President visits Indian Country; Obama expresses concern for tribal youth

This article appeared in the August 2015 edition of the Chickasaw Times

Durant, Okla. – Improving the lives of young Native Americans was the theme of President Barack Obama’s July 15 address; and three Chickasaw students had the opportunity to provide their insight to the president on important tribal issues.

Prior to taking the podium to unveil ConnectHome Internet initiative to the nation, President Obama met with 15 Chickasaw, Choctaw, Cherokee and Muscogee (Creek) youth for about one hour.

Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby said he was very proud of the Chickasaw youth who made the most of this unique opportunity to share their views with a sitting president.

“It was very gratifying to see the positive impression these amazing young Chickasaws made on the president,” said Gov. Anoatubby.

Chickasaws Nahinli Billy, Purcell; Kelsey Norton, Byars; and Dylan Barnoski, Stonewall; were included in the meeting. All three are members of Chikasha Pehlichi Ikbi and are part of the president’s Generation Indigenous (Gen-I) initiative, which aims to help improve the lives of Native youth and to cultivate the next generation of Native leaders.

“The meeting was very intimate and personal,” said Miss Norton. “I could really tell President Obama wanted to speak with us and hear our stories, he was interested in hearing about what we were doing and what our tribes were doing.”

President Obama asked the students individually to share their goals and issues they thought were important to their family and tribes.

Ms. Norton, 17, is encouraged by her recent experiences.

“Our voices matter,” she said.

Mr. Billy, 18, said he was honored and humbled to have the opportunity to meet with the president.

“I really appreciate what the president is doing - a lot of things for native people. He and the First Lady have taken the right initiative through the Gen-I and other programs to try to help every youth in the United States have the same opportunity, they don’t want anyone to be left behind.

Mr. Billy said he respected President Obama for providing a platform “where people can come together and meet in a way that is going to better all people of the nation.”

“He took the time to talk to each one of us. He wanted us to share what we thought was important to us and what he should know about each one of our respective tribes. He had tears in his eyes (when hearing some of the stories) you could tell he really cared.”

President Obama asked the students to send an update letter to him in a year.

He encouraged the young people to stay strong and stay active in the community and to reach educational goals, and return to contribute to their tribes.

He also encouraged the group to “Move forward, but to keep our roots, our heritage and our language alive,” Miss Norton said.

President Obama publicly thanked the group during his address to the nation.

“I want to thank the extraordinary young people that I just had a chance to meet with. They were just exceptional, and gave me all kinds of interesting thoughts and ideas about how young people can lead and thrive, and reshape America.  And I could not be prouder of them.”

Choctaw Chief Gary Batton and the many tribal leaders in attendance, including Governor Bill Anoatubby, were also acknowledged in Obama’s speech.

The president traveled to Choctaw Country to unveil Connect- Home Internet initiative, which came on the heels of the first-ever White House Tribal Youth Gathering. More than 1,000 students, including Chickasaws, attended.

“Michelle and I believe we’ve got a special obligation to make sure that tribal youth have every opportunity to achieve their potential not just for the benefit of themselves and their communities, but for our entire nation; that all of you young people have a chance to succeed not by leaving your communities, but by coming back and investing in your communities, and that you have a whole range of options that can lift us all up.”

ConnectHome is a new initiative designed to make high-speed Internet more affordable to residents in low-income housing units across the country.

The pilot program is launching in 27 cities and one tribal nation, the Choctaw Nation. It will initially reach more than 275,000 low-income households, and almost 200,000 children.

Internet Service Providers, nonprofit organizations and the private sector will offer broadband access, technical training, digital literacy programs, and devices for residents in assisted housing units.

“Today, we’re going to take another step to close the digital divide in America, and make sure everybody in America has access to high-speed broadband Internet.”

ConnectHome is the next step in the president’s continued efforts to expand high speed broadband to all Americans and builds upon ConnectED initiative that is on track to connect 99 percent of K-12 students to high-speed Internet in their classrooms and libraries over the next five years.

ConnectHome will help ensure that these students still have access to high-speed Internet once they are home.

The Choctaw Nation is designated as one of America’s first Promise Zones, an area where the federal government is partnering with local communities and businesses for economic development and job creation to expand educational opportunities, increase affordable housing and improve public safety.