Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye with Miss Indian Brooke Overturf. Photo by Indianz.Com
The Navajo Nation is well represented at the first-ever White House Tribal Youth Gathering. About 60 youth from the tribe are attending the historic event in Washington, D.C., today. Their participation in Generation Indigenous was hailed by President Russell Begaye. "The Navajo Nation supports our Native youth in advancing their education," Begaye said in a press release. "Our youth are the future leaders of Indian Country and we applaud their leadership in their communities." Begaye is also in the nation's capital this week. He met with many of his tribe's young members at a reception on Capitol Hill hosted by the Center for Native American Youth on Wednesday. "This gathering means building a stronger relationship between Native communities and the White House," said Brooke Overturf, a Navajo citizen who serves as Miss Indian at Arizona State University. "We want to convey issues of concern like education and the lack of jobs. I want to know their plans to help solve problems in Native communities." Begaye issued a proclamation in honor of the youth attending the conference at the Renaissance Downtown Hotel near the White House. He said they will gain "firsthand experience and valuable insight" by meeting with nearly a dozen Cabinet officials and First Lady Michelle Obama.
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