Jesse Shortbull (Ogala Lakota) begins filming for short of INDIAN this week in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Jesse co-wrote the screenplay and is honored to work and learn from such talented mentors who have been featured at the Sundance Film Festival. About INDIAN: Twenty years after his exile from the reservation, the pursuit of…
I attended Muckleshoot Harvest Festival on October 12th at the Muckleshoot Tribal College. This was a small event and I attended sessions including two types of medicine making, jam making and lip balm. The sessions were very well led and through the rich knowledge shared regarding the foods and medicines I learned a lot.…
“Our ancestors buried their prayers within us.” These words of vast wisdom were spoken by Adrienne Brown, one of three facilitators that led the Center for Whole Communities (CWC): Next Generation Retreat. The retreat was set up to build us up; physically, spiritually, emotionally and communally. I had the blessed opportunity to attend…
I spent this past summer working at North Cascades National Park (in Washington state) where I learned how to propagate some of the most delicious native plants. Propagation is the process to reproduce a plant from seed. Summer time was also berry season and we collected Cascade huckleberries, service berries, red huckleberries and wild strawberries. …
Attending the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) Conference has been a positive experience. Leading the Youth Forum with NYLA fellows Johnny and Josephine gave us an opportunity to work directly with youth and keep them engaged. Giving them a voice and guiding their visions through PSA’s was not only an good experience for them…
With my own journey and experience, I have a unique perspective and a personal insight. As a fourteen year old teenager, it was horrible struggling with my identity and sexual orientation. I have attempted to commit a cruel act upon myself as a youth, I tried to commit suicide. Living on the Navajo Reservation I…
[SlideDeck2 id=2332]
Seeing the continuity of the partnerships we’ve made and efforts we’ve committed to as a NYLA collective has always followed with feelings of pride and accomplishment. This year at AIHEC (American Indian Higher Education Consortium) Conference 2012 in Rapid City, SD, this sense of pride and accomplishment for NYLA was rejuvenated as the room filled…
I was honored to be ‘s graduation speaker on May 10. The overall theme was that ‘We Are All Leaders.’ Colleges like Sinte Gleska are named after individuals. Aaniih Nakoda College was renamed, in my view, after the entire tribal membership of the Aaniih and Nakoda peoples in recognition of that collective leadership. It was…