Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board

April 2015

Today’s Conversation• Overview of CNAY • Background on Gen-I• Gen-I Components• CNAY’s role in Gen-I –

Native Youth Network• Invitation to get involved• Discussion/Q & A

CNAY Background• Our Founder - US Senator

Byron Dorgan• Created CNAY with $1 million

from his excess campaign funds

• Mission - • CNAY is dedicated to improving

the health, safety and overall well-being of Native American youth through communication, policy development and advocacy

• Launched in 2011

• Position - Policy program at the Aspen Institute

Our Work• Youth Inspiration

– Champions for Change, Youth Roundtables, Stories of Inspiration

• Advocacy– Develop meaningful relationships

with tribal leaders, elevate voices• Policy Change

– Policy/Resource Roundtables, Covening Allies, and Publish Resources

• Resource Platform– Connect people and organizations

with each other, and provide practical information and resources

CNAY Board of Advisors

Outreach and Youth Engagement• To date, CNAY has held 107 Native youth roundtables

in 20 states to better understand and elevate youth priorities

• Develop meaningful relationships with communities, youth, and leaders on the ground

CNAY in action!

2012 Native Youth TrackUNITY LMI

What We Hear: Youth Priorities Access to Health Care

Mental HealthSubstance AbuseTechnology & innovation

EducationHigher education scholarshipsEarly educationCulture-based lessons

Culture and language preservation

Suicide PreventionHealth & Wellness

Sport Community Needs

HousingPublic safetyRacismYouth community center/shelterSocial services

CNAY in the Northwest• UNITY and THRIVE Conferences (2014)• Oregon Indian Child Welfare

Conference (2014)• Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians

Conference (2013) • Seattle Indian Health Board

Conference (2014 and 2015)• Chemawa Indian School (2013 and

2015)• Connections to NW Tribes and youth

regarding Oral Health project (Ongoing)

• We want to visit your communities!

Champions for Change• Champions for Change, youth leadership

initiative• Recognize inspirational youth working in

tribal/urban Indian communities and create opportunities for them to shine

• Promote hope among Native youth!

Northwest Champions for Change

• William Lucero, Lummi– Helping the younger generation

become effective enforcers for helping those who want to stop smoking

• Hamilton Seymour, Nooksack – Working to advance culture and

promote healthy lifestyles through traditional sports

Champions for Change

www.CNAY.org

Generation Indigenous (Gen-I)

Gen-I Discussion Outline

• Components• Background• Launch• Three Pronged Approach:– Budget– Policy– Engagement

• National Native Youth Network• Getting Engaged

Gen-I Components• Budget Increases• Native Youth Community

Projects • National Native Youth Network

(CNAY)• Cabinet Secretary Youth

Listening Tour• Tribal Youth Gathering• Youth and Tribal Leaders

Challenge (CNAY)• Native Youth Report

Gen-I Background• In June 2014, President Obama

and the First Lady traveled to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation

• President and First Lady have a small group conversation with Native youth

• Deeply moved by the conversation, President Obama challenged his Administration to create new opportunities

Gen-I Launch• In December 2014, President

Obama launched Gen-I, a broad government initiative, at the White House Tribal Nations Conference

• Gen-I takes a multifaceted, comprehensive and culturally appropriate approach to improving lives and creating opportunities for Native youth

Gen-I Components: Budget• In February, the President

announced his FY2016 Budget Proposal, which includes significant investments across Indian Country and Native youth specifically – Total budget: $20.8 billion

across federal programs• $1.5 billion increase over FY2015

enacted level

– $904 million ($94 million increase) for BIE reform

Gen-I Components: Policy• Within the budget proposal,

there is a proposed $53 million for Native Youth Community Projects– Increase of $50 million from last

year• Demonstration Grant Program

administered by Dept. of Education to provide funding to support community-driven, comprehensive strategies for improving college-and-career readiness

Gen-I Components: Policy• A Native Youth Report was

published in conjunction with the launch of Gen-I at the White House Tribal Nations Conference– Acknowledges past failures of

federal policy regarding education– Explores breadth of challenges

facing Native children – Recommendations:

• Strengthen tribal control of education

• Improve community systems of care • Provide community-based supports

Gen-I Components: Engagement• White House Tribal Nations Youth

Ambassadors– Approximately 40 youth participated

• Cabinet Listening Tour– Secretary Jewell kicked off tour in

Arizona– Secretary Duncan to meet w/youth in

Colorado• Challenges – Youth and Tribal Leaders• National Native Youth Network – Led

by CNAY • Tribal Youth Gathering – First ever

gathering in DC in July

White House Tribal Nations Youth Ambassadors

• In December, nearly 40 Native youth from across Indian Country were invited to participate in the White House Tribal Nations Conference

• CNAY co-hosted the youth, introduced them to our work and other resources available to them

• The Ambassadors have stayed engaged through CNAY and the National Native Youth Network

Creating Opportunity for Native Youth Convening

• White House convening on April 8 with philanthropies, non-profits, federal representatives, tribal leaders and youth

• First Lady’s Remarks– Make investments in Native youth

• Break-Out Sessions with Cabinet Secretaries– Public-Private partnerships

• Panels:– Research: what the data/research says– Youth: direct youth perspectives– Funders: how to give in Indian Country

• Call to Action – Support tribal programs throughout Indian Country

National Native Youth Network• Network Goals:

– Engage– Elevate youth voices– Provide expanded opportunities

for Native youth

• Early phase and inclusive:– We want to hear your ideas

and invite youth join the Gen-I effort.

• Call to Action! Take the Challenge!

Network Components• Web-portal• Outreach• Tribal Youth Gathering• Partners convening• Youth Ambassadors

Network Focus Areas• Support for attainment of higher education; • Entrepreneurship training; • Mentoring; and • Creating a platform to integrate Native youth

voices into the national dialogue

Hamilton is Gen-I!

Gen-I Youth Challenge

• What is it?– A call to action to engage a

broad network of stakeholders on issues facing Native American youth

• Who?– Youth, orgs, businesses and

schools• How?

– Youth, orgs, business and schools: www.cnay.org/Challenge.html

Ask Youth to Take the Challenge• Follow four steps:

– Step 1: ACT• Within 30 days, work with youth and

community members to do something positive in your community

– Step 2: CAPTURE• Document efforts and projects

through a short summary with photos and video

– Step 3: SHARE• Share stories on social media using

#GenI and send directly to CNAY

– Step 4: PARTICIPATE• Actively participate in Gen-I calls,

chats and meetings for chance to attend White House Tribal Youth Gathering

Tribal Leaders Challenge• The White House extended the Native Youth

Gen-I Challenge to tribal leaders across the country: http://genindigenous.com/tribal-leaders-challenge/

• Step 1: ACT– Accept the challenge by going to the link above and

committing to the Challenge– Within 30 days of taking the Challenge, engage youth

and other tribal leaders in your community to do something positive of your choosing

• Step 2: CAPTURE & SHARE – Send your photos, videos and stories to

geni@cnay.org.

Northwest Challenge Takers• Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board – We R

Native (Thank you!)• Lummi Nation – Tribal programs, youth councils and

individuals• Nooksack Indian Tribe – Youth group• Tulalip Tribe – Tribal programs and individuals • Native American Youth and Family Center• Northwest Indian Youth Conference

Network Youth Ambassadors• New leadership opportunity to

engage and support a large network of "young movers and shakers" in Indian Country as part of Gen-I

• CNAY works closely with these youth to foster their development as community liaisons who share resources and opportunities with their peers and communities

• Encourage youth in your communities to become Ambassadors: http://www.cnay.org/CNAY_Youth_Ambassadors.html.

Network Map• We are inviting youth, tribes and urban Indian

communities to help create a map of the programs and services that are changing the lives of youth and making a difference

• Add programs to the map! http://cnay.org/Network_Map.html

Network Engagement • Monthly Engagement Calls• Bi-Weekly Online Chats• Community Meetings• Conferences

Network Communications• Website– www.genindigenous.com

• Gen-I NOW– Resources for Native youth

• Facebook Group – Facebook.com/GenIndigenous

• Twitter– @Gen_Indigenous

• Email– genI@cnay.org

Get Engaged in Gen-I!• Join the monthly discussion

calls and bi-weekly online conversations

• Contribute to the Network Map

• Reach out if you want to know more about specific Gen-I components

• Take the Challenge and encourage youth to take it, too!

THANK YOU & STAY CONNECTED!

Ryan WardSenior Program Associate Center for Native American Youth The Aspen Institute ryan.ward@aspeninst.org