WASHINGTON, D.C. — Protecting sacred places. Cleaning up neighborhoods. Standing up against bullying. Eradicating racist sports mascots. Reviving traditional food systems. Revitalizing indigenous languages.
Across the United States, a growing number of Native youth are taking the initiative in identifying and tackling the most pressing issues facing their indigenous nations. They are devising solutions and influencing their peers to strengthen their families and communities and eliminate the obstacles that stand in the way of their success.
“Our youth have unlimited potential,” said Jacqueline Pata, executive director of the National Congress of American Indians. “We just need to provide them the resources, opportunities and, most importantly, the systems of support that they need to flourish to maximize that potential. When we do, our youth are already proving that they have the fortitude, the drive and the ingenuity to lead Indian Country to a brighter future.”
This effort crossed a significant milestone July 9, when more than 1,000 Native youth from across the country participated in the first White House Tribal Youth Gathering.
Participating in the gathering from this area: Hailey Crow and Katelynn Pratt, Suquamish Tribe; and Kaitlyn Gutierrez and Kaylayla Ives, Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe.
Attending the UNITY Leadership Conference July 10-14 in Washington, D.C. are Sequoia Chargualaf, Devon Crow, Lu-uk McCloud and Uriea Lauffy-Wright, all of Suquamish.
At the White House Tribal Youth Gathering, young people conversed with senior administration officials and the White House Council on Native American Affairs on their issues of greatest concern. First Lady Michelle Obama was scheduled to address the gathering.
The White House Tribal Youth Gathering builds on earlier initiatives, including the Native Children’s Agenda launched in 2007, The White House’s “My Brother’s Keeper” Initiative launched in July 2014, and the Generation Indigenous (Gen-I) Initiative, unveiled by President Obama in December.
“This is rapidly becoming a movement with a life of its own,” said Brian Cladoosby, chairman of the Swinomish Tribe and president of NCAI. “By collaborating with the White House, President Obama, and others on My Brother’s Keeper and Gen-I, we are bringing critical attention to the issues Native youth face and demonstrating that we can make the greatest impact when we work together.”
Founded in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians (www.ncai.org) is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. NCAI advocates on behalf of indigenous governments and communities, promoting strong indigenous-federal government-to-government policies, and promoting a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, peoples and rights.
