Empowering Native Youth Through Storytelling: Vision Maker Media’s Innovative Approach
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Native American and Alaska Native youth face significant challenges, including disproportionately high rates of suicide, substance abuse, and mental health issues. These struggles are compounded by systemic inequities and, increasingly, by reductions in federal funding. However, Vision Maker Media is addressing these issues with a proactive and culturally grounded solution: empowering young people to tell their own stories.
“Vision Maker Media is elated about the impact results that we are begining to see a trajectory of improved mental health and youth leadership. These young storytellers are so empowered to creatively express and share their stories that this encourages them to continue a pursuit in more media making about their cultures and communities and helps heal,” said Francene Blythe-Lewis, president and CEO of Vision Maker Media.
The iNative 7G Movement: Three Interconnected Programs
Vision Maker Media’s work is centered around the iNative 7G movement, a framework rooted in the Indigenous principle of the seventh generation – the idea that decisions made today shoudl consider their impact for the next 150 years. This movement encompasses three key programs:
- Native Youth Media Project: Provides hands-on filmmaking training within Native communities, utilizing a network of professional Native filmmakers to deliver localized instruction. Learn more
- Creative Shorts Fellowship: Offers year-long mentorships to emerging Native filmmakers, fostering skill growth in filmmaking, technical expertise, and business acumen. Learn more
- iNative Shorts for Kids: Creates positive and culturally relevant content for children ages 6-12, featuring Native languages, arts, sciences, and traditions through short-form videos on YouTube. Learn more
Building Skills and Resilience through Filmmaking
The Native Youth Media Project directly addresses barriers to access by bringing training to communities,rather than requiring travel. This approach honors local knowledge and builds enduring capacity within Native communities. The Creative Shorts Fellowship demonstrates significant results, with fellows increasing their filmmaking skills by 50%, technical knowledge by 26%, and business/marketing skills by 22%.
Launched in April 2025, iNative Shorts for Kids offers a vital counter-narrative to harmful stereotypes, providing young viewers with positive representations of Native life through engaging content hosted by Frankie the Hawk.
from Training to Conversion: A Holistic approach
These programs recognize that creative expression is more than just skill-building; it fosters identity, resilience, and community connection. The trajectory of growth includes research, creation, community engagement, and professional development, ultimately empowering youth to become mentors and leaders themselves.
since 2020, these programs have impacted nearly 500 young people, establishing partnerships with health organizations, schools, and community groups across the country. Participants report opportunities to practice and reinforce “Native community values and protocols” while gaining marketable skills.
A Legacy of Native Storytelling
As 1976, Vision Maker Media has been a leading force in sharing Native American stories, reaching an estimated 90 million viewers annually through PBS broadcasting. Notably,80% of Native American programs broadcast on PBS are created and produced by Vision Maker Media View the archive, demonstrating its crucial role in amplifying Native voices and challenging dominant narratives.
Vision Maker Media is now expanding its impact by focusing on youth voices and community wellness,forging partnerships to create culturally responsive systems of care. As federal funding faces uncertainty, these programs provide critical spaces for Native youth to thrive, practice their traditions, and develop skills for meaningful careers.
Key Takeaways
- Empowerment through Storytelling: Vision Maker Media’s programs empower Native youth to share their stories, fostering healing and resilience.
- Holistic Development: The programs focus on building not only technical skills but also identity, community connection, and leadership potential.
- Community-Based Approach: Training is brought directly to communities, respecting local knowledge and building sustainable capacity.
- positive Depiction: iNative Shorts for Kids provides positive and culturally relevant content for young viewers, countering harmful stereotypes.
- Long-Term Impact: The iNative 7G movement is rooted in the principle of considering the impact of today’s actions on future generations.