Youth Program
As Native people, we realize and recognize our responsibility to our children. History has taught us that skepticism and fear of rejection will take considerable time to overcome. With the help from our Native parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles our Native children will meet and exceed their educational responsibility.
The youth program continues to provide a positive environment that promotes prevention and education of alcohol and substance abuse for our youth and community. The program has met many goals and has set more positive goals for the year 2005. An Incentive trip to Silverwood in Idaho was provided for students who successfully completed the program. For the year 2005, an After School Tutorial Program has been implemented by the NAIA and Butte School District. The youth facilitator has developed a positive working relationship with the school personnel and administrators, the personnel in the juvenile court system, the social services and community leaders to promote the support of our Native Americans in the schools and community. Furthermore, in providing positive leadership models, our youth have attended pow-wows, cultural and sport camps throughout the summer. In addition, the youth facilitator coordinated with the school district and will provide free lunch for the youth during the summer. The youth are selected for those trips based on behavior, attendance, and involvement in the youth group. Plans have been made to bring Native American Leaders and positive role models to assemblies at our schools. We have one hundred twenty-five youth enrolled and they range from age five to eighteen.
The North American Indian Alliance provides a central location in this city of 34,813 people. We have 1200 Native Americans in Butte representing twenty-five different tribes. The Butte School District has 236 Native American students registered on their enrollment figures. Education provides a key to a successful life for our children. Yet many of our Native American students who are registered on these rolls do not graduate. Our goal is to provide a positive program that supports and encourages our students to be proud of their Native American heritage, graduate, and then go on to college. We Native parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles met this educational responsibility in the old Native society. We Native people must again meet this responsibility by involvement in our children's education through open lines of communication with our children and their teachers. As human beings we realize and recognize our responsibility to our children. We recognize further, that time is required for dynamic community involvement in the youth program to be developed. Skepticism and fear of rejection based on past experiences will take considerable time to overcome.
Our Mission
Serve our youth in promoting healthy lifestyle choices, family values, culture, and tradition.
Our Vision
The Youth Program is here to help all our Native Children achieve the most within their urban setting and beyond.
Key Benefits
- Culturally focused
- Safe environment
- Mentorship
- Professional Speakers
- Incentives
Activities and Services Offered
- Youth Basketball League
- After School Tutoring
- Traditional Arts & Crafts
- Diabetes Screening
- Pre-education
- Transportation to and from Youth Group Activities
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