We R Native. We R Proud.

Loved & Accepted

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For Native Youth, by Native Youth.

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Two-spirit

loved & accepted

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Dear Auntie, I have wanted to undergo a gender reassignment surgery, but I’m worried that it will conflict with my beliefs

Ambassador Spotlight

M'kya, Klamath-Modoc/Round Valley, loves being able to share her story and hear other stories from Native youth.

Being able to help the community is something I am very passionate about. Seeing the work that Ambassadors have done in the past makes me excited. I want to work with other Native Youth to see what changes or big things we can do together. I am passionate about sharing my ideas. By being an Ambassador I will be able to share my ideas and not be shut down. Just being able to say my thoughts and have others build off of them is going to be great! What is one skill or personal attribute you will bring to this position. I am a very outgoing person. Once I start talking in front of people all my nerves go away and I have fun with it. I am easy to get to know and I love meeting knew people. I feel like my willingness to want to speak as in public speaking and reaching out to the community is a helpful skill I'll bring to this position.

about ambassadors

Grant Success Stories

Youth Movement

Luke Harris (Cherokee), age 21, is making a positive impact. Luke held a field day for 200 Native American middle school students at the University of Oregon campus. The amount of support we received this year from various groups was amazing.We even had 100 volunteers. It is a beautiful thing to see other people and organizations believe in your vision enough to lend a helping hand. We especially want to thank We R Native for not only supporting us financially, but for showing up to Youth Movement and inspiring the Native students to be better versions of themselves every single day. If you are interested in carrying out a similar project, Luke suggests, "Don’t be afraid to seek support from Counselors, adults, and even businesses! When they can see the benefits of your mission, they will provide whatever they can to see it happen. Financial support goes a long way, but support in term of free equipment, food, and prizes can also make putting on a field day of this magnitude a success."

make a difference

Monthly Contest Winner

Health is more than maintaining your body, we also need to maintain our spiritual health, emotional health, and…yup you guessed it our mental health! During mental health awareness month in May, we asked you to share how you take care of your mind!

The things that can keep my mental health healthy is by being optimistic. When I think about the past, I think about what was good. I don’t think about the bad times. I don’t think that the past will change my future. I also think about the present. I act and think positive most of the time. I like to joke around with my friends and laugh. One of my favorite things to do is laugh. I always try to find pleasure in my life, surroundings, friends, good, and bad. I think about the future I am optimistic. I try to think realistic and not over exaggerating and even if it is going to be bad, it is not going to be the end of the world. I also like to watch YouTube videos. I love to watch my favorite YouTubers. They always make me laugh and smile. Their videos are interesting too. I like to listen to my music too. It gets me pumped up, happy, and excited. I also like to DJ at my house, which is always fun to do. I would say my favorite thing that does make me happy is laughing really hard with my family, friends and even by myself.

I had to do it for an assignment in health class. It was OK. I know i'm not gonna win.

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My Story

I used to be the one who would sit in the back of the room & cling to my Mom. After being bullied in school I didn't think I or my voice mattered or that I was beautiful. It was only when I attended the NCNAYO (North Carolina Native American Youth Organization) conference, a State wide conference for Native youth, that I felt like I could be more. I was amazed by how many youth came together to take part in the conference & that it was a youth led event! I was able to talk w/ youth my age, make friends, experience my culture & enjoy the speakers & workshops they had! After the conference I knew I had to be apart of NCNAYO so I ran for County Representative & got the position. I was truly happy to be around so many youth & not feel judged or less than. NCNAYO has done so much for me. I was able to become a leader, comfortable in my own skin & my own person. If it wasn't for NCNAYO I'd probably still be too afraid to say my own name out loud.

-Halona Benjamin (Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina), age 18, is from Fayetteville, North Carolina and is passionate about bettering the lives of future Native Americans.