Native American Youth Leadership Day held at NOC

(Courtesy of Northern Oklahoma College)TONKAWA, Okla. – “Heights of Education” saw 160 youngsters from eight area tribes gathered on the Northern Oklahoma College Tonkawa campus for the fourth annual Native American Youth Leadership Day

Wearing color-coded T-shirts indicating their tribal affiliations, the mid-high through high school students accompanied by tribal educators and sponsors from the Kaw, Osage, Pawnee and Citizen Potawatomi nations and the Iowa of Oklahoma, Otoe-Missouria, Ponca and Tonkawa tribes spent the day preparing to meet their career goals and to become leaders in their communities.

NOC President Dr. Cheryl Evans welcomed the group to the campus, stating that “Each of us is a leader, even if we don’t have a title. I encourage you to help others make positive decisions.”

Language Arts faculty Scott Haywood noted, “A number of tribes are investing in mass communications. Northern offers a Mass Communications degree including print and broadcast media,” as he encouraged students to consider mass communications as a career.

Chris Hill, Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma educational specialist and Leadership Day facilitator, introduced Daisia Miller, 2014 Miss Iowa Tribal Princess, and 2014 Osage Nation Princess Katelyn Pipestem. Pipestem interpreted the Lord’s Prayer in Native American sign language.

Offering prayers were Jonas Shunkamolah, Pawnee Nation, Opening; Pius Spotted Horsechief, Pawnee Nation, Luncheon; Chris Hill, Supper; and Damien Monhatwa, Kaw Nation eighth grader, Closing. Music throughout the day was provided by deejay Spotted Horsechief aka Bravehorse.

Native American Youth Leadership Awards recognizing students for their leadership, academic achievement and contribution to tribal culture were presented by the Leadership Planning Committee. Recipients were Sadie LittleCreek, recognized by the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma and Potawatomi Nation; Angela Stout, Kaw Nation; Cydney Atsye, Otoe-Missouria Tribe; Lance Harden, Jr., Osage Nation; Justin Townsend, Pawnee Nation; Tyrese Hinman, Ponca Tribe; and Rustin Martin, Tonkawa Tribe. Hinman received a 32-inch flat screen television from the Ponca Tribe in recognition of his volunteer work with the language program and film crew at White Eagle.

Students enjoyed a visit by Woody, a bald eagle, and R.B., a golden eagle, from Bah Kho-Je Xia Chi (Grey Snow Eagle) House. Aviary assistant managers Megan Trope Judkins and Brett Clark discussed the eagles and their importance to Native American culture.

Commenting on the importance of the eagles to the Leadership Day, Hill explained, “The eagle demonstrates the strength of the Native American culture yesterday and today. He has the strongest wings to go through adversity. We can learn from the eagle’s strength.”

Breakout sessions allowed seventh and eighth graders to learn about early preparation for college in “College Bound,” presented by Andrea Tennant, Kaw Nation JOM coordinator. Ninth through twelfth graders gained post-secondary survival tips from Starla Bilyeu, Stillwater Public Schools Indian Education Director, in “College Prep,” coordinated by Karen Howe, Kaw Nation Education director.

Both sessions heard a panel composed of Oklahoma State University graduates Tabitha Harris, Choctaw Nation, and Valerie Redmund, Ponca Tribe, and White Eagle Chief of Police and NOC alumnus Steven Kammerzell, Cheyenne-Arapaho. The panel shared personal experiences and advice for success in college.

Ronald James, Pawnee Nation College recruiter, urged upperclassmen to help freshmen and to be part of something good for the community, and Ron Baker, Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma vocational rehabilitation counselor, advised students to “hang around positive people. You are accountable for everything you do from now on.”

Xan Black, Tulsa Alliance for Engineering coordinator, directed teams of students in STEM activities designed to promote interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, areas which will need three million more workers by 2020.

A fierce Intertribal Challenge quiz bowl competition concluded the day. The Osage Nation team showed the greatest knowledge of current events, history and tribal language and culture to win the traveling trophy, a $150 pizza party and bragging rights.

NOC Native American recruiter and advisor Gina Conneywerdy, along with a committee of representatives from the tribes involved, coordinated the leadership day. Committee members included Chris Hill, B.S, and Ron Baker, B.S., Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma; Karen Howe, A.A., and Andrea Tennant, Kaw Nation; Avis Ballard, M.S., Osage Nation; James Black, M.Ed., Jerri Romero, Gloree Tah, B.A., Jody Warrior, B.S., and Jammie Moss, MBA, Otoe-Missouria Tribe; Suzy Knife Chief, B.A., Pawnee Nation; Sarah Nelsen, B.A., Ponca Tribe; Janet Lenggenhager, Citizen Potawatomi Nation; and Lisa Norman, Tonkawa Tribe. Door prizes were provided by the eight tribes and by NOC.