President Obama Tribal Youth Gathering to White House a Success

     President Barack Obama reached out to Native youth, inviting them the first-ever White House Tribal Youth Gathering this summer.
     In a video message (BELOW) delivered to the 32rd annual Gathering of Nations powwow in New Mexico, Obama said he was inspired by the youth he and First Lady Michelle Obama met during their visits.

The goal is to select some 800 Native youth to attend the gathering, whose theme is "Two Worlds, One Future: Defining Our Own Success."

White House released a Native youth report that outlined many of the challenges facing Native youth.

Report

Obama is hoping that same spirit will return to the nation's capital on July 9, when his administration hosted the inaugural Native youth event. He urged powwow participants to join Generation Indigenous and engage their communities through the Youth Challenge.
     "We want young leaders to share their stories with our country and to have opportunities to turn their

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama attended the Cannon Ball Flag Day Powwow in Cannon Ball, North Dakota, on June 13, 2014. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

talent and passion into strong leadership for the future of tribal nations and of America," Obama said his message to the powwow, the largest in North America.
      Applications were due May 8. The conference was open to Native youth ages 14-24 from "rural or urban communities," the White House said. The goal is to select some 800 Native youth to attend the gathering, whose theme is "Two Worlds, One Future: Defining Our Own Success." The event was held at the Renaissance Downtown Hotel.