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Mescalero youth to be honored at White House Tribal Youth Gathering Reservation's young adults take on youth mental health

Ruidoso News (NM) - 6/12/2015

June 11--The Generation Indigenous Initiative was launched at the 2014 White House Tribal Nations Conference to focus on improving the lives of native youth by removing the barriers that stand between them and their opportunity to succeed. The Generation Indigenous Native Youth Challenge was launched at the 2015 United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY) Midyear Conference, according to a whitehouse.gov press release.

The challenge invites native youth and organizations across the country to become a part of the White House Administration'sGen-I "which takes a comprehensive, culturally appropriate approach to ensure all young native people can reach their full potential."

Five Mescalero young adults -- Ashley Kinzhuma, Mescalero Apache; Tristine Chico, Mescalero Apache; Trinity Enjady, Chiricahua Apache; Coloradas Mangas, Chiricahua Apache; and Arian Enjady, Mescalero Apache, each ranging in age from 16- to 20-years-old, decided to take the challenge as a group to promote youth mental health in their community.

The group of young adults spoke to Mescalero elementary students about what to do and who to talk to if they were struggling with negative self-talk and feelings. They also organized a community walk for Mescalero's adults to bring awareness to youth mental health. The group then wrote digital stories about their own struggles in dealing with mental health, presenting their personal stories to Mescalero's middle and high school students.

The group's efforts created a ripple effect around the community and they offered the presentation at several locations through out the reservation.

The young people hope to offer their presentation to the tribal council next week.

They are now among a select group traveling to Washington D.C. to be honored at the White House Tribal Youth Gathering July 9.

The group will then attend the United Nations National Indian Tribal Conference in Washington D.C.July 10 to 14.

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(c)2015 the Ruidoso News (Ruidoso, N.M.)

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