Generation Indigenous:

Increasing Support and

Opportunity for  

Native Youth

2015 Update Report

Executive Office of the President

November 2015
 
President Barack Obama joins students for a Yup'ik cultural dance performance at Dillingham Middle School in 

Dillingham, Alaska, Sept. 2, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) 

INTRODUCTION

Last year, President Barack Obama launched a nationwide initiative to lift up the lives of 

Native youth in America, who, for too long, have gone unrecognized for their incredible talents 

and strengths. The Generation Indigenous (Gen-I) initiative seeks to shine a spotlight on Native 

youth who often grapple with challenges more severe than their non-Native peers, but who also 

refuse to be defined by statistics or stereotypes. Through Gen-I, many Native youth across the 

country are embodying the positive change they want to see in their communities, whether by 

mentoring others, learning their Native languages, or by serving on youth councils. In doing so, 

they contribute to what makes America such a rich and diverse country. The Administration is 

proud to stand behind Native youth by advancing new policies, increasing program resources, 

and providing new opportunities for engagement. This report provides an update on the progress 
made under Gen-I and how Gen-I will continue to move forward fueled by the strength and 

resilience of Native youth across the country. 

GEN-I GOALS 

 Policy: Shining a Spotlight on American Indian and Alaska Native Youth 

Generation Indigenous aims to increase national visibility, broad-based support, and 

awareness of the issues facing Native youth today. 

 Budget: Effective, Targeted Federal Investments

The federal government is using a multi-pronged approach to improve the lives of Native 

youth, which includes the creation of new initiatives and programs focused on cradle-tocareer education strategies, and a new budget alignment effort across federal agencies 

that uses metrics to measure success. 

 Outreach: Increasing Opportunity for Native Youth 

Through a range of efforts both within and outside of the federal government, Gen-I aims 

to create new and enhanced ways to empower Native youth through access to 

employment, a quality education, and tribal capacity building. 

POLICY UPDATES

Gen-I focused on two main policy areas during its first year. The first was the Bureau of 

Indian Education’s (BIE) Blueprint for Reform, the Department of Interior (DOI)’s plan for 

transforming BIE to provide world class instruction to tribal students. The second focused on the 

Department of Education (ED)’s partnership with tribal communities to develop a 

comprehensive approach to college and career readiness through Native Youth Community 

Projects. 

Bureau of Indian Education Reform

After numerous meetings with tribal leaders, educators, school boards, parents and 

students, a BIE study group issued recommendations that became the basis of the BIE Blueprint 

for Reform that DOI issued on June 13, 2014. The document outlines urgent challenges within 

the existing structure of the BIE. As a result, the agency is taking a new approach to the 

education of Native students by reorganizing into a resource provider that serves triballycontrolled schools. This approach supports tribal self-determination by facilitating tribal control 

over education of Native children, while ensuring that they continue to receive BIE support as 

part of the federal trust responsibility. 
Exposure to qualified, well-trained teachers is critical to providing Native youth a highquality education. BIE is addressing this need by partnering with the National Board for 

Professional Teaching Standards to provide BIE teachers with the opportunity to receive training 

and become National Board Certified teachers (NBC). As a result of this partnership, close to 

275 BIE teachers registered for the NBC exam, which was funded through ED’s Education 

Program Enhancement grants. The Bureau of Indian Education is making progress towards its 

goal of having 1,000 teachers working toward National Board Certification by 2017. Also 

supporting this effort to train and support BIE teachers is a new partnership with The New 

Teacher Project (TNTP). This partnership will provide expert instructional training for teachers 

at 30 BIE-funded schools whose tribes are receiving Sovereignty in Indian Education grants. 

These grants fund the building of tribes’ capacity to operate their own reservation schools. 

Technology plays a critical role in education today. To ensure BIE students have access 

to the latest technology, DOI partnered with Verizon and Microsoft to provide high-speed 

cellular data service and hardware to students living in BIE-funded dormitories. Portable tablets 

will allow these students to enhance their learning in and out of the classroom. 

Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell with Native Youth from Salt River Elementary School (Photo provided by DOI) 

Native Youth Community Projects 

The Department of Education’s Native Youth Community Projects (NYCP) initiative 

provides grants to communities to identify barriers and opportunities for Native youth, and 

design strategies to improve outcomes. The grant projects will assist thousands of Native youth 

in 12 communities by increasing kindergarten readiness, enhancing culturally responsive 

teaching, exposing students to college opportunities through visits and summer programming, 
supporting the transition of Native youth from middle to high school, promoting Science 

Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) skill-building programs, and supporting physical 

and mental health of Native students. Partnerships include school districts and tribes, Boys and 

Girls Clubs and other support services, along with institutions of higher education and health 

services. 

Department of Education School Environment Listening Sessions Report 

ED, through the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native 

Education, and its Office for Civil Rights, held nine school environment listening sessions across 

the country last year with over 1,000 attendees, including Native youth, educators, parents, and 

community advocates. People shared their ideas on how to better meet the unique educational 

and cultural needs of Native students. Discussions included bullying, student discipline, Native 

imagery and symbolism, and the implications of all of these school climate issues. The listening 

sessions led to the release of the Student Environment Listening Sessions Tour Report (Report) 

on October 15, 2015, and reinforced what many in Indian Country already knew--that school 

environment improvement efforts are not reaching Native American youth. This failure has a 

negative impact on how Native youth view their educational and professional opportunities in 

this country. The Report demonstrates the need for initiatives like Gen-I to continue promoting 

positive self-image through a focus on culture and inspiring Native youth to use their voices to 

create positive change. 

COORDINATED BUDGET

The Administration is demonstrating a deep commitment to Native youth by calling for 

increased investments in the FY 2016 Budget across the government. In addition, the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) is working to improve coordination across the federal 

government to ensure strategic and efficient programming to better serve Native youth and their 

communities. 

FY 2016 Highlights For Youth 

The President’s proposed FY 2016 Budget made new and increased investments in youth 

and education. These investments include: $34.2 million at DOI to extend broadband internet 

and computer access to all BIE-funded schools and dormitories; $10 million at the Department of 

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and $8 million at DOI to address teacher housing 
needs; $50 million at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide youthfocused behavioral, mental health, and substance abuse services; $53 million for Native Youth 

Community Projects at ED to support community-driven, comprehensive strategies to improve 

college and career-readiness of Native youth; and $904 million total funding for BIE elementary, 

secondary, and post-secondary schools (12% over the FY 2015 enacted level). 

FY 2017 OMB Guidance for Agencies on Native Youth Priorities 

In July 2015, the White House released FY 2017 budget guidance directing agencies to 

prioritize Native youth programming and coordinate around six different outcome goals. The six 

different outcome goals are to: improve educational outcomes and life outcomes for Native 

youth; increase access to quality teacher housing; improve access to the Internet; support the 

implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA); reduce teen suicide; and increase tribal 

control of criminal justice. The ultimate objective is to improve educational and life outcomes 

for Native youth through increased cross-agency budget coordination and support for effective 

programs, self-governance, and measurement of success. 

Native Youth from the Warm Springs Nation at the White House Tribal Youth Gathering, July 9, 2015—Photo 

Courtesy of the Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) 

NATIVE YOUTH OPPORTUNITY 

National Native Youth Network 

The White House, in partnership with the DOI and the Aspen Institute’s Center for 

Native American Youth, launched the National Native Youth Network (Network). The Network 
is a platform to elevate Native youth voices, increase Native youth access to resources and 

opportunities, and to connect Native youth with each other across the nation. In the past month, 

the Network has grown to over 1,500 individual youth and youth groups. 

Gen-I Challenge 

The Administration encouraged Native youth to take the Gen-I Challenge (Challenge) by 

creating positive change in their communities and documenting it to share with their peers via 

the Network. Some examples of successful Challenges include: setting up tribal youth councils, 

developing Native language immersion programs, creating suicide prevention programs for their 

peers, and researching climate change impacts on their communities. Youth who took the 

Challenge before the summer of 2015 were invited to attend the first-ever White House Tribal 

Youth Gathering on July 9, 2015. 

The White House also seeks to engage state and local governments in Gen-I. The 

National Lieutenant Governors Association passed a resolution in support of Gen-I in July 2015 

inspiring the launch of the Gen-I State Challenge. A diverse range of states helped usher the 

resolution through, including Montana, Alaska, Indiana, Washington, Rhode Island, Iowa, and 

South Dakota. 

Creating Opportunity for Native Youth Convening 

On April 8, 2015, First Lady Michelle Obama convened over 60 representatives from 

foundations, nonprofits, tribal governments, and federal agencies to discuss creating opportunity 

for Native youth. Four Cabinet secretaries led breakout sessions focused on juvenile justice, 

education, economic development and the workforce, and health and social services. The 

National Congress of American Indians joined with partner organizations, foundations, and other 

groups to form a Native Youth Partnership to continue the conversation. The Partnership held a 

roundtable in May to discuss the scope of their efforts. 

Cabinet Native Youth Listening Tour 

The President and First Lady’s experience during their visit to the Standing Rock Sioux 

Tribe helped them realize there is no substitute for visiting with Native youth in their 

communities. As a result, the President directed his entire Cabinet to follow suit, prompting the 

launch of the Cabinet Native Youth Listening Tour. Top Administration officials have been 

asked to engage with Native youth to identify challenges they face and potential solutions to 

those challenges, including opportunities to bolster federal policies and programs that will help 
youth reach their potential. In the ten months since the Tour began, eight Cabinet members and 

two members of the Subcabinet answered the call to engage with Native youth from twelve tribal 

communities across nine states. Highlights include: 

 Administrator Gina McCarthy of the Environmental Protection Agency spent two full 

days in the Pacific Northwest visiting the Lummi and Swinomish reservations. During 

her visit, McCarthy spoke with tribal leaders about the difficult environmental challenges 

they face. Lummi youth led a tour of the reservation, including a shellfish hatchery and 

the local tribal college. McCarthy learned how both communities are working to 

preserve their local environment and create economic opportunity. 

 Secretary Penny Pritzker of the Department of Commerce visited the Bay Mills Indian 

Community in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and met with local Native American 

leaders and students at the Bay Mills Community College to discuss how government can 

best empower tribes to chart their own economic futures. 

 Secretary Sylvia Burwell of the Department of Health and Human Services visited the 

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the Blackfeet Nation in Montana. During 

her visit, she spent time discussing the importance of Native language revitalization 

efforts, how tribal social services programs protect Native youth, and how tribal health 

departments are fundamental to keeping kids healthy. 

White House Tribal Youth Gathering 

A priority of Gen-I is to provide Native youth greater opportunity to elevate their voices 

so issues important to them can be heard in the national dialogue. Like the annual White House 

Tribal Nations Conference, the first ever White House Tribal Youth Gathering created a space 

where Native youth could discuss their ideas and voice their concerns, as well as develop a 

stronger network of peers from other communities. On July 9, 2015, the White House welcomed 

more than 1,000 Native youth - representing 230 tribes from 42 states - to Washington, D.C. 

The Tribal Youth Gathering brought Native youth together with First Lady Michelle Obama, 

members of the Cabinet, senior White House officials, federal agency staff, members of 

Congress, and nonprofit organizations. Native youth were encouraged to take action on issues 

that matter to them and to value their voices and perspectives. In conjunction with the Youth 

Gathering, the Administration announced commitments to continue supporting Native youth, 
such as higher education grants, health and mentoring initiatives, and expanded economic 

opportunities. 

CONCLUSION 

 The Generation Indigenous initiative has provided Native youth with a national platform 

connecting them to policymakers, elected leaders, educational resources and, perhaps most 

importantly, each other. The Gen-I movement recognizes the power and knowledge of Native 

youth to effect positive change, not only within their own communities, but for the nation at 

large, and encourages youth to share their ideas and experiences with one another. While these 

young leaders will most assuredly find support in one another, they will also need powerful and 

compassionate allies to help them on their leadership journey. As it continues to gain 

momentum, Gen-I will have a perennial advocate through the multi-agency efforts of the White 

House Council on Native American Affairs. Federal, tribal, and private stakeholders promoting 

resilient tribal nations must continue to work together. With partnership and support, the youth of 

Gen-I will continue surging forward, creating strong and thriving tribal communities in their 

wake. 

President Barack Obama greets audience members after he delivers remarks on expanding economic 

opportunity for communities across the country, including the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, at Durant High 

School in Durant, Oklahoma, July 15, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)