President Barack Obama shakes hands with a youth dancer during his visit to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe this past June. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

With two years left in his administration, President Barack Obama is making Native youth a big priority.

Obama, who has two teen daughters, said he was motivated by his visit to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe this past June. He said he and First Lady Michelle Obama were moved by a group of young tribal members who shared stories about their successes and struggles.

"Michelle and I were honored that these young people opened up to us," Obama said at the White House Tribal Nations Conference on Wednesday. "But more importantly, we were moved because they were like Malia and Sasha -- just as smart, just as hopeful, just as beautiful."

After he returned to Washington, D.C., Obama gave his administration a new directive to focus on improving the lives and opportunities of American Indian and Alaska Native youth. He's going to be sending more top officials to Indian Country for the Cabinet Native Youth Listening Tour and he will host the first-ever White House Tribal Youth Gathering next summer.

"As I spoke, they knew I was serious because it’s not very often where I tear up in the Oval Office," Obama said. "I deal with a lot of bad stuff in this job. It is not very often where I get choked up, so they knew I was serious about this."

As part of yesterday's conference, the White House invited 36 youth to participate, whom Obama to as "Gen-I” -- Generation Indigenous. That's also the name of an administration-wide effort that includes the Native Youth Community Projects at the Department of Education to help young people prepare for colleges and careers.

Obama also announced the National Tribal Youth Network in partnership with the Center for Native American Youth. The effort will help Native youth cultivate leadership skills in their own communities.

The White House released te 2014 Native Youth Report to coincide with the announcements.

Get the Story:
Obama plan aims to help young American Indians (AP 12/3)
How the stories of Native American youths made Obama cry in the Oval Office (The Washington Post 12/3)
Gila River teen joins hundreds in D.C. at Tribal Nations Conference (Cronkite News 12/3)
Obama Unveils Initiative to Lift Up Native American Youth (Voice of America News 12/3)
Obama Promises Funding, Resources in Response to Tribal Nations’ Education ‘Emergency’ (Diverse Issues in Higher Education 12/3)
Press Release: Bartlesville teen a Cherokee Nation Youth Ambassador (Cherokee Nation 12/3)
Forsman, Tunkara at White House Tribal Nations Conference (The North Kitsap Herald 12/3)
White House Rolls Out Plans to Bolster Education for Native Americans (Education Week 12/3)
Mashpee Wampanoag delegation attends White House Tribal Nations Conference (Cape Cod Today 12/4)
NW Tribes Bring Coal Concerns To National Conference (KUOW 12/4) President Obama Unveiled a Bold Plan to Help One of America’s Most Marginalized Groups (Mic 12/4)

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White House to host first-ever Tribal Youth Gathering next year (12/3)
White House Fact Sheet: Sixth annual Tribal Nations Conference (12/3)
President Obama welcomes 12 tribal leaders to White House (12/2)
Vice President Joe Biden to address Tribal Nations Conference (12/2)
Tentative schedule for White House Tribal Nations Conference (11/26)
White House invites youth to DC for Tribal Nations Conference (11/26)
Obamas welcome youth from Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to DC (11/21)
Native Sun News: Oglala Sioux youth to join White House meet (11/21)
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White House Tribal Nations Conference takes place December 3 (10/20)