BOULDER — is only 14 years old, but already he’s a seasoned superstar in the world of political and environmental activists.
Enter his name — an Aztec word pronounced “Shu-TEZ-caht” — on a search engine, and nearly 5,000 results pop up.
He has given about his work as a leader of Earth Guardians, a worldwide organization of conservation-minded children and young adults. Last fall, he was invited to . His hip-hop video, a catchy anti-fracking song, has more than 2,000 views.
By age 12, Roske-Martinez had organized more than 35 rallies and protests, and co-organized the biggest iMatter youth march, with more than 2,000 participants. In 2012, he was among the young leaders chosen by the .
Slim, with long black hair that’s never been cut, Roske-Martinez keeps his voice modulated, a skill that’s helped him negotiate with adults three times his age. His parents are both seasoned activists: His mother, Tamara Roske, founded in Hawaii, and his father, Siri Martinez, helped lead the 1995 Children’s Hope of Torch tour.
Boulder City Council members know him well. Roske-Martinez helped stop the use of pesticides in city parks, and was among the fiercest advocates for a fee on plastic bags. His was a key voice in a project to contain coal ash, and to end a 20-year contract with Xcel Energy, allowing the city to pursue renewable energy as its primary resource.
Some adults, especially advocates for the oil and gas industry, accuse activists of using Roske-Martinez .
From a post in the conservative : “His mother claimed she did not indoctrinate him — that he chose to be an activist,” and “within far- (and we mean faaar-) left environmental groups, Roske-Martinez is something of a legend.”
That post went up shortly after Roske-Martinez and his younger brother, Itzcuauhtli, performed last year.
Their appearance by oil and gas industry activists, who posted hostile comments on the Earth Guardians’ Facebook page and , and called the Martinez home with threats.
“It was scary, but this is why I speak on issues that directly determine the kind of world we will inherit,” Roske-Martinez said.
“I share facts about our environmental and climate- change crises. We are fighting for the survival of our generation and the health of the waters, the air, our community. We are fighting for kids everywhere.”
Sam Schabacker of Colorado’s says Roske-Martinez “consistently impresses me, not only in the activist community but in Colorado at large.
“He and the other Earth Guardians represent the best, brightest and most engaged young people in the state,” Schabacker said.
“Whether you agree with them or not, they’re looking closely at these issues, and putting their time and energy into trying to solve them.”
has made Rocke-Martinez . He immediately stops talking at a photographer’s request, and politely spells and pronounces his name for reporters from the Huffington Post, Indian Country, The Nation, , The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, and for other activists.
“Xiuhtezcatl” is a tongue-twister. Even well-meaning adults falter. (His mother mispronounced it at his Aztec baby-naming ceremony.)
“Kids never have a problem with my name, and with adults, you get used to it,” he said, shrugging.
He is much more interested in talking about his passions, which include hip-hop, participating in the annual sacred running relay from the Hopi reservation to Mexico, the current Earth Guardian campaign (a tree-planting project in 20 countries) and the summer Earth Guardian campaign to clean and protect potable water.
Because he is 14, he’s also excited about the next movie and ‘s new video. But activism consumes most of his time. Roske-Martinez is reticent, except when he’s got a microphone. He sees his role as being both collaborator and leader.
“I’m spearheading the third generation of Earth Guardians, and it’s kids doing this work around the world,” he said.
“This year, we’re focusing on protecting one of the four elements every three months. The first quarter, it was Earth, and we did tree-planting. This summer, it will be water, and a group of 500-plus kids in Togo, Africa, will focus on that. This is about us saving the world for ourselves.”
Claire Martin: 303-954-1477, cmartin@denverpost.com or twitter.com/byclairemartin
