We’re back! Welcome to Grand Canyon Speaks with Season 3, a season dedicated to indigenous athletes of the 11 associated tribes of Grand Canyon National Park. This series dives into their athletic journeys and how much of an impact sports have on their tribal communities.

[Kyle Sumatzkuku]

It took me just about almost two years just to get ready for the Boston Marathon.

[Audre Etsitty]

Our elders do say horses are sacred (speaks Navajo), the horses are medicine.

[Kelkiyana Yazzie]

And having someone who looks like you and has your same, similar lived experiences in this field of work is really important to just go to and lean on.

[Kyle Awelagte]

I feel it's more than running, like just, you know, getting hyped for a race in that competitive area. But I see it more as like a way of healing.

Hello.

Hello.

Hello.

And welcome to Grand Canyon Speaks, an online podcast that highlights the voices of tribal members who call the Grand Canyon home.

Welcome to season three, a season dedicated to highlighting indigenous athletes and learning about the impact that sports have on their tribal communities.

Tune in January 2026 to hear their stories.

[Kelli Jones]

And I think that's something that I love, you know, when I'm an interpreter here to kind of talk about this history. It might be hard history, but it's also showing the resiliency of what our people have gone through.

[Lynette Lewis]

We don't have scouts, college scouts coming out to the reservations to watch our kids play. So that's why, you know, tournaments like NABI were created. This was for the exposure.

[Ali Upshaw]

You know, names like Alvina Begay, Billy Mills, all native runners that have run at such a high level. And they've always, I guess, shown me that, like, if they can do it, I can do it too.

[Wendi Lewis]

Then you ever run on Hopi, they'll thank you in our language because we recognize that as prayer.

[Jason Amador]

So I would always say to never give up, keep going, and chase your dreams. Because for me, I was a kid in the stand from a small reservation. Now I'm a six-foot guard playing at Grand Canyon.

So for me, like, you can achieve anything you want.