Native Max Magazine - January/February 2016 by Native Max Magazine

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

They were just a group of young boys who played on a peewee football team in Rapid City, South Dakota. However, the way they took on a series of obstacles from the beginning of the season to the end is what sets these boys apart from the rest. We talk to the team from western South Dakota who make us proud. By Kelly Holmes

Left to right: Malachi Frazier, Justin Truman, Jarek Montgomery, Deontae Whiting, Assistant Coach Shane Montgomery, Mankato Lebeau, Robert Jones, Coach Duane Langenfeld, Davontte Jones, & Coach Dillon Langenfeld

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE

CONTENTS

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

26 FEATURES

07 MAKE US PROUD: STRENGTH IN NUMBERS 18 POWERFUL PAIR: ANTHONY THOSH COLLINS & CHELSEY LUGER 26 YOUNG & ACTIVE

HEALTH 11 14 16 17

INDIGENIZING FITNESS: WELL FOR CULTURE ATHLETE PROFILE: MARY KILLMAN ATHLETE PROFILE: ALVINA BEGAY NATIVE FOODS: BACK TO TRADITION

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE

EDITOR’S WELCOME MAGAZINE Welcome to our Health & Fitness issue, where our editorial focus is set on, well, you know, Native Americans in health and fitness. At the beginning of 2015, I took notice of social media posts about this new wellness organization that seemed to appear out of nowhere: Well For Culture. After following their exercise tutorials, diet tips and recipes, I knew it would be a great idea to feature them on the cover. Another stand out story for us was featuring various Native student athletes, from a peewee football team out of South Dakota, to a handful of young athletes from across Indian Country. Each and every person in this issue has one thing in common: being healthy. Being healthy isn’t only about eating right or cutting down on sugar. It’s about striving to follow the footsteps of our ancestors, who were physically active. As I learned on the Well For Culture’s website, our ancestors took on indigenized fitness, had a healthy diet and were physically fit. Everyone in this issue is healthy by not only taking care of themselves by participating in physical activity, but by also teaching others how to be healthy. Being positive and working as a team with everyone around you is a great way you can be healthy as well, or so I learned from talking with everyone who was featured in this issue. Again, one of my fave issues so far.

Enjoy the issue!

INSTAGRAM

MANAGING PARTNER/CO EDITOR Johnnie Morris johnniemorris@nativemax.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Kaitlin Blaylock kaitlin.blaylock@nativemax.com ASSISTANT TO EIC Tatiana Ybarra PR/SECRETARY Paula Crawford paula.crawford@nativemax.com VIDEO PRODUCTION Tara Rose Weston taraweston@nativemax.com GRAPHIC DESIGN/MARKETING E’cho Martin ehmartin24@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR Jacqueline Brixey PHOTOGRAPHER Zoe Friday zoe.friday@nativemax.com

Kelly Holmes / Editor-in-Chief

@kellycamilleholmes PS: We want to see how you’re staying fit this new year! Tag us with #NativeMaxfit with our IG (@nativemaxmag) and Twitter (@nativemax)! We’ll be looking out!

CONTRIBUTORS Gia Bolton Noel Altaha Daryl Begaye Everett Baxter Anthony Burris Helen Oro Krystina Bia Crystal Szczepanski Sooner Davenport SALES MANAGER Mercedes Montgomery mercedes.montgomery@nativemax.com SALES Jason Finkbonner jason.finkbonner@nativemax.com

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MAKE US PROUD

hrough a year of racism and tough games that proved their true character, the Black Hills Youth Football League Senior Peewee Broncos football team defied odds. It may just be a sport to others, but to the boys, these are moments that will encourage them to go down the right path. According to an article published in the Rapid City Journal, the city’s local newspaper, nearly 11% of Native American students in the Rapid City Area Schools district dropped out of school last year, compared to 2.4% of their peers. As everyone can agree, Native youth need every opportunity to positively learn and grow. Upon conversing with Coach Langenfeld and Assistant Coach John Frazer, a father to player Malachi Frazer, playing football is guiding them to a positive lifestyle. “I believe they all formed a lifelong bond, improved internally, which translates to life,” explains Coach Langenfeld. “These boys breathe life into me. Keep watching them. It’s worth it.”

Left to right: Coach Dillon Langenfeld, Justin Truman, Mahki Hollowhorn, Robert Jones, Alize West, Assistant Coach Shane Montgomery, Deontae Whiting, Chance White Eagle, Jerek Montgomery, Ty O’Connor, Malachi Frazier, Davontte Jones, & Coach Duane Langenfeld Photo by Tara Rose Weston

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE

NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

MAKE US PROUD It’d be hard to believe the Broncos haven’t won a single game last year. They finished the 2014 season with a 0-8 record. The poor record bothered Coach Langenfeld, not only due to the lack of wins, but because he knew how much others hung their hats on the amount of wins a team has; not just the players, but their parents, families, and peers. Furthermore, if their self-worth was tied to the number of wins, then being a loser is what they accept as who they are. The only boys to return this 2015 season were all minority. Every non-Native kid that played on the team last year went to the schools’ teams instead of rejoining the Broncos. According to one of the coach’s theories, it was due to the fact that local schools are usually notorious for playing white players over Native American players. However, that didn’t bother coach and he was able to work with a new group of boys who joined the team this season. He also didn’t mind that his team consisted of mostly Lakota boys. “These young men face subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, racism and stereotyping that most of us will never face.” Upon meeting Coach Langenfeld, his compassion is noticeable. He didn’t discriminate or divide the team by color. “These Lakota youth need to see that some wasicu [Caucasian person] see past skin and stereotypes.” He believes due to his different outlook on coaching a minority team, many of the Lakota boys and their families returned to play for the Broncos. He coaches from the heart, and loves every single player of the team like his son. “The Lakota understand this” he adds. Instead of fixed on winning, Coach Langenfeld simply focused on trying to teach the boys how to be men. “Parents need ‘wins’ to feel their child is successful. I Photos courtesy of Duane Langenfeld

A TEAM OF BROTHERS The BHYFL Senior Peewee Broncos team are more than just players. They’re a brotherhood who support each other on and off the field. The 2015 season roster:

PLAYER

GRADE

6 7 12 13 17 20 23 24 29 34 42 44 64 71 75 88 99

Justin Truman* Davontte Jones Mankato Lebeau* Chance White Eagle* Mahki Hollowhorn* Jai Knight* Malachi Frazer* Robert Jones* Alize West* Robert Arpan* Misun Dupris* Jakob Tesch Ty O’Connor Tre Trujillo* Jerel Means* Jerek Montgomery* Deontae Whiting*

8 8 8 7 7 8 7 8 8 8 8 7 7 8 8 7 8

The BHYFL Senior Peewee Broncos coaching staff: Duane Langenfeld - Head Coach Dillon Langenfeld - Coach Shane Montgomery* - Assistant Coach John Frazier* - Assistant Coach Dion Whiting* - Coach *indicates person is Lakota and/ or of other tribal descent

don’t and the Lakota parents knew why. We’re coaching for the right reasons, which is why we have our talent back.” One evening in late September, the Black Hills Youth Football League Senior Peewee Broncos football team, was set to play against the Rapid City Christian Comets. However, this wasn’t a typical evening, or game for that matter. The Broncos were down, but not out. At halftime, Rapid City Christian lead the Broncos, 32-12. They trailed behind the whole game. “We were playing below our capabilities during the first half and into the second half,” explains Coach Langenfeld. “We had made several mistakes that gave up big plays.” Some of

the players tried to take the game onto their shoulders, which caused more problems than helped. Many of the mistakes in the first half were attributed to players not doing what they were instructed to do. During the half-time break, most of the boys were hanging their heads and had checked out, according to the coach. “Typically, I’m more of a cheerleader coach, more managing the boys’ heads and keeping them in the game. I reset for this halftime.” Coach Langenfeld knew boys at this young age want to show how they are men. “Even though they are 12 to 14 years old, I used this. I challenged them. We challenged them. If they believe they are men,

they needed to stop acting like kids and man up.” He instructed the boys to stop blaming each other and to just do their jobs instead of trying to play hero. He told them that “The opportunities for success will show” . But it wasn’t enough, the boys were not rising the challenge and seemed resigned to defeat. The other team scored two more times. Angry and frustrated, the team started to attack each other again in the fourth quarter. Coach Langenfeld called a time out with 6 minutes left on the clock. “I made them look at the clock. We were down 25 points, with 6 minutes left.” He then asked the boys if they believed in miracles, and told them to make this game the “6-minute miracle”. “We, as coaches, absolutely believe in them; we knew they could win this game.” They returned to the field determined, set on executing plays. Quarterback Mankato Lebeau (Lakota/Dakota/ Nakota) made a punt return, a rushing and a passing touchdown. Jai Knight (Lakota) had a punt return, and Chance White Eagle (Lakota) made a receiving touchdown. The team also recovered a fumble. The Broncos finished the game, defeating the Comets 46 - 45. Parents were cheering and screaming; horns were honking in the parking lot. The boys were jumping and celebrating. This is the most talked about game to this day. “26 points in 6 minutes; can’t coach that” adds Coach Langenfeld. The team walked away from the game with more than a hard-earned win. The boys learned how to overcome. “When the world puts its foot to your throat, you knock it off and put your foot to the world’s throat,” explains the coach. “These boys learned to believe in themselves.”

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE

NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

HEALTH

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INSIDE: WELL FOR CULTURE / MARY KILLMAN / ALVINA BEGAY / NATIVE RECIPES

INDIGENIZING FITNESS Meet the ambassadors who are re-indigenizing fitness to help build a healthier Indian Country

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE

HEALTH Health Focus

Well For Culture #WellForCulture website is a very informative site where the organization and ambassadors share fitness tips, exercises, fitness tips, recipes and more. The website is broken down into specific areas regarding indigenized fitness: Indigenized Fitness Here, the ambassadors of Well For Culture explain what indigenized fitness is all about. From a history lesson that talks about how fit and healthy our ancestors were to how being well for culture is crucial to building healthy nations, you’ll find everything indigenized fitness here. Ancestral Diet A breakdown of the pre-colonial diet -what the indigenous people of North America ate before the colonial era, most of which consist of animals and plants.

Obesity. Heart Disease. Diabetes. These are just some of the health issues facing our native communities, which is why the movement to reclaim our indigenous diets and wellness is important. This is why initiatives like Well For Culture are important. Inspired by the knowledge shared through their exercise tutorials and recipes, Native Max reached out to movement ambassadors, Anthony Thosh Collins (Onk Akimel O’Odham + Haudenosaunee) and Chelsey Luger (Lakota + Ojibwe). We wanted to know more about the purpose and inspiration behind the development of Well For Culture.

ccording to Well For Culture’s ambassador Anthony Thosh Collins, the movement is “an alliance of like-minded Indigenous people from many nations and all directions. We advocate for healthy lifestyles because we recognize the importance of being physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually sound when striving to build healthy native nations.” The whole idea of Well For Culture was inspired by the Native wellness movement that has

already been in full swing, thanks to the generations before us. “Our generation’s contribution to the wellness movement is bridging the gap between fitness, diet and our native cultural values,” the movement explains. “Fitness has always been our way and is relevant to our indigenous cultural evolution. Our original foods are perfect ingredients for building strong, healthy and happy indigenous bodies.” On their website, Well For Culture extensively covers 2 ma-

NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

jor topics important for achieving a healthy lifestyle: indigenized fitness and ancestral diet. Indigenized fitness focuses on sharing basic exercise tutorials, dynamic and static stretching utilizing indigenous fitness spaces and Mother Earth Gym (simply using the outdoors and the natural world to exercise). Although not meant to replace a conventional gym, it’s a fun outdoor activity that can offer a great workout if used correctly. An example of utilizing the earth gym would be to

Recipes Pre-colonial foods meet today’s preferences. This page is full of ideas on how to incorporate pre-colonial foods with what you like to eat today. You’ll also find a helpful guide of what foods to pick, and to avoid, at the grocery store. Consulting The ambassadors of Well For Culture love sharing their knowledge with anyone! The organization is available for consulting, workshops and presentations.

HEALTH

The ambassadors of Well For Culture highly promote utilizing ‘Mother Earth gym’. Here’s an example of Chelsey Luger lifting a tree log

squat down and pick up a semiheavy rock and hug it close to your chest as you perform a series of squats. The idea is to use the same muscle groups as you do when doing a ‘kettle bell goblet squad’ in a conventional weight room. “Logs and stumps are great to use as well, but also just being outdoors and doing activities like running, sprinting, yoga, calisthenics and stretching is also utilizing an earth gym.” Well For Culture adds. The other vital cause the movement promotes is ancestral diet. “Ancestral diet is important on both an individual and community level. It is made up of various important components that all complement one another: economics, cultural value, health, and ecology––all of these are interconnected and it has always been the case from an indigenous point of view.” The ambassadors like to encourage ancestral foods and finding ways to mix them with other

healthy foods and integrating them with daily diets. On their website, Well For Culture shares extensive tips on how to shift to an ancestral-based diet, identifying ancestral foods, and even how to healthily navigate the grocery store if you’re not ready to adopt the ancestral-based diet. There are many people behind Well For Culture- some official, some unofficial, from all over Indian Country. Since it’s a grassroots organization, there are thousands of people out in the world who are doing things to offer progress to the Indigenous wellness, and are considered a part of the movement. However the digital side of the organization is operated by a few people who contribute directly. Participants and ambassadors of the movement are big advocates for sobriety, as they feel sobriety will contribute to more holistic health. “Having a clear conscience to understand

the complex interconnectedness of our world is crucial for our development, individually and communally.” With the growing popularity of their beginner tutorials, Well For Culture, with the help of fellow trainer friends, plans on producing a series of videos breaking down the 7 basic primal movements. “We’ll be doing more tutorial videos on how to use equipment like kettle bells, med balls, steel maces and other multi-function equipment.” The organization is also in the process of developing several exercise systems with more specific target audiences in mind: small children, elders, and women. “We’re always accepting new recipes from all over the country to add to our site. Hopefully some of the Native Max readers will have a few to contribute!” Although there are several trends in the mainstream fitness world that are very much derived from indigenous ways,

it’s not acknowledged as much. For example, movements that contain the terms “primal” or “paleo”. In terms of Well For Culture, the organization is very protective of some of their methodology, as “we would not like it to become watered down and financially exploited. However, we do understand that these ways do not belong to us and are very open to sharing with all cultures.” Wherever the future leads Well For Culture, the important thing for it is that it remains a grassroots organization with a humanitarian mission that continues to offer useful information and services to others who are hoping to improve wellness. “The difference will be that a lot more people will be involved, and we will probably have some youth who start to take over the reins in terms of social media, operating the website and blog, and even teaching workshops.”

Interested in joining #WellForCulture? If you’d like to contribute content, collaborate or submit ideas and recipes, visit www.wellforculture.com and fill out the contact form! JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE

HEALTH Native Athlete Profile

Everett Baxter catches up with Olympian Synchronized Swimmer Mary Killman

ynchronized swimming is a sport in which individual or a team of swimmers perform routines that combine dance, acrobatics and swimming. It requires a swimmer to embody strength, flexibility, endurance, precision and grace. Mary Killman is one such swimmer, but she is much more than just a competitor. She is an Olympian. Mary Killman, an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi Nation of Oklahoma (also of Choctaw ancestry) was born in Ada, Oklahoma. She is the younger of her two brothers. She is currently a senior at Lindenwood University located in Saint Charles, Missouri. Her journey into synchronized swimming began at an early age. Her mother, who nearly drowned at the age of eight, decided that no child of hers was going to experience

that trauma and put Mary into swimming lessons. At just 5 years old, Killman began swimming competitively.nAt 14 years old, she became a national champion and was selected to present the United States as part of team USA in the 2012 London Olympic Games. When asked about returning to the 2016 Summer Olympic Games which will be hosted in Rio De Janeiro located in Brazil, South America, Killman unfortunately responded with a no. “I will not be competing at the games in Rio. I chose to pursue my college career instead of trying out for the team last year, and as a senior in college I sometimes think, ‘well what if I had taken the year off and gone to a second Olympics’ but then I realize I am where I am supposed to be. Lindenwood (university) brought my love for synchronized swimming back

NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

after I had lost it momentarily after the 2012 London Games. Other than my own parents, Lindenwood is my family now, and I have made a commitment to swim for and with my team here through collegiate and U.S. Nationals in April/May of 2016. I will proudly do so as a Lindenwood Lion.” It is astonishing that at the age of 24 years old Killman has accomplished so much, it is shocking news that she plans to retire from synchronized swimming “Well currently the plan is to retire after I graduate college. So May 2016, however no one can really truly ever tell when someone will stop doing what they love. There have been synchro girls who have retired and come back 6 months to even 3 or 4 years later, it’s insane!” As an Olympian/Native Athlete, Killman has certainly earned her status as a role model

in Indian Country. Her message to our future generation is “to remind everyone that life is full of crazy paths. What screws us up is that vision of what were ‘supposed to do’ or who were ‘supposed to be’. We may not pick the path we originally planned, but it doesn’t mean it’s wrong. It simply means there is more greatness lying ahead of us than we originally thought.” Killman is indeed one of the best when it comes to synchronized swimming, her achievements speak for themselves. Although she plans on retiring as she stated but is not for certain, she does not plan on participating in the 2016 Olympic Games but in the mean time until graduation she still plans on electrifying audiences where ever she competes while representing Lindenwood University as a Lion and not to forget the U.S. Nationals competitions.

Photo courtesy of Mary Killman

MARY KILLMAN

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HEALTH

Native Athlete Profile

ALVINA BEGAY Top fit tips and goals of Olympic prospect of Navajo runner Alvina Begay A day in the life of Alvina Begay...

NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Check out Native Max website for Alvina’s daily schedule and more eating tips

My mom pushed my siblings and I to work hard and dream big. I remember as a young girl, my mom telling me that if I kept running, I would get my education paid for, travel the world, meet great people, etc. She also used tough love on my siblings and I when it came to completing college. She also taught us to stay true to our culture and to use Navajo teachings to get through the hard times. What happened after you tried out for the Olympics? I continued running. I had some injuries in 2013 and 2014. I wasn’t able to run very much when I was injured so I completed my Master’s degree and increased my working hours at Flagstaff Medical Center as a Registered Dietitian. Running is such a big part of my life that I get sad and depressed when I’m not able to run or exercise. Going back to school and working was a good distraction while my injuries were healing. I put my knowledge and skills as a RD on the back burner for several years while I was very focused on my running. I feel like it was a good use of my time while I was injured to use my knowledge as an RD to help people. Alongside being a Registered Dietician, do you coach as well? I do some online coaching with the Run S.M.A.R.T. Project. I coach runners all over the world. I like to keep busy. What are your top fit tips?

-Eat breakfast every day -Don’t go too long without eating. If you go too long without eating, you’re more likely to overeat and eat junk -Unless you are exercising for >/= 90 min, you should not be drinking a sports drink. Sports drinks are high in sugar, sodium and other electrolytes. Blood sugar goes down and the body loses electrolytes though sweat when exercising >90 min. Sports drinks brings blood sugar back up and replenishes electrolytes What was the last time you ran in a race? I ran the Louis Tewanima 10K Footrace in September. It was a 10K trail race on the Hopi reservation honoring and remembering 10K Olympic silver medalist Louis Tewanima. Are you currently focused on anything, such as upcoming race or marathon? I am currently focused on qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Trials in the Women’s Marathon. Where do you see yourself in a few years? I can see myself still running competitively and working at the hospital in a year. There are so many things I want to do in the next five years. I have thought about going back to school. I have also thought about settling down a bit. I’ve been on the go, go, go for as long as I can remember. I grew up on a ranch and had horses growing up. I’d love to get some land and a couple of horses.

Photo courtesy of Alvina Begay

unner and athlete Alvina Begay (Navajo) is, and has always been, on the go. As a young girl growing up on the Navajo reservation, Begay followed in her father’s footsteps and ran. She continued to run within her college career, and even trained to represent the U.S. in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. We chat with Begay about training for the 2016 Olympics, her hectic daily schedule, and how she feels about finally settling down after being on the go for so long. Where are you originally from? I was born and raised in Ganado, Arizona. I currently live and train in Flagstaff, Arizona. Ganado, Arizona is a small town located at a high elevation. Has that at all impacted the way you run? Ganado is a small town on the Navajo reservation. There are a lot of dirt roads and trails. There is also a lake that I love to run around. Ganado is located at 6,000 ft. in elevation. I didn’t notice anything about being at altitude until I went down to sea level to race. I felt great when I raced and my times were faster. When living and training at altitude, the body is deprived of oxygen. The body then builds more red blood cells to carry oxygen. At sea level, the body has extra oxygen carrying capacity because of the increased number of red blood cells. I feel very fortunate to have grown up in Ganado. Many runners look for a training location that has numerous dirt trails and is at altitude. Who or what inspired you to run? My dad inspired me to run and my mom encouraged me to dream big. It was the norm watching my dad train and race on weekends. I saw how hard he worked every day to run fast. It was good for me to see that because it showed me how hard I would have to work to accomplish my dreams.

HEALTH Healthy Eating

KEEP IT TRADITIONAL:

NATIVE FOODS

Stay connected to your culture and to each other through traditional Native foods By Johnnie Morris

Traditional Native Recipes: Cherokee Wild Onions and Scrambled Eggs/ 1 cup of Wild Onions 2-3 tbs. of Butter or Bacon drippings ¼ cup of Water 6 Eggs Chop the wild onions into small pieces. Add the butter or bacon drippings to a skillet over medium heat. Add the wild onions and the water. Stir and simmer until the onions are tender. When most of the water has cooked off and the onions are tender, add 6 beaten eggs to the pan. Scramble and Serve. Choctaw Pashofa/ 2 cups Grit Hominy 2 -3 quarts of Water 3 lbs. Pork Backbone Salt

While we mainly think of food as nourishment for our bodies, it plays a significant role in the way that we connect to each other. We use food to celebrate special occasions and to offer comfort and support in times of loss and tragedy. We also use food to casually socialize and conduct business. It is the vehicle through which we can communicate because we bond on a level that transcends socio-cultural barriers through the gathering, preparation and sharing of food. Within Native communities, our foods and diets were a reflection of the symbiotic relationship that we had with the plants, animals, land and waters that provided our sustenance. We considered it a sacred responsibility to maintain healthy and balanced ecosystems that would continue to provide nourishment for our people year after year. But then colonization occurred. We were forced from our home-

lands and no longer had access to our traditional food systems. We were forced to adapt to a new diet that was reliant upon government issued foods that included flour, sugar, domestic raised meats and cheese. This foreign imposed food system was not suited or beneficial to our overall well-being and the impact has been devastating. Our Native communities are dealing with an epidemic of nutritional-related health illnesses like Heart Disease, Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes. Native adults are two times as likely to have diagnosed diabetes as non-Hispanic whites. Our Native youth aged 10 - 19 years are developing Type 2 Diabetes at higher rates than youth from any other ethnic group. Poverty and the rurality of our communities also play a huge role in why nutritional-related health issues are so prevalent among our nations. This is why there is a resurgence of tribal nations and organizations

reclaiming our traditional food systems. We are seeing more tribes working to gain control and provide access to their traditional food sources through seed saving and heirloom agriculture. We are seeing a rise in native farming enterprises, farmers’ markets, and even restaurants that specialize in serving traditional and “decolonized” native cuisine. The continued survival our cultures depend upon the restoration of our traditional Native food systems. Through the exchange of traditional food knowledge and traditions, it allows us, as native people, to return to a healthy, balanced and culturally based diet that can reduce and prevent nutritional-related diseases. In the process, it also allows us heal from the effects of colonization by strengthening our connection to our culture and to each other by growing, preparing and sharing food together.

Add the water to your pot over medium heat.Wash the hominy before adding it to the water. Parboil the hominy and then add the pork backbone. Use salt to season to taste. Stir the stew frequently and cook until the hominy and pork are fully cooked. Serve. Hazruquive/ 6 Ears Dried White or Speckled Corn, broken in half 1 Bunch Bean Sprouts 1 lb. Salt Pork (or 1/2 cup pork drippings) 1/4 c salt Wash corn well to remove dust. Put corn into a saucepan, cover with water, and add salt and salt pork or drippings. Cover saucepan and simmer corn until tender, usually overnight. Using a crock pot is more preferable though. Then, wash the bean sprouts until the water runs clear. Cut the bean sprouts to 1 1/2 inch lengths, and add to corn. Cover and continue simmering for 3 hours or until sprouts are tender and the kernels on the cobs pop. Recipes collected by Johnnie Morris

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE

FEATURE

Cover Story

POWERFUL PAIR Anthony Thosh Collins and Chelsey Luger are a powerful pair determined to bring back indigenized fitness to Indian Country, whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be by photography, writing, or their work with Well For Culture.

BY KELLY HOLMES PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTHONY THOSH COLLINS

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE

FEATURE

hotographer Anthony Thosh Collins and part-teacher-part-journalist Chelsey Luger seem to have a lot in common. Both grew up playing sports and both, admittingly, weren’t healthy at one point or another in their lives. However within the last few years Thosh and Chelsey have decided to turn to a more healthy and active lifestyle, and wanted to help Native communities as well. We talk with the powerful pair about their fitness journeys, the idea behind Well For Culture and how they use their respective platforms to help promote the wellbeing of Indian Country. Native Max: Were you both always active your whole life? Thosh: Yes when I was a teen I always played basketball and was into break-dancing until my early 20’s, then I started getting into combat sports and learning about functional fitness. Chelsey: Yes. Growing up I played all sports and was a ballet dancer. I started getting into fitness and training when I was in my early 20s living in New York City. NM: Can you explain a time where you were unhealthy? On the way to being healthy physically and mentally, did you feel like giving up? Chelsey: I used to party like a maniac in my college years and early 20s! I think there was also a phase where I was a lot more materialistic and superficial or insecure as well. I was never entirely inactive or “let myself go” as they say but I did have a few moments where I was like “dang” because I’ve seen all the damage that alcohol and drugs have done to my family and community, and at some point I decided to reject it completely. I was like screw this, I’m not going to put another ounce of energy or support into this destructive liquid that is so antithetical to my cultural and familial values! So the fact that I had a few really bad hangovers actually has helped me in the long run, because it made me think really hard about the idea of wasting even one good day of my precious life on self-induced sickness, and I didn’t want to do it anymore. So I dropped it I’ve never looked back. I love being healthy and alive with a fully intact mind and spirit. Thosh: Through my years of college in San Francisco and living in Los Angeles and being in my early 20’s I kind veered off my path of being well; I’m 33 now and

still recovering from that stage. I knew I was living out of balance and always knew I’d get back to living well, I just didn’t know when. There was a time when I couldn’t imagine being able to go out and have fun without having a drink or going out to eat and not craving something junky. But as time went on I experienced things in life that left with no choice but to put that all away, luckily I was not as bad as I thought and was able to just say to myself, “nah, I don’t need any of that stuff in my life. I’d rather be a part of something big and for the people”. And so I quit drinking and occasional using, from there I attracted a whole new set of people in my life; it’s just the way the universe works. NM: Thosh, explain your work with Native Wellness Institute. I first became involved with NWI when I was a teen, I used to attend their native youth leadership conferences with a youth group from my rez. They’ve had a huge impact on my idea of native holistic wellness. As I got older I moved on to college, veered off that path, got back on and found myself involved and giving back by working with NWI––they took me in and to teach me the ropes. I became a board member in 2012. NM: Could you explain your mission of “indigenizing” fitness and diet. Is it at all difficult to spread the wellness movement across Indian Country? Indigenizing fitness is a state of mind as much as it is a practice; it is being conscious of the idea that being a productive indigenous person also requires a certain level of health; incorporating cultural values to your fitness ethic; being aware of your surroundings and being able to adapt to any environment to exercise your body. My mission is to spread that way of life by leading by example; collaborating with other like-minded people and using social media to popularize it. It can be difficult to spread this message when there is so much to compete with for our people’s attention––there are a lot of distractions in popular culture but I have faith that the spirit of wellness will reach more hearts and minds. NM: How do you both use your current professions or careers to address health concerns across Indian Country? Thosh: I’m a photographer, it was always part of my business’s mission to help portray native people

“If I stay strong in a holistic way: mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically, I will be strong for my people and my family, and that’s a mission I take seriously.”

NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE

NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

in a positive light, but recently I’ve focused more on producing stylized images of native people in fitness. The idea is to help contribute to the shift in consciousness of whole and healthy native people and create more awareness through photos and videos. I produce all the photography that we use on Well For Culture. Chelsey: I am a journalist and writer, and I also teach and work with Native students at the undergraduate level. In my work with students, I am always paying attention to their habits: not just their struggles, but the areas in which they excel. My students teach me every day how to better connect with the younger generations, they offer insight into what they need or what they’d like to see happen in our communities, and have helped me to realize how possible and tangible it is to connect with and influence the youth in a positive way through tools like social media. As a writer with access to both Native-focused and mainstream publications, I use my platform to promote and spread information about Indigenous health and wellness. There are a ton of incredible things happening all over the world regarding health, wellness, and Native strength, and I want to share those stories so that everybody can be reminded that we’re not just a downtrodden people experiencing postcolonial peril. We are powerful. Sometimes even we forget that ourselves, but it’s important to always remain optimistic and positive and ready to develop and grow. My writing skills also come in handy while creating content for the website: every little thing needs a text edit, whether it’s a long blog post or a little blurb under one of our YouTube videos. I’m the go-to for that. NM: Why is it important for you to be healthy and fit? Thosh: For me it’s important to be holistically healthy because I want to be a crucial part to the development of my community’s future: culturally, spiritually and mentally. I want to have a long life, free of diseases and to be able to enjoy my friends and family. I think decolonization also requires indigenous bodies to be well, not just mentally, emotionally, spiritually but physically as well, I think that concept often gets left behind. It was

“It was always normal for our ancestors to be in pretty good health.”

always normal for our ancestors to be in pretty good health. The indigenous approach is not so much about putting emphasis on looks/cosmetics. I think our society is too obsessed with looking ‘fit’ and I see how that causes implications with body image in native country. Looking ‘fit’ doesn’t always mean a person’s body is healthy and whole with a clear mind and good heart, nor does it ensure someone is a crucial component to nation building. If anything being ‘fit’ is simply a side effect of living well and a life of purpose. That is the decolonized/indigenized approach to fitness. Chelsey: Taking care of yourself and not making other people worry about you is the best way that you can take care of others. I firmly believe that. If I stay strong in a holistic way: mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically, I will be strong for my people and my family, and that’s a mission I take seriously. It’s also about self respect and self love. You gotta love yourself and take full advantage of the gift of life. Show yourself what you can do with your time. Push yourself. Challenge yourself. I like being a strong lady - I’ll admit that! NM: What’s your daily exercise and meal plan? Do you have any go-to moves or exercises? Thosh: My daily exercise depends on my energy level. I work from home and so I also like to work out at home as well as going on the land or to the fitness center on the rez. I usually start off with a dynamic warm up or I shadow box, then I do some

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE

kinda animal flows, those always get my heart rate up and warm up the muscles. Then I usually swing around some kettle bells, a steel mace or do some bodyweight flows on a pair of parallel bars that I made. I use lots of callisthenic exercises in my regimen because it really challenges the body. As for meal plan, I don’t really have a strict plan I stick to, the overall plan is to just cook and eat real foods/ native foods and to make sure I have enough protein to calories ratio. I travel a lot so sometimes I have to compromise my choices, and I’m ok with that. Being too strict will lead you to ‘falling off ’ your diet at some point. By changing your food desires to real food and seeing food as energy, but being ok with compromising your diet choices once in awhile is a fine line, but I’ve found that you get more longevity that way. Chelsey: It depends on the day! I don’t get too locked into routines - I can’t because I’m always traveling and always changing things up. The past 6 months I was really into home workouts, training in my living room, bodyweight exercise and pilates. But now I’m ready to get back in the gym and get more into weight training again and maybe even some kind of boxing or martial arts. In the past I’ve been through yoga phases, heavy weight training phases… it really is a matter of circumstance. I just do whatever kind of exercise is going to make me happy that day and I listen to my body and do what I think it needs and I try to challenge myself. People come up to me and think that I spend hours a day in the gym, but it’s not even like that. If I get in a good workout 3 or 4 times a week I’m happy. Of course I have my lazy days too - we all do. I don’t beat myself up over it. I just do what feels right and what’s fun, and it’s been working out well for me so far. I have some long term goals that I’m going to be approaching more seriously soon. I definitely don’t have a meal plan, I can’t ascribe to something so rigid. It doesn’t work with my personality. I just try to eat clean and ancestral as often as possible. I snack a lot. I love anybody who is willing to cook for me because I don’t like to cook. I’ll do the dishes! NM: Do you have any idols or persons of inspiration you look up to? Chelsey: Too many to list. That’s what it’s all about - drawing strength and influence from those who came before us, putting in our all for those who will come after us. And surrounding ourselves with people who will contribute to the healthy energy and positivity that we work hard to protect. I guess I think about everybody - all of the thousands and millions of people who have struggled so that I can be here - and I try not to let them down.

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Thosh: I have so many people who inspired me throughout my short time of living. I think it’s very much important for everyone to have mentors to learn from and consult with. I would not be the same person had I not had mentors guiding me through this crazy world. NM: What keeps you motivated and on track? Chelsey: My family and community are always huge motivators because I want to make them proud and represent them well. I’m also inspired by my readers and viewers: every time I get a message that somebody was influenced positively by one of my articles or something on the website, it’s a reminder to keep going. Then there’s integrity: I recognize that I have a platform to set an example for other Native women and youth, and I take that very seriously. And Thosh, of course! He’s the best friend and partner I could ask for. We make work fun, and we share an undying passion for wellness. Our partnership helps me a lot with staying on track. We each have our role and I’m determined to play mine to the best of my ability. To be honest, the work in and of itself is almost easy to do, because I never wake up feeling like I’m wasting my time. I always know that it’s worthwhile. Thosh: What keeps me motivated is the people I surround myself with, physically and the cyber world. Everyone I associate with are productive and doing big things, that really motivates me to stay well. Chelsey is a big part of my inspiration, we share the same vision and she’s very talented and motivated in this journey; I can always rely on her! I also find much inspiration from learning about our culture values and how brilliant our native ancestors were; I’d love to be a part of that continuum. NM: Is there anything you’d like to add, or like to let the readers know? Chelsey: I just want to emphasize that wellness is a journey. We don’t have all the answers, nor do we claim to, but we’re trying very hard to create a space for creative learning and positive inspiration. I just want to see everybody give wellness a chance. Think about this stuff. Take it seriously. It’s not just about looking cool, it’s about nation building and solidarity, and that’s huge. Thosh: I would like to encourage everyone to continue on a life of purpose, become self-actualized, see yourself a part of something big; get involved with efforts to spread wellness and re-install cultural values. Our ancestors did that for us, now let us do it even better for our next generation! Let’s put our hearts and minds together to find our way once again for the sake of protecting our way of life, future generations and our precious mother earth!

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE

FEATURE

THE NEXT WAVE OF NATIVE PRO-ATHLETES

By Kelly Holmes & Mercedes Montgomery

NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Photo courtesy of Yvette Feekes

They’re determined, driven and talented. These Native athletes are already making splashes across Indian Country, and they haven’t even started yet

FEATURE

ELISABETH “BIZZY” FEEKES Tribe: Winnebago

Photo courtesy of Sharon Chamberlain

Elisabeth Feekes, or Bizzy for short, is a Sheldon High School student and is affiliated with the Winnebago tribe. Her family, community, and team know her for her invaluable volleyball jump serves on the court and strong character off the court. Bizzy’s coach Danielle Walder said “during one of our early games this season, Bizzy had 19 serves in a row that gave us an amazing lead for that game. Because of her jump serves we were easily able to win that game.” Walder also pointed out that Bizzy puts in countless hours of practice during the off season to better herself. Bizzy’s biggest strength in volleyball is her ability to play multiple positions on the court. Describing one of the more difficult games of her career, Bizzy explained, “my proudest moment as an athlete was when my club team won a tournament despite the odds being against us.” Bizzy’s team was set to play a tournament in Minnesota, against teams who didn’t like them. “The team we played to get to the championship match was very talented. They were very confident and my team was worried.” From the moment Bizzy’s team stepped onto the court, they knew they had to fight for every point. After three games, Bizzy’s team walked away with the win. “Their coach was so upset she refused to shake our hands.” Then, Bizzy and company had to play the championship match. “If being tired wasn’t enough, we had to play the host team, and the coach from the team we had just beaten was our referee.” The gym echoed with rival fans shouting rude insults at the girls. “They even whispered mean things when we had to stand near them to serve the ball.” Finally, we won and I never thought it would feel so good to get booed. We learned that day that it didn’t matter what was against us, as long as we played as a team and fought for each other, we were unstoppable.” The importance that Bizzy gives to being a team player is noticed by others. “As a player, I think the best thing about her

is the way she wants everyone to do well,” Yvette Feekes, Bizzy’s mother, explained. “She will be more excited about her teammates getting a great hit or serving an ace than she is when she does it.” Feekes also describes Bizzy as a tenacious perfectionist. “When she does anything, she isn’t going to give anything less than her best. She gets good grades, she is a hard worker on and off the court, she has the heart for service.” While Bizzy claims she is obsessed with volleyball, she hopes to eventually become a missionary overseas. She is just starting to look at colleges, and currently one of her dream schools is Kuyper College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Bizzy’s athletic hero is Olympic long distance runner Louis Zamperini. She holds Zamperini in such high regard because he rebounded after facing many odds, and also the depth of character he showed when he returned after World War II to forgive the Japanese prison guards who tortured him during his captivity. When asked about the importance of mentoring, Bizzy stressed the importance of investing in our collective future via time spent with youth. “Most of the time, kids just want to know someone cares. And once they find an adult that cares, they are more likely to listen to what that adult says,” she explains. “Some kids don’t have a good role model in their life and just need someone to direct them. Adults just need to show that they care and kids will be more likely to trust them and listen to what they have to say.” Looking to the future, Bizzy shared her positive outlook in life. “One message I want to share not only with Native youth but adults is that attitude makes a huge difference in all areas of life. If you spend time worrying about things you can’t control, you’ll never be happy. And if you spend a lot of time feeling sorry for yourself, you’re never going to be able to move forward to achieve things. Control the things you can, but don’t stress about the things you can’t.”

THE ETCITTY SISTERS Tribe: Navajo While football has the Manning brothers, tennis has the Williams sisters, and basketball has the Schimmel sisters, there is another pair of siblings to watch out for: the Etcitty sisters from the Navajo nation. The noteworthy pair are both dynamos on and off the soccer field. Hannah Etcitty is the older of the two, and currently attends Chicago State University in Chicago, Illinois. She is a member of Honors College and will be graduating in May with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She hopes to attend graduate school and play another two years of soccer, and ultimately land a job with the FBI. Riley Grace Etcitty is the younger sister. Grace attends Miyamura High School and hopes to someday become a Marine Biologist and study at either New Mexico State University or University of California, San Diego. Grace is president of her Student Council, a member of the Key Club, the National Honor Society secretary, and an Anti-Bullying team leader. Both girls have exceptional academic records. When asked why sports are important in their lives, Hannah replied, “I think that sports are very important to people because it teaches you how to work with others towards a goal. It keeps you in shape, and it also allows you to have connections with people who may mean something to you in the long run.” Hannah’s proudest moment was making it to a Division 1 college and getting to show Illinois what New Mexico can bring. “Signing that contract like, finally... I did it. Someone wanted me and sees me for my skill and heart.” Hannah and Grace’s message for the Native youth is, “You do not have to limit yourself to where you come from. Never give up your dreams. Sports are a great way to help you accomplish them and even if you don’t succeed, at least you tried.”

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE

FEATURE SAVANNAH CHAMBERLAIN

ELI SMITH Tribe: Ho-Chunk Elijah Thomas Smith, or simply Eli, is a member of the Ho-Chunk nation and attends Black River Falls Senior High School. He participates in the Native Youth Student Council and competed in the 2014 North American Indigenous Games. Eli will also be completing in the 2017 North American Indigenous games. He is a versatile athlete known for his skills in cross country, track and basketball. Steve Markee —the coach for the cross country, wrestling, and track teams at the high school— pointed out the two varsity letters that Eli earned. “Eli is a very likable young man with a great personality. He has a great sense of humor. Eli is a talented athlete. In this community it is hard for students to stay involved in athletics. There’s a lot of pressure to get involved in things that are not good for people. Eli has avoided getting into these negative activities and maintains his status as a good student and excellent athlete.” Markee explains. Assistant cross country and track coach Paul Rykken described Eli as “a role model, in my mind, because he is a respectful and thoughtful young man. He is proud of his heritage and is a leader in that regard also.” Eli’s proudest accomplishment to date was training for and completing the Honolulu Marathon in Oahu, Hawaii, when he was only 12 years old. Despite being one of the youngest competitors, he finished in 5 hours, 19 minutes, and 49 seconds. He hopes that in the future he will be able to be of service to his people and his family, as he wants to help give back to his community. Eli looks up to both Billy Mills and Steve Prefontaine, and he hopes to be just like them someday. His personal hero is his mom though, because she has always been there to support him. Eli is a bright young man and an outstanding artist as well. He hopes to become a member of the Armed Forces someday and is considering college. Eli’s message for Native youth: Keep yourself busy and always be learning to better yourself, challenge yourself, and don’t quit. To adults, he implored, “please support any Native youth in any sports, we could always use it.” When asked how as adults we could do better by our youth, he responded simply with, “time, spend time with us.”

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Savannah Chamberlain is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin and is a gifted volleyball player. Savannah attends high school in South Sioux City and also holds the title of Miss Creighton University 2015-2016. Savannah’s proudest moment as an athlete is during her senior year of high school volleyball when her team played against a team they haven’t ever beaten before. “One of my teammates, the middle blocker, hit the ball to the ten foot line in the court and we all got excited and cheered loud.” According to Savannah, next point after that was when they dug the ball up from their serve receive. “I was set and I hit it right at the ten foot line. I remember how crazy loud we got after having 2 of us hit the 10 feet line on the opponent’s side twice in a row.” What made this more exciting for Savannah was the fact she was an under-height hitter. “But having that happen during a game just was amazing. I trained a lot to have that happen, and it finally did. I hit the 10 foot line and it was amazing!” Her one true athletic hero is her uncle Joba Chamberlain. “It’s awesome to know my uncle is in the MLB [Major League Baseball] because it tells us as a Native American we can make it to the big leagues like he did. He followed his dream to continue to play the sport he loved and it inspired me a lot to know that if I continue to work hard that could happen to me.” Savannah shows her strength of character beyond volleyball though. Her mother, Sharon Redhorn Chamberlain, explained, “Savannah makes me proud because she is disciplined and focused on her school studies, volleyball and her cultural ways. She manages her time by making sure her grades are good, staying fit and making it to powwows or other cultural events.” Savannah gives back to her community by holding free volleyball camps for younger girls, helps with elementary volleyball camps, and in even volunteers in local drives for the homeless. Chamberlain adds, “She

remains alcohol and drug-free and wants to be a role model to young athletes.” “I am most proud of my daughter because she has grown to become a kind and generous person. She knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to try,” describes Savannah’s father Brian Chamberlain. “She was always a very good girl who liked doing things with her teams and in the circle. She is a very grounded person with a rock solid understanding of who she is and where she comes from.” Savannah not only plays volleyball, but she loves to dance her style at powwows in which she has won numerous crowns. Most recently Savannah was crowned the Creighton University powwow princess crown. She will hold this crown until late spring 2016. Savannah hopes to study at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Nebraska, or the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Wisconsin for a degree in education and law. Savannah loves learning stories and poetry from the older generation long ago. “Something about them is just interesting, and it helps with learning how they spoke and wrote back then.” Riley Meier, one of Savannah’s teachers, stated positive attitude as her biggest strengths. “No matter what situation she is placed in, she always has a positive attitude and pushes through the situation.” Savannah shows strength in her responsibility traits as well. Not only does Savannah finish her homework and maintain good grades, she is always there when her peers need her. “Savannah displays many strengths, but among all, I believe her positive attitude is her biggest strength.” Savannah’s dedication was evident in the message that she hoped to impart to other Native youth. “If you’re in love with a sport and very passionate about it, keep chasing your dream. The only person stopping you is you. There are going to be people out there that will try to stop you, but you got to ignore them and keep moving forward. Hard work beats talent, and I’ve seen it happen many times.”

Savannah Chamberlain: photos courtesy of Sharon Chamberlain; Eli Smith: Photo courtesy of Rosalind Falcon

Tribe: Ho-Chunk

GALEN ANDREW BOLTZ Tribe: Lakota

Galen Andrew Boltz: Photo by Kernit Grimshaw

Galen Andrew Boltz is an all-around athlete and member of the Rosebud reservation in South Dakota. He competes for the wrestling, cross country, track, football, and baseball teams at Todd County High School in Mission, South Dakota. Galen believes that playing sports teaches a person to have a healthy lifestyle and strong mind, as well as an opportunity to learn teamwork, self-control, and respect. Bob Kornely, Galen’s football and track coach, says, “He is one of our best student athletes in our school. He is a three- and four- sport athlete that maintains good grades, is very well behaved, and loves to compete. He is a good role model for our younger kids.” One of Galen’s proudest moments was when his grandparents, Bernadette “Sassy” Shield Him and Ron “Papa Ron” Wewenis from the Kickapoo Reservation, surprised him at the homecoming football game this season. His parents are equally proud of him, sharing that he has won 46 medals between his freshman and junior years of high school. Alongside his already busy athletic schedule, Galen is also a member of the school’s chess club, a former trumpet player in the school band, and also serves as a mentor in the Tokala Injanyo Suicide Prevention Program. In the scant free time that he has, Galent spends

time outdoors on his dirt bike or camping. He also goes to sweat ceremonies to clear his head and pray for family. This past summer he was the fire keeper at Sundance. Galen’s mathematics instructor, Aries Rivers Yumul, said, “He is exceptionally gifted in mathematics and what makes him a leader in my eyes is his willingness to help others who struggle in math and discover ways to reach his classmates who may see mathematics differently than he does. His strength is coupled with his weakness because he is unbelievably hard working, even coming in on holidays, such as Veteran’s day, to get additional help or to help others at school; but this leaves him with very little room to rest.” Galen hopes to go on to college and study Psychology at either Haskell Indian Nations University, Briar Cliff, South Dakota State University, or Fort Lewis College. He hopes to help other Native families in the future to break the cycle of violence, drugs, alcohol, and abuse. Galen’s message of self-betterment is evident in his advice to youths: “Always listen to your parents, stay out of trouble, stay in school, always respect your elders, and say no to drugs!”

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE

NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016