National Congress of American Indians Names Board Members
WASHINGTON -- Former U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan announced today the membership of the Board of Advisors for the Center for Native American Youth. The Board features prominent Native American leaders, entrepreneurs, journalists and advocates as well as other Americans who have worked on Native American issues over the years. Senator Dorgan, who was Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs from 2007 - 2011, will be Chairman of the Board of Advisors. The Center for Native American Youth is a new organization Senator Dorgan created at the Aspen Institute to address the challenges facing Native American children. Dorgan donated $1 million of excess campaign funds to create the organization in January of this year at the Aspen Institute in Washington, D.C. "I created the Center for Native American Youth because I believe our country has a responsibility to keep the promises we made to the First Americans," Dorgan said. "Our focus will be with Native American children, many of whom are facing daunting challenges." The members include Lt. Governor Jefferson Keel, president of the National Congress of American Indians; Jacoby Ellsbury, center fielder for the Boston Red Sox; Dave Anderson, founder of Famous Dave's restaurant chain; and Hattie Kauffman, national correspondent for CBS' The Early Show; Tom Brokaw, former NBC Nightly News anchor; Phil Jackson, NBA head coach; Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Senator; Gordon Smith, former U.S. Senator; as well as three Native American youth members from tribal communities in North Dakota, Alaska and New Mexico. "Native American youth are the most at-risk population in the United States," Dorgan added. "Rates of teen suicide on Indian reservations is nearly quadruple the national average. Some tribal communities experience serious issues with substance abuse, gangs targeting Native children, and schools that are not up to standard. We need to find ways to let these children know they are not alone. They too can have hope for a better future." The Center for Native American Youth will work on issues of teen suicide prevention, substance abuse, education and more. The Center will work with Native American youth and parents, and also aspires to develop meaningful partnerships with tribal governments and other organizations on issues affecting Native children. Members of the Board Chairman U.S. Senator Byron L. Dorgan (ret.) Board Members David Anderson, founder, Famous Dave's Restaurant; former assistant secretary – Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior Allison Binney, partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP; former staff director and chief counsel, U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee Tom Brokaw, special correspondent and former anchor, NBC Nightly News Lucy Calautti, senior advisor, Baker Hostetler LLP Jacoby Ellsbury, centerfielder/leftfielder, Boston Red Sox Pam Gulleson, advisor to the president of the North Dakota Farmers Union; former chief of staff to Senator Byron Dorgan Phil Jackson, 11-time championship-winning National Basketball Association head coach Hattie Kauffman, national news correspondent, CBS' The Early Show Jefferson Keel, president, National Congress of American Indians; lt. governor, Chickasaw Nation Sam McCracken, general manager, Native American Business, Nike, Inc.; chairman, Nike N7 U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R – Alaska) U.S. Senator Gordon Smith (ret.), president, National Association of Broadcasters Patty Talahongva, former president of the Native American Journalists Association W. Richard West, founding director, Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian Youth Board Members Megan Gregory, Organized Village of Kake (Alaska) Dana Lee Jetty, Spirit Lake Tribe (North Dakota) Coloradas Mangas, Mescalero Apache Tribe (New Mexico)
