Center for Native American Youth honors 'Champions' of 2016


The 2016 Champions for Change in Washington, D.C. From left, Brayden White, Samuel Slater, Noah Blue Elk Hotchkiss, Vanessa Goodthunder and Christie Wildcat. Photo by Center for Native American Youth / Twitter

The Center for Native American Youth will celebrate its newest Champions for Change in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.

Five Native youth who are making a difference in their communities have been selected for the honor. This year's class consists of Brayden White, a 21-year-old member of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe; Christie Wildcat, an 18-year-old from the Northern Arapaho Tribe; Noah Blue Elk Hotchkiss, 17, who is Southern Ute / Southern Cheyenne and Caddo; Samuel Slater, an 18-year-old from the Navajo Nation; and Vanessa Goodthunder, a 22-year-old member of the Lower Sioux Indian Community.

The young leaders will participate in a panel discussion at the Aspen Institute on Tuesday morning. A reception, featuring remarks from Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, takes place at the Capital Hilton on Tuesday evening.

Join the Conversation

Related Stories
Center for Native American Youth hires new executive director (11/23)
Native youth panel for Native American Heritage Month event (11/10)
Center for Native American Youth hosts panel discussion in DC (11/02)
Byron Dorgan: Indian parents put first priority on their children (09/07)
Center for Native American Youth seeks new executive director (09/01)
Nike N7 Fund seeks applications to fund Native youth programs (08/12)
Indian youth face enormous economic and health obstacles (07/21)
White House: A historic gathering for Native American youth (07/20)
Vi Waln: Native youth gain experience on trip to Washington (7/17)
Youth from Umatilla Tribes inspired after White House gathering (07/14)
Opinion: Native Americans weren't the first environmentalists (07/14)
UNITY brings large group of Native youth to the nation's capital (7/13)
Student from Nooksack Tribe focused on traditions after tragedy (07/13)
Large contingent represents Navajo Nation at White House event (07/09)
White House Blog: Launching the Gen-I Tribal Leader Challenge (03/12)
Patty Talahongva: Native youth become Champions for Change (03/03)
Byron Dorgan: Working to improve lives of Native American youth (01/05)
President Obama makes Native youth a priority in administration (12/04)
Chaske Spencer: Changing the narrative for our Native youth (11/21)
Center for Native American Youth hosts panel discussion in DC (11/19)
Raina Thiele: Native youth participate in My Brother's Keeper (07/22)