.

     While opioid awareness legislation is one milestone, Paasch is also focused on making sure Ho-Chunk history is taught accurately in Minnesota schools. He is currently working through a YMCA Youth in Government program to advance a bill addressing Indigenous history education and has already spoken with a state senator and the chief clerk at the Capitol.

     “My biggest argument for it is, why shouldn’t history in Minnesota be taught how the history of Minnesota happened?” Paasch said. “Ho-Chunks were here. Ho-Chunks were kicked out. Ho-Chunks are exiled. That’s just Minnesota history. And it should be taught.”

     Paasch has largely navigated this work on his own, though he has received guidance from longtime Native radio host Robert Pilot. When asked what keeps him grounded while operating in adult spaces like government and media, Paasch pointed to his family.

     “That would probably have to go to a few of my cookas,” Paasch said. “Even if I’m doing all this stuff, they still keep me fairly humbled. They’re proud of the work I do, but they make sure that I don’t get too full of myself.”

     Looking back on the past year, Paasch says the opioid awareness bill stands out as what he’s most proud of, especially given the disproportionate impact substance abuse has had in Indian Country.

     “I gave my testimony to the Senate, and a big section of my testimony was about Native American statistics with substance abuse and overdose,” Paasch said.

     According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Indian and Alaska Native people experience some of the highest overdose death rates of any racial or ethnic group in the United States.

     In recent years, overdose death rates for Native communities have been two to three times higher than those of white populations in several Midwestern states, including Minnesota and Wisconsin.

     Paasch hopes his story shows other young people what’s possible. He’s open about the fact that his path wasn’t always clear.

     “I wasn’t the greatest student my freshman year of high school,” Paasch said. “My freshman-year self would not, in a million years, see myself doing the stuff I’m doing right now. Anybody could do it. Anybody could make a change.”

     After graduation, Paasch plans to attend college, major in political science, and eventually attend law school. His long-term goal is to become a Marine Corps Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer, and one day, to continue serving Native communities through law and policy.