During her sophomore year of high school, Makenzie Little had a life-changing opportunity to write for her town paper — it was love at first word. Since then, her interest in journalism has grown, and she is focused on honing her skills and expanding her journalistic experiences in high school and beyond. The next step may well be majoring in journalism or communications in college.
Little spent her first few years in Cook and Orr, Minn., before her family moved to Montgomery County, Md., when she was four. At 12, Little and her family moved back to far northern Minnesota, but the disruption took a toll. “I moved around quite a bit when I was younger, and it’s always been hard to adapt to new places and people,” says Little. But with the support of her family and the connection to her Indigenous roots, she has been able to thrive in her community and beyond.
Like many high school students, Little didn’t have a career path in mind when she first walked through the doors of Northeast Range School in Babbitt, Minn. But when she took a journalism class in her sophomore year, everything changed. “This class absolutely helped cement my love for journalism,” she says. “It gave me a better understanding of what I want to do when I grow up.”
In addition to discovering journalism in high school, Little has also had the opportunity to connect with her Indigenous roots by working with STEM camps for the Boys and Girls Clubs on the reservation. “Planning activities and working with the cultural expert helped teach me so much about my culture that I didn’t know before,” says Little. During the summer STEM camp she was also one of five students on the Northeast Range robotics team, the Iron Mosquitos. The team scored a win in the 2024 Congressional App Challenge, a prestigious award in computer science, in Minnesota’s Eighth District. They were invited to Washington, D.C., to present their project “Ninodew” (We Dance). To learn more about the app and the team’s experience, click here.
Little also serves as a member of her school’s Indigenous education group, and with the Indigenous support advocate, she visits elementary school classes to talk about her culture. Through this work Little has learned more about her own and other Indigenous traditions. It has also connected her to AISES, which she joined in 2023. “AISES has helped me experience things I definitely wouldn’t have without it,” says Little. “Being invited to present at the 2025 National Conference as part of my school’s Indigenous outreach portion of our robotics team was such an honor.”
Now Little is setting her sights on college. While she is excited about the chance to pursue her passion, she is also realistic about the potential challenges she may face. “I do worry about being far away from my family and my culture,” says Little. “When my family lived in Maryland, there weren’t many powwows or any workshops to hone cultural skills.”
As Little continues to explore universities and programs, she can take comfort in the fact that she has the skills to be successful. “I’m great at stepping out of my comfort zone when I have to,” says Little. “There will always be things I’m uncomfortable doing, but if I need to, I’m OK with taking a chance and doing it.”
Little is working toward her future, and she knows her college career will include writing and reporting in some capacity. Choosing a college can be daunting, but she’s grateful for her mom who has been with her through this process. “My mom spends time helping me search for the best colleges for journalism,” says Little.
The girl who entered Northeast Range without a clear direction is not the same one who will be leaving there next year. “I want to be a journalist,” notes Little. “I care deeply about different issues, and I think it’s important to give everyone a voice. In the future, I’d like to be that voice.”
