Our History

Our Founder

The Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) was founded by former U.S. Senator Byron L. Dorgan (D-ND). Before his retirement in 2011, Senator Dorgan served 30 years in the United States House and Senate. In 2007, he was elected as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, where he championed Indigenous issues including language preservation, tribal law and order, health care and more. 

I look forward to charting a course that will help move our American Indian communities forward.

Sen. Dorgan on his election as Chairman 

Upon retirement, Senator Dorgan continued to champion important matters affecting Indigenous Peoples and recognized the critical issues facing Native youth, including suicide prevention, education opportunity and access to health care. He felt that the children of the first Americans had, for too long, been left behind and was determined to ensure a focused and organized effort was established to improve the lives of young Native Americans. 

Learn more about Senator Byron L. Dorgan.

CNAY Comes to Life

Senator Dorgan quickly turned those feelings into action when he decided to donate $1 million of his unused campaign funds to create the organization he envisioned. He organized a small group of supporters – including Allison Binney, Erin Bailey, Sara Garland and several others who had held key positions in the Senate working on Native American issues – to create the Center for Native American Youth, which has successfully supported Native youth on a wide range of serious issues for nearly 15 years.

With this Center, I am determined to improve the lives of Native children by focusing on education and health, with special emphasis on teen suicide prevention. We’ve made progress on Indian legislation in recent years, and I am proud of those achievements, but much more needs to be done.

Sen. Dorgan on the creation of the CNAY

Learn more about CNAY’s history and our efforts to help prevent teen suicide.

Looking to Our Future

In 2021, CNAY celebrated a decade of making a transformative, positive change by working alongside and amplifying Native youth. We honor the founding vision of Senator Dorgan and look forward to continuing to make meaningful change in the lives of Native youth and their communities.

Learn more about CNAY’s current work and visions for the future.