NextGen Native

“My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father. Prepare to die.”

Joe Sarcinella is not Inigo Montoya from the Princess Bride. He is not seeking to avenge the death of his father. But Joe promised his father he would complete a 100 mile race that his father could not complete. Joe’s drive came from this promise. The question was: could it get him across the finish line?

When Joe was a child, his father attempted a 100 mile race but had to stop at mile 89 due to an injury. MILE 89. Joe thought this a travesty. And as a kid, Joe promised his father that he would one day finish the race for him. He would run a 100 mile race in honor of his father. Little did he know the challenges he would face or the lessons he would learn.

I interviewed Joe last year and we discussed his training regimen and his journey to becoming more healthy, losing more than 85 pounds in the process. I was amazed at his focus and decided that I would interview him after he ran the race. He recently competed. This interview is the follow up after the race.

Joe could not finish the 100 miles. The terrain was steeper and more difficult than he anticipated, resulting in twisted knees and ankles. The weather hovered in the 80s for a large chunk of the race, resulting in cramps and dehydration. After training on flat land, he realized quickly that it would be a tough go over steep, unforgiving hills on a narrow trail.

Joe wanted to quit at mile 38. Think about that. Joe ran 1.5 marathons, but was less than 40 percent completed with this race. Even though he was an athlete, he never had to utilize a well this deep to continue.

Joe eventually ran over 60 miles in his effort. He received a buckle for completing 100 kilometers, which he gave immediately to his father.

On this episode of the podcast we discuss the day of the race, the support he received and his plans for the future. We also discuss the impact this race had on his life. As cheesy as it sounds, I even found a little bit of Forrest Gump in Joe’s story. Joe thought he was running for his father but realized he was probably running more for himself. But that lesson that is not learned without going through the process itself. It is a lesson learned in catharsis.

At the end of the day, Joe accomplished something remarkable. He also found some balance in the outcome. He seems totally content with the results. But he has a bit of wisdom he received. But he is not looking backward with regret knowing now what he does. He is not strewing in any self-defeat but wondering “if I knew how to train for next time…” and “what other endeavors will I take on to challenge myself.”

Even though I did not run the race, I learned a lot from listening to Joe’s experience. You will, too.

Kalika Davis is Dine, Ute, Chippewa and Northern European. She is the owner of Salon Tallou. The business is an organic hair salon, but also includes space for other holistic healing center. She is currently a Native Entrepreneur in Residence with New Mexico Community Capital.

Kalika grew up in Bellingham, Washington before moving back to the Albuquerque area during middle school. Her family moved back to the southwest in order to be closer to other family and Central New Mexico Community College before going on to earn her cosmetology degree.

She became interested in hair design after spending some time with family in Mexico City where her cousin was a stylist. We discuss the incredible impact someone in this field can have on their clients. Hair care is incredibly intimate, and as Kalika describes, can be very therapeutic. This bond has created friendships with her clients and they share important aspects of their lives with each other.

Kalika opened her salon after realizing she realized there were no organic salons in ABQ that were not using chemicals. She found a great space for a business and decided to take the leap. But it’s more than just a hair salon. Her business now employs several individuals that contribute to a more holistic experience for clients beyond haircare, including massages and Ayurveda services. She also has several interns from the Native American Community Academy. She also plans to open her space for more community events.

Kalika became involved with the Native Entrepreneur in Residence after being connected by a friend, and fellow podcast interviewee, Warren Montoya from Rezonate Art. The program focuses on providing mentorship and support to Native businesses.

Evelyn Lazaro also joined us for the conversation. She joined Salon Tallou after participating in the internship through the academy. Eventually she was offered a full time job at the salon. Evelyn is also a student at Central New Mexico Community College.

It’s great to see a business that started out of a need, and is growing to provide more services for the community. It’s also amazing to see the amazing resources and support for Kalika’s business: networking, mentorship and more, both formally and informally. Kalika is now using the business to pay forward some of the support through her internships with NACA. It’s a great story of a NextGen Native making impacts in people’s daily lives.

Nikke Alex is Dine. It was awesome to get to speak with another former WINS intern on the podcast, and to see what all of us are doing TEN YEARS LATER! She is currently a third-year law student at the University of New Mexico. She is also a self-described nerd. And when you listen to her story, you understand that it is an awesome/honest assessment!

I was blown away at Nikke’s stories about the projects she undertook on her own as a child. It was cool to see someone who was so self-driven in their studies and interests, even when she was on the road with her rodeo family! That academic skill set led her mother to encourage her to leave home during high school to get the education that could challenge her and help Nikke to continue growing. She attended a school in California that had several unique aspects, including the tending of horses for freshmen. She became comfortable interacting with classmates who came from wealthy families. But at the school, everyone was just another student.

After high school, Nikke Alex was determined to attend the University of Arizona. While basketball was a large driver for this decision (Nikke is a die hard basketball fan), she also wanted to be closer to home and among more Native students. However, she encountered cold shoulders from many Native students who thought she was “too white.” A recent article in the New York Times described this experience that persists for many students of color. Although taken aback with this reaction, she found friends in the international student circles.

After school she was thrust into a leadership role as an Executive Director for a grassroots organization that worked with fellow Navajos. This work was very locally based but stretched to international work, coordinating projects with other organizations as part of the United Nations.

Nikke eventually burned herself out through all the work and decided to travel for some time. She eventually started doing some consulting and also started her own blog to document her travels. Her current adventure is law school. She has been able to study and work several of her interests through the law school, including hosting an upcoming forum on teen dating [link to PDF].

It was a fun conversation and amazing to see what Nikke Alex has accomplished in her short career, and also to see what she will accomplish moving forward.

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Tanaya Winder is a citizen of the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe. She is also Pyramid Lake Paiute, and Southern Ute. She grew up in Ignacio, Colorado, on the Southern Ute Reservation. She describes herself as a writer, artist, manager, and oh yeah, the Director of an Upward Bound program.

As a kid, Tanaya knew she would attend Stanford. She just knew it. Tanaya thought she would become a lawyer, but wanted some exposure to liberal arts while an undergraduate. She applied to other schools, and was admitted to these schools, but ultimately decided to fulfill her goal that she had for years to attend Stanford. There were some moments when the certainty was in question.

After her grandfather passed away while she was in high school, she spent time working at a casino instead of attending school (though she had enough credits). She thought that she would just continue working at the casino until she realized her grandfather would want her to finish her education. When she returned to school, one of the few classes that would allow her to enroll was a creative writing class. Tanaya Winder found the writing helped her through the difficult time after her grandfather’s death.

While attending Stanford, Tanaya eventually switched majors to focus on her creative side. It took time for her to overcome imposter syndrome. After enduring a friend’s suicide, she found that the creative writing continued to help her process her grief. She eventually went on to earn a Master's of Fine Arts from the University of New Mexico, all the while trying to find her voice as an artist. She did, and now she has a collection of works published in the book Words Like Love.

While attending school she also began working for Upward Bound after a position opened that was too good to pass up. This is where The Hustle emerged. To pay for her tuition she also was teaching at the University of New Mexico. For a while, she was commuting between Albuquerque and Boulder.

After completing her degree, the Director position opened up with Upward Bound and she was able to step into the role at Boulder. She continued her hustle; teaching at the University of New Mexico, and then added a new title to the mix: manager. Tanaya Winder met Frank Waln during a performance at the University of Colorado. They became friends and eventually, he asked her to be his manager. She also now manages Mic Jordan and Tall Paul.

Last but not least, Tanaya Winder and Frank Waln created Dream Warriors Scholarship to support Native American artists in higher education. It’s awesome to see such a talented person putting all of their energy into the world through a variety of outlets

Be sure to check out Tanaya’s work, and the artists that she is supporting through her management and through the scholarship.

Aaron Yazzie is Navajo. He is currently a Mechanical Engineer at NASA at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Anaheim, California.

Aaron Yazzie’s journey began on the Navajo Nation where he excelled as a student. His mother, a teacher, and his father, an engineer, emphasized education from an early age. Aaron knew that college was in his future. But even as a gifted student, he doubted whether he was “good enough” to get into the schools he wanted to get into.

In high school Aaron attended College Horizons (and Upward Bound, too), a program for Native American high school students. The organization exposes Native students to college and vise versa. Aaron met someone from Stanford University, who encouraged him to apply to Stanford. Even with good grades, a drive for school, and encouragement by university staff, he was not confident he would be admitted. Thankfully, Aaron was only suffering from imposter syndrome, and was able to enroll at Stanford.

Aaron Yazzie studied mechanical engineering while at Stanford. He also lived at the Native American house on campus. Although gifted academically, Aaron found he had to work harder at Stanford, and that the competition was stiff.

During college, Aaron worked as an intern with NASA, and realized it was somewhere he enjoyed working. He never thought NASA was somewhere a mechanical engineer could work. He spent two summers in college with NASA and applied for a job. He successfully transitioned internships with NASA to full time employment. Aaron has even worked on components that have been to space already, with one of his first assignments being part of the team that developed the Mars Rover.

Aaron and I discussed what it is like to be a Native employee. There are a handful, at most, at NASA JPL. This is why Aaron spends much of his time with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES). Aaron benefited from AISES as a student and sees the need to increase Native representation in the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) and is now working to give back to the organization, and encourage more Native students to study these fields.

I enjoy hearing the stories of NextGen Natives on each podcast episode. But Aaron Yazzie is the first engineer I’ve been able to connect with, and his work is pretty amazing. I look forward to meeting more Natives like Aaron that are building things that we can use, or at least are part of something is going where no human has ventured before!

One of the tensions NextGen Natives experience, I believe, is whether your work faces outward to the broader world or inward towards Indian Country. By focusing on efforts that face outward, your goal is to broaden the exposure of Indian Country to others, to educate, to transcend. Efforts inward may focus on addressing an issue, or empowering, etc. but perhaps with little support or focus from outside Indian Country. John Pepion is currently straddling both, and may be on the cusp of getting BIG.

John Pepion is a member of the Blackfeet Nation. He grew up in Birch Creek on the reservation. John is a young ledger artist. His work is captivating and incorporates both traditional scenes one expects from ledger art, and contemporary scenes captured in a familiar medium. I came across John Pepion after someone retweeted a blog post written about John’s work. This wasn’t just any blog, it was Instragram’s blog. As a fan of ledger art I dove into his Instragram account. I reached out to him to be on the podcast. He agreed and we had a great conversation.

John Pepion’s story touches on many familiar themes from the podcast. He got into trouble as a teenager. His mom send him around to live with other family to stay out of trouble. Looking back on it, he realized he had and maintains to this day a strong support network.

John floated around after earning his GED. He attended United Tribes Technical College and focused on art, but did not take it seriously. Later he applied to the Institute for American Indian Art after some encouragement. Though he was accepted, he did not attend at first. Eventually he did, and it was his last year in school when he started to dabble in ledger art.

But it wasn’t until 2009, after a car accident, that he really found his passion for his art. It became his way of avoiding depression while recovering from his injuries. After that, it seemed all he did was diver deeper into his work. Even then he did not like to call himself an artist.

He began selling pieces at home for $5 while in college, but eventually found he could make his living off his art, even if it took long hours and a lot of hustle. But his work is more than just his business. He volunteers at schools with kids and at recovery centers. He shows people how to use art for their own personal benefit.

John’s story shows that even if you don’t know what you want to do, find yourself in some trouble you can still find the right path for you. It is never too late to focus. And in John’s case, his passion also kept him from sliding back into trouble.

It’s awesome to see a Native artist getting attention from Indian Country and beyond. I expect he will continue to put out amazing art that can be appreciated by anyone.

I recently found one of the best examples of managing success and leadership that I’ve read in a long time. It did not come from a scion of enterprise. It came from NFL running back Marshawn Lynch, aka Beast Mode. I found the nugget of wisdom while reading American Way, the inflight magazine of American Airlines. At the time the NFL season was about to begin and the issue was dedicated to all things football.

For those who don’t follow football (and for those that are not fans of Lynch/Seahawks, etc. I urge you to keep reading, too), Lynch is the running back for the Seattle Seahawks. He is generally recognized as one of the best, if not the best, running backs in the NFL. His nickname is Beast Mode. Originally given for his running style on the field, it has evolved into something larger than football. It’s more than just a name, it’s a state of being. Lynch provided a prime example of what Beast Mode means when he made this insane run against the New Orleans Saints in 2011.

Since then, his fame has grown, and the brand of Beast Mode with him. Many learned more about Lynch from the significant media attention he received during the 2014-2015 season. Lynch often refused to engage in media interviews, being fined by the NFL, and then ultimately answering each question during an interview at the Super Bowl with “I’m here so I won’t get fined.”

Some loved it and some hated it. There was a lot of coverage about who his actions and his responsibilities as a player. But few took the time during the hoopla to dig into who he really is as a person.

Cue the American Way interview.

The article was a deep dive into Lynch as a person off the field. He is dedicated to his community where he grew up in Oakland, CA. In particular, the article connected what the infamous run (aka Beast Quake) means in the larger context of Lynch’s life. The article states:

For Lynch, the run represented more than a fabulous football play. The effort and determination it took was a reflection of his effort to lift himself out of a tough North Oakland neighborhood, where he was raised in a single-parent household. “My mom worked three jobs at a time and supported four kids on her own,” Lynch says. “We had no father figure. I never thought about the NFL because I’d never seen it done. That run symbolizes the way that I feel with my life, growing up to my career right now.”

Beast Mode worked hard to get where he is. There is no doubting it, especially for the top running back who has spent countless hours in the gym, watching film, enduring interviews, etc. This run could mean the culmination of individual effort to get to the top of his profession. We hear this much in sports, and life generally. An individual’s success is due to their effort, skill and experience. This is not denied. The narrative often stops there. But not with Beast Mode. He elaborated on what the run really means for him:

“The significant thing about that play is you will see me doing a lot of work,” he says, “but you’ve got to remember there was an offensive line that beat me to the end zone. There were two receivers making key blocks. As much as people want to give me credit, it was my support system that actually made it happen. When I say that run symbolizes my life and my career, it’s the absolute truth about how I really feel. I’m going to give it everything I’ve got, and if I need help along the way, I’m going to ask for it.”

Beast Mode recognizes that his success is more than just his individual effort. It is more than just the effort of his team. It is the effort of those that raised him, previous teammates, and mentors. Without his individual effort he would not be where he is today, true. But he could also be somewhere else were it not for the efforts of those around him.

The best takeaway from this story is that Beast Mode recognizes it is not only the important influence others have on his life, or only his own effort that results in his success. It’s the combination of their efforts and his efforts. He could have a great support network but if he ate fast food every day, didn’t train hard, he wouldn’t be in the NFL. He could be a freak athlete, but without guidance and focus and support, he could err and his career over in an instant. It is the combination that makes his success a reality.

This perspective is awesome. It makes me cheer for Beast Mode, not as a fan of his team per se, but of him as a person (entity?). I think it is easy for people, anyone, to overlook the contributions others have made that paved the way for an individual's success. He acknowledges it, and even points out that he is not afraid to seek assistance, to ask for help. Those with the spotlight, the high profile roles, are often in those positions for a reason. But their success would be limited without the contributions of others. Success is not possible without individual effort, but more often than not success is not a result solely because of individual effort.

And now Beast Mode is using his success to give back to those that supported him. He created the Fam 1st Family Foundation to help his community. Lynch may not have played football without the support of his community. But now football is the medium he uses to make a difference in his community. The cycle continues.

There is a lot to learn from Beast Mode.

Maria Givens is a member of the Coeur d’ Alene Tribe and currently works for the National Indian Health Board. I was excited to interview a fellow tribal member for the first time! This is also the second Mark O. Hatfield fellow to appear as a guest on the podcast in addition to yours truly, who was also a Hatfield Fellow.

*history lesson* The French called my people Coeur d’ Alene. It translates “Heart of the Awl.” The awl is a tool used to punch holes in leather. French traders supposedly called us that because of shrewd trading skills. In our language we are Schitsu’umsh.

Maria attended the University of Washington after transferring from Loyola Marymount entering her sophomore year. She realized that it was not the right place for her and decided to move closer to home. What is amazing to me is that instead of disengaging from school or losing focus, instead she turned towards her academics even more diligently to help herself through the first year.

Transferring to the University of Washington was the right choice for her. In addition to her academic experience, Maria also organized the University of Washington powwow, which is one of the largest university powwows in the country. All while she was a double major in political science and American Indian Studies. She was drawn to each major independently but realized that the two could be combined into a single interest. She participated in the Udall Congressional Internship program where she was placed with Senator Tom Udall (D-NM). This experience ignited an interest to pursue work in Indian law and policy.

Maria’s experience is a perfect example for NextGen Natives. She excelled in school and happened to come across the Udall program. During her time in the Udall program she met a friend in the program who later urged her to apply to the Hatfield Fellowship. Her hard work and preparation was meeting her network to provide her a great opportunity. She will begin the Hatfield Fellowship this Fall.

In addition to her great personal story, Maria provides some great specific advice about how she handles stress, manages to stay organized, and the value of spending time with your own thoughts. Oh, and taking action.

Maria is definitely one to watch, and I don’t just say that because we are cousins!

Vine Deloria, Jr. wrote in Custer Died for Your Sins“...law became a trap for the weary and a dangerous weapon in the hands of those that understood how to use it.” This concept drives my interest in law and public policy in Indian Country. Tribes need tribal members that understand how to use the law, argue the law, make laws, and influence the law. Laws, regulations and court cases greatly impact how we live our daily lives, especially in Indian Country.

This episode provides insight into the “hot” topics in Indian law today. Bryan Newland (Bay Mills Ojibwe) and I discuss some key pending legal cases impacting Indian Country. Bryan previously shared his personal story on the podcast. You can listen to that here.

“But I am not a lawyer and this sounds boring and/or intimidating to me. Why should I listen to a podcast about legal cases that don’t involve me or my community?”

Because they do. And the concepts at issue in each case are not difficult to understand. I am not a lawyer, and Bryan does a great job describing these cases in a way that non-lawyers can understand and digest. The three cases we discuss are entirely different topics (tax, Indian Child Welfare Act, and sexual assault of a minor), but each impacts the sovereignty not only of those involved but of all tribes.

Two of the cases discussed--if decided wrongly--can negatively impact the sovereignty of all tribes. Information about each of the cases is also provided below. This information all links to Turtle Talk, a blog of the Indigenous Law and Policy Center at Michigan State University. It tracks different court cases impacting Indian Country. It is a great resource to track legal developments impacting tribes.

Dollar General v. Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians

A.D. v. Washburn

Seminole Tribe of Florida v. Marshall Stanburg

Bryan and I also discuss other topics in this episode including: moving home after being away; where “home” really is; college football (Go Ducks!); healthy outlets; and more.

Clara Pratte is currently Interim CEO of Nova Corporation. The company is owned by Navajo Nation, of which Clara is a citizen. Clara's ascension is impressive in its own right. But it becomes even more impressive and inspiring when you hear her full story.

Clara is well known throughout Indian Country for her work with the federal government as a political appointee and then as an appointee under President Ben Shelly with Navajo Nation. Her work primarily has been in economic development and public policy.

Clara's success serves as proof that challenges can be overcome. Clara's path in college was not a "traditional" linear four years. It included a transfer to a new school and a three-month cross-country road trip. On a whim she took a public policy course in college which led to her moving away from home to pursue a Master's degree at Carnegie Mellon. This led to a prestigious Presidential Management Fellowship and eventually to her current role as Interim CEO.

There are two key takeaways from this conversation: setting goals can keep you focused and motivated; and taking risks is an important part of personal and professional growth. I won't give too much away on those points (make sure to hear it straight from Clara on the podcast!), but these traits have shaped Clara's path.

I will expand on the subject of risk, so that this point is not misunderstood. The risk should not be haphazard, however. It should be done when an individual is prepared and is ready to grow. It is not about starting a career in finance after working as a teacher, with no transition plan, for example. It is taking the new job that will stretch your existing skill set. It is moving across the country to enroll in a graduate program. It is calculated risk that will yield significant rewards.

It was a great conversation with Clara. And for those of you that need some extra motivation (difficult to need after listening to Clara), she is one half of a couple that does more (including training for a 100 mile race) before I usually wake up. Joe, Clara’s husband, was featured on the podcast last year. It is awesome to see a NextGen Native power couple doing great things in Indian Country!