The first lady spoke to over 1,000 Native American youth at the first-ever White House Tribal Youth Gathering.
The gathering was part of this year's UNITY (United National Indian Tribal Youth) conference. I created a short news video to sum up what attendees thought, and what the First Lady had to say.
"America hasn't always treated your people and your heritage with dignity and respect," she said. "Tragically, it's been just the opposite -- your traditions were systematically targeted for destruction."
The gathering, held in collaboration with United National Indian Tribal Youth, focused on education and finding new areas of opportunity for Native Youths.
"Young people, just like you were sent to boarding schools designed to strip them of their language, culture and history and your religions and ceremonies were outlawed by so-called civilization regulations," Obama said. "Regulations that literally made your cultures illegal."
During her remarks Thursday, Michelle Obama recalled that trip.
"In the face of all of all of these challenges, not a single one of them had given up. Not a single one of them had lost hope. That's what moved us," she told the audience. "And more than anything else, I believe that that is your story. The story of your generation, Gen I, the story of young people like you investing in yourselves—rising up as leaders in your nations and in the world."
The gathering was part of this year's UNITY (United National Indian Tribal Youth) conference. I created a short news video to sum up what attendees thought, and what the First Lady had to say.
"America hasn't always treated your people and your heritage with dignity and respect," she said. "Tragically, it's been just the opposite -- your traditions were systematically targeted for destruction."
The gathering, held in collaboration with United National Indian Tribal Youth, focused on education and finding new areas of opportunity for Native Youths.
"Young people, just like you were sent to boarding schools designed to strip them of their language, culture and history and your religions and ceremonies were outlawed by so-called civilization regulations," Obama said. "Regulations that literally made your cultures illegal."
During her remarks Thursday, Michelle Obama recalled that trip.
"In the face of all of all of these challenges, not a single one of them had given up. Not a single one of them had lost hope. That's what moved us," she told the audience. "And more than anything else, I believe that that is your story. The story of your generation, Gen I, the story of young people like you investing in yourselves—rising up as leaders in your nations and in the world."
VIDEO
Responses to "First Lady Michelle Obama to Deliver Remarks at Tribal Youth Gathering (Video)"