About

Who Are We?

Founded in 2011, the Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) at the Aspen Institute is a national education and advocacy organization that works alongside Native youth — ages 24 and under — on reservations, in rural villages and urban spaces across the country to improve their health, safety and overall well-being.

All Native youth deserve to lead full and healthy lives, have equal access to opportunity, draw strength from their culture and inspire one another. At CNAY, we uplift youth through cross-sector, culturally-immersive programming that incorporates Indigenous knowledge systems, leadership training, and youth-led policy agenda and narratives.

OUR MISSION

Our mission at the Center for Native American Youth – as an education and advocacy organization – is to improve the health, safety and overall well-being of Native American Youth.

OUR VISION

Rooted in culture, our vision is for all Native American youth to lead full and healthy lives, be honored for the leaders they are, and have resources and agency to create the world Native youth are worthy of and deserve.

Our Core Values

These are our core values, guided by Indigenous teachings. They guide us in how we treat each other and how we show up each day to meet the mission and vision of CNAY.  We are here with a purpose set in motion by our ancestors seven generations ago and have a responsibility to continue the good work for the next seven generations.

IDENTITY & CULTURE

One’s IDENTITY & CULTURE provide a sense of belonging and purpose. It grounds us in a framework from which to make purposeful decisions and interact with our communities. Identity & Culture provide us with strength, vision and confidence to carry out our responsibilities.

RESPECT

It is important to RESPECT yourself first so that you can pass on that respect to all beings. Respect means being kind, courteous and listening with an open heart and mind.  It means holding yourself accountable for your actions, and how you treat others. 

RELATIONSHIPS

We are all RELATED and connected. Our actions and decisions are informed by the Relationships we have with one another. The way we care for and hold each other accountable come from the Relationships we nurture amongst ourselves and our Mother Earth. 

RESPONSIBILITY

As relatives, we have a RESPONSIBILITY to one another to be a good relative. We are Responsible to our people – past, present and those yet to be born.  This means we must be intentional about our behaviors, actions and treatment of one another.  We hold each other accountable and we support, uplift and guide others. 

COMMUNITY

We are members of our CNAY COMMUNITY, our larger communities and Tribal Nations. That means we have a responsibility to be a contributing member to make our Communities stronger and better for the collective whole.

HUMILITY

We won’t always have the answers. It is important to be HUMBLE and open to learning, growing, change and honesty amongst ourselves and with our communities.