Native American Youth in Virginia Suffer Systemic Issues

In Virginia, Native American youth — defined as kids and young adults — often encounter systemic barriers, including a lack of representation in school curricula.

A recent report by the Aspen Institute’s Center for Native American Youth sheds light on the experiences and challenges faced by Native youths in Virginia and across the country, emphasizing the urgent need for culturally relevant resources and greater representation in education and public policy.

Cheyenne Runsabove, associate director of youth programs at the center, said they surveyed nearly 1,000 Native Americans younger than age 24.

“How can we expect our Native youths to go into the educational system and truly thrive when their own histories and identities are not being shared to any extent within the history?” Runsabove asked.

Native youths have expressed concerns about systemic challenges, including over-policing and health care disparities. According to the report, they reported a 10 to 15 percent greater presence of law enforcement on reservations compared with cities and small towns, raising concerns about over-policing.

Rusnabove stressed the report serves as a call to action for policymakers and organizations in Virginia to address disparities and ensure Native youths are represented and supported.

“One thing that’s really amazing about Native youths right now, this generation, is that they’re harnessing their power,” Rusnabove observed. “They believe in themselves and that they are truly sharing their voices and their perspectives.”

According to the survey, young Native people who feel culturally educated are four times more likely to see themselves as capable of making a difference than those who do not.

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