ST. PAUL, MN – Governor Mark Dayton has proclaimed Friday, July 27, 2018 as “Minnesota/Mnisota Tribal Youth Gathering Day” in the State of Minnesota. The proclamation celebrates the first-in-the nation state gathering at the University of Minnesota that brought together more than 300 Native American youth aged 14 to 24, tribal and state leaders, civic and business leaders, and educational organizations to focus on challenges facing Native American youth.

 

“Today’s Minnesota Tribal Youth Gathering, a first-in-the nation collaboration of tribal, state, civic, and business leaders, celebrates and supports the many Native American youth who are doing tremendous work in their communities,” said Governor Dayton. “I thank all of the young leaders who participated in the Gen-I Native Youth Challenge, and applaud them for their leadership in today’s important conversations.”

 

“Today’s Native youth will be the ones sharing our Elders’ cultural teachings with their own kids and grandkids someday,” said Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. “They will be leading our communities, and we need our culture to be as strong as our economy. These youth are the next generation responsible for ensuring that all our ancestors fought to preserve is protected.”

The July 27 gathering recognized and amplified the positive work that Native youth in Minnesota are doing every day to improve their communities. Billy Mills, the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal, served as keynote speaker at the event. Youth participated in dialogue on topics of interest, including culture and language revitalization, health, education, history, self-sufficiency and sovereignty, and youth engagement and public leadership development.

 

“Pidamayaye, thank you, Governor Dayton and the State of Minnesota for hosting the first ever Minnesota Tribal Youth Gathering. I am grateful to the members of the Native Youth Steering Committee who created an outstanding event focused on resiliency and discussion on the issues that are important for Native youth,” said Vanessa Goodthunder, Lower Sioux community member and Co-Chair of the Minnesota Tribal Youth Gathering. “I am inspired by the positive changes these Native American young leaders of today have made and look forward to hearing their voices and seeing their many contributions for years to come.”

 

“I would like to thank Governor Mark Dayton and the Minnesota Tribal Youth Gathering Steering Team – without them, this wouldn’t have been possible,” said Jerald Cobenais of Red Lake Nation, member of the Native American Youth Steering Committee and youth emcee for the event. “To bring all of us together as one for our communities in Indian county, I hope this Gathering will inspire everyone to do something, big or small. It is important to address the issues we face back home – drugs, suicide, mental health – in order to remember ourselves, and not forget where we came from. We are resilient.”

 

The 2018 Tribal Youth Gathering Day, designed to help prepared the next generation of leaders across Minnesota, was made possible by the dedication of many organizations, including the University of Minnesota and the Bush Foundation. Participants in the 2018 Gathering each completed the Generation Indigenous (Gen-I) Challenge, facilitated by the Center for Native American Youth in Washington, D.C.. The Gen-I Challenge is a pledge from Native American youth to make a positive difference in their communities. 

 

After identifying an issue of interest with a proposed plan to solve it, applicants worked with other youth within their community to accomplish something positive – for example, completing a volunteer project with a local organization or charity, or mentoring a younger person. Native American youth applicants were then asked to document their efforts in a written summary, and share their contributions online using the #MTYG and #IAmGenI hashtags.

 

To learn more about the Gen-I Challenge, click here.

 

The Generation Indigenous initiative was created by the Obama Administration in 2014 to improve the lives of Native American youth through new investments and increased engagement. This initiative takes a comprehensive, culturally appropriate approach to ensure that all young Native people can reach their full potential. Gen-I helps improve the lives of Native youth by promoting a national dialogue, and by supporting policies and programs that mobilize and cultivate the next generation of Native leaders.

 

The Center for Native American Youth manages the National Gen-I Native Youth Network which connects and engages thousands of Gen-I youth across the country and develops new opportunities with a diverse range of partners.

 

A copy of the Governor’s official proclamation can be found here.