Source
The Center for Native American Youth (CNAY)
Summary
“The Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) at the Aspen Institute is proud to release Center Us: A Native Youth Survey Report, published in celebration of Native American Heritage Month. Throughout 2023, CNAY gathered data from approximately 1,000 Native youth participants to better understand their needs and priorities in areas including culture, resource access, mental health and civic engagement. Eight focus groups with 65 youth from different regions of the United States helped to center their perspectives and voices in the development of the report.
Key Report Insights:
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- Native youth who feel culturally educated are four times more likely to see themselves as capable of making a difference than those who do not.
- Lack of trust and a feeling that “nothing ever changes” leads to apathy towards voting in U.S. elections.
- Native youth in rural communities struggle to receive the funding resources necessary to make higher education seem plausible.
- Healthcare in tribal communities is preferred to healthcare in non-tribal communities.
“These findings emphasize the ongoing need to support Native youth through cultural engagement and improved access to resources in community, both of which are essential for fostering positive life outcomes,” said Cheyenne Brady-Runsabove, report writer and associate director of youth programs. “It is our hope that all those whose work directly or indirectly influences Native youth will leverage this data to make informed, impactful decisions that benefit them and their communities.””
[Related: Native Americans turn to charter schools to reclaim their kids’ education]
[Related: Healing the children of Horse Nations]
View Youth Today's Report Library
