Native and tribal youth to engage with senior government officials from the Biden-Harris Administration on November 17; press invited to watch via livestream
WHAT: For the first time since 2016, the White House is hosting a Tribal Youth Forum convening Native and tribal youth to participate in a convening with senior officials from the Biden-Harris Administration. The forum, which takes place during Native American Heritage Month and follows the White House Tribal Leader Summit, features a program with senior administration officials, professional athletes and guests from Nike N7, and Native youth discussing the intersection of mental health, well-being and belonging.
Programming will consist of remarks and panels featuring Native and tribal young people in conversation with senior officials addressing Native representation in federal service, food sovereignty, education, COVID-19, climate change, and more. The agenda, which is subject to change, is available below.
WHEN: Wednesday, November 17, 1:00 – 5:00pm ET
RSVP: Press are invited to watch the forum via livestream: https://youtu.be/1hfiNFOVgUk. Please direct inquiries to Jon Purves: jon.purves@aspeninstitute.org
AGENDA:
Welcoming by Nikki Pitre, PaaWee Rivera & Sam McCracken
Invocation by Hannah Aiwohi
Remarks by Sam McCracken, General Manager Nike N7
Remarks by Julie Rodriguez, White House Office Director for Intergovernmental Affairs
Panel 1: Importance of Native Representation in Federal Service
- Moderator: Mikah Carlos
- PaaWee Rivera, Senior Advisor for Intergovernmental Affairs and Director of Tribal Affairs at The White House
- Libby Washburn, Special Assistant to the President for Native Affairs at the White House
- Raina Thiele, Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Alaska Affairs & Strategic Priorities
Panel 2: Food Sovereignty & Food Security in Indian Country
- Moderator: Shayna Powless
- Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh, United States Department of Agriculture
- Sam Schimmel
- Anthony Tamez
- Christine Wildcat
Remarks by Notah Begay, Professional Native American Golfer
Panel 3: Addressing Mental Health in Indian Country
- Moderator: Kathy Baird
- Secretary Xavier Becerra, Department of Health and Human Services
- Secretary Miguel Cardona, Department of Education
- Jazmine Wildcat
- Cordelia Falls Down
- Isabel Coronado
Panel 4: Climate Change and the Environment
- Moderator: Sally Jewell, Former United States Secretary of the Interior
- Chair Brenda Mallory, Council on Environmental Quality
- Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau, Department of the Interior
- Owen Oliver
- Gracie Aragon
- Autumn Adams
Remarks by Secretary Deb Haaland, U.S. Department of the Interior
Performance by Brooke Simpson, Singer and Songwrite
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The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most important challenges facing the United States and the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.
The Center for Native American Youth believes all Native American youth should lead full and healthy lives, have equal access to opportunity, and draw strength from their culture and one another. As a policy program of the Aspen Institute founded by former US Senator Byron Dorgan (ret.), we work to improve the health, safety, and overall well-being of Native American youth. We do this through youth recognition, inspiration and leadership; research, advocacy, and policy change; serving as a national resource exchange; and by building a Native-youth driven narrative.