Pine Ridge is WAY TOO FAMILIAR with the tired narrative of Indian Country as poverty porn. It is ground zero for media that perpetuate the narrative. It’s also the example used by those trying  to counter it. But there’s another story about Pine Ridge and Indian Country generally. It’s our story told by us. In general, I call this story NextGen Native. And I’m excited to launch a series that focuses on this story in a specific community. The series is called Lakota Voices.

(ed note: I know the pic below is of kids from Rosebud, but they are with FLOTUS which is awesome. Let's roll with the flow)

A photo posted by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on May 27, 2015 at 2:47pm PDT

Native Youth at the Forefront

Native youth issues are receiving significant focus right now, and it’s powerful. I remember listening to President Obama describe his and Mrs. Obama’s experience visiting Indian Country and how that prompted the entire Administration to focus more on Native youth. The President launched Generation Indigenous to focus attention and resources on these issues.

Even though fewer and fewer people would consider me as part of any “youth,” this initiative moved me greatly. I’ve fought back tears listening to the president speak of his conversations with Native youth.

Through empowerment, focused resources, and a growing connection with peers in other communities, Native Youth are using their platform to tell their stories and shape their communities. One of the resources they’ve requested is more positive content. This series provides Lakota specific stories. But it’s part of the broader effort of NextGen Native to change the narratives within our communities and about our communities.

NextGen Natives challenge the narrative of our communities often portrayed in the media. The NextGen Native podcast is one conduit for us to share these efforts with each other and the rest of the world. It provides a broader lens for us to see that despite ongoing challenges, we have some amazing things happening in our communities. It humanizes our people.

Typically, NextGen Native stories are from people aged roughly 25-45. But as I’ve said before, every generation is the next generation. Elders can share their stories for the next generation to learn from, but they can also hear what direction the next generation is taking their communities. Native youth can learn from their cousins and aunties and uncles about the work they are doing. They can learn there are so many different ways to positively impact their communities.

Lakota Voices features Lakota people doing great things. This is part of a broader effort to build partnerships to share this content not only through NextGen Native but with others in Lakota communities.

Join the conversation using #nextgennative and #lakotavoices. Better yet, join the conversation in person with friends, family, teachers, elders and others.