Their connection to Mparntwe (Alice Springs) is grounded in cultural and family ties to the region.
They proudly call it ‘home'.
But for three young Arrernte leaders - Armani Francois, Shanaya McAdam-Bray and Marcellus Enalanga – they know ‘home’ is hurting.
Escalating crime, house break-ins, youth disengagement, snap curfews, negative media spotlight, social media outrage and political responses are painful issues to discuss.
Tonight, on the season return of The Point on NITV, they share their thoughts and honest insights into the growing challenges their community is facing, and call for young voices to be heard on issues like youth crime, disengagement and alcohol.
Their conversations come as
Armani Francois, a Central Eastern Arrernte woman and caseworker at a youth rehabilitation service is saddened by what she sees and hears across the town.
“It's been really challenging hearing stories about my young people saying 'I get such a rush from running away from police, I get such a rush from going to places I'm not supposed to be, I get a rush from stealing,'" she told The Point.
"And that to me is sad ... how do you feel proud of that? How do you feel proud in the fact that you've just done something wrong [to] someone.
The Point spoke to people on the ground in Alice Springs who are trying to make a difference for the area's youth.
She says positive influences are needed for young people.
“My rush for myself is when I'm on Country with my family. And I think it's really important that we as Aboriginal people especially try and get our young people to identify what gives them a rush that's a positive."
For Shanaya McAdam-Bray, an Arrernte and Pitjantjatjara woman and National Youth Advocate, the town is losing its true identity.
“Alice Springs is missing its spark, its beauty at the moment because unfortunately, everybody's only seen the negative parts of [the town]," she said.
“We need to make everyone feel like they have a place here again and create a better community for everybody because ... we all live with each other."
A member of the First Nations Youth Advisory Group, McAdam-Bray believes part of the longer-term solution is building up and properly investing in the regional communities alleviating the growing pressure placed on Alice Springs.
“We have to address what's happening out in our remote communities because Alice Springs is that big hub,” Ms McAdam-Bray noted.
Western Arrernte Pitjantjatjara Warlpiri journalist Marcellus Enalanga laments the loss of a sense of community in creating structure for the young generation
“I think we're forgetting that sense of community and that is where all the kids are at a loss - without that structure," he told The Point.
“We need to get back on what’s actually worked in the past and how can we bring that back to build and develop stronger communities."
Jason Lord, a mentor and founder of the Arrernte Community Boxing Academy (ACBA) joined the young leaders for the panel discussion.
He also supports growing calls for wider investment in local community led services beyond just law and order programs.
“There's good people in community that you could be investing into and doesn't have to just be services, it could be good mentors, could be good people that the community could put forward.”
“We all don't have our finger on the solution, but we all need to be part of whatever the solution is,” he said.
The Point premieres tonight at 7.30pm on NITV or catch up on SBS On Demand.
