Welcome to Youth Movement 2018!
UO Youth Movement 2018 is back and ready to fuel a lifelong movement of inspiring kids through sport, education and community. Last year, we hosted Native American middle school students and used sport as a tool to show them the power of education in their own communities.
Last year’s field day was another success. Participating tribes and Native Youth celebrated their cultures while playing Native games and looking forward to the future. But it’s never enough for us. This year, we want to exemplify how that one day doesn’t make the movement, but merely fuels it. We want to help these kids set an example for the generations after them and it starts with us.
Join us this year as Youth Movement continues and starts the chain of events to create a real impact in the Native community. Follow us as we continue to empower youth and inspire them to change the world.
If you do it, they do it. Watch us this year as we #StartTheChain.
This was only ever supposed to be a day of service at the NAYA Early College Academy.
I’ll never forget the night before that first Field Day event back in 2012 -- laying out all the teams cards on my apartment floor trying to perfect how the groups would flow from station to station. We had spent the last two months slinging baked goods and learning Photoshop trying to put together something that might inspire a few students using the power of sport.
I often recall the story about a student named David who received the MVP award, which we named after Jim Thorpe that year. He decided to make an acceptance speech in front of his whole school. He talked about how excited he was, and how much fun he had, and he concluded his speech by saying, “I can’t wait for next year.” That’s really the moment when the Movement started.
For the last 7 years all I have been trying to do is help a few more students like David get excited for next year. I could have never in my wildest dreams imagined that this thing would be at eight Universities including one up in Canada. I could never have imagined that it would one day be a 501c3 non-profit. I could never have imagined that we’d have a scholarship fund of which former participants would go on to be future Field event pioneers and leaders at their own Universities.
While I continue to always be surprised with what next year brings I truly believe that this is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of what is possible. We are using sport to build a platform that hopefully will continue to inspire youth to create and believe in their futures. The opportunity to help create that means the world to me.
Ally Dorst, junior
“Last year, I had a blast interacting with teams of kids while they became connected and empowered through the power of sport. I loved seeing the the native community come together to celebrate one another and be active. I can’t wait to inspire even more individuals to develop healthy and connected lifestyles this year. YM is an incredible, rewarding experience and I highly recommend that everyone volunteers!”
Lynden Harry, 17 years old.
Who was your biggest inspiration growing up and why?
My parents were my biggest inspiration growing up because they were always willing to help the youth learn how to play sports like softball and basketball and they always made those kids feel like they were apart of our family.
What is a key takeaway that you took from one of your role models that you want to emulate for others?
That no matter how good you are in a sport or how successful you are in life you must always be humble. And never forget where you came from, and to give back to your community.
What example do you hope to set for the younger generation and how do you achieve that?
That you can do anything you put your mind to. And beat the odds that are set against you. To achieve that I want to lead by example. And reach out to the younger youth once I have my career path set.
Dapri Miller
Who inspired you growing up and why?
“My older brothers have always inspired me growing up because I’ve always wanted to be like them at everything they did and because they taught me the values of becoming a young man.”
What is a key takeaway that you took from one of your role models that you want to emulate for others?
“One key takeaway I took from a role model that I would emulate for others is to never settle for less, and to never wait for chance to come to you because you have to go find and earn that chance.”
What example do you hope to set for the younger generation and how do you achieve that?
“One example I hope to set for the next generation is to remember that schooling is the key to success to getting to your goals and you’re way in life. And I’ll achieve that by talking to youth about how much school means each year from the bottom up and by doing it myself like I am.”
Welcome to the Movement!
UO Youth Movement 2017 is back and better than ever, using the power of sport, education, and community to ignite a generation.
Last year's field day event was a huge success. Participating schools, tribes, and Native American youth had the opportunity to get active at the University of Oregon while building their communities and celebrating their cultures. We experienced how sport can empower youth and change the lives of our generations. The movement is continuing to grow and our team is excited to be on board. Stay tuned!
Come join us and #IgniteYourGeneration
Miriam
How old are you?
"Nine years old"
Do you have a tribal affiliation? If so, which tribe?
"Tlingit and Raven Clan"
What school do you currently attend?
"Two Rivers-dos Rios"
What is your favorite subject in school?
"Reading"
How do you Red light, green light active?
"Red light, green light"
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ISA Helms
How old are you?
"Eight years old"
What school do you currently attend?
"Edgewood"
Do you have a tribal affiliation? If so, which tribe?
"Miluk Coos and Cherokee"
What is your favorite subject in school?
"P.E."
How do you stay active?
"Rock climbing"
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royce huntoon
Royce is a member of the Hanis Coos tribe, and enrolled in the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians.
How old are you?
"Nine years old"
What school do you currently attend?
"Douglas Gardens Elementary"
What is your favorite subject in school?
"Reading, my favorite books are A-Z Mysteries, and Book D is my favorite."
How do you stay active? Why do you enjoy that activity?
"I like to ride my bike and run because the bike paths I ride on have really pretty scenery."
Isa Anesthesia Zito
Year: Senior
Major: Journalism
Hometown: Eugene, Oregon
Tribe: Kiowa and Muscogee Creek
Isa is part of the Kiowa and Muscogee Creek tribes. The Kiowa tribe hails from Carnegie in the southwestern part of Oklahoma while the Muscogee Creek tribe is also from Okmulgee, Oklahoma, and is the official federally-recognized tribe of the Muscogee people.
What’s your favorite aspect of your Native American culture?
“My favorite part is the food, I grew up on elk and buffalo.”
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Anna Hoffer
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Year: Sixth year senior
Major: Ethnic Studies, and a minor in Native American Studies
Hometown: Grand Ronde, Oregon
Tribe: Yakama, Grand Ronde, and Shawnee
Anna is part of the Yakima, Grand Ronde, and Shawnee tribes. The Yakama tribe hails from Central Washington along the Columbia River while the Confederate Tribes of Grande Ronde tribe are from Grand Ronde, Oregon. Additionally, Anna is part of the Shawnee tribe, which is located in Oklahoma.
What’s your favorite aspect of your Native American culture?
“I love everything about my culture, I love who I am, the prayers, the song, the food, dances, the struggle, the good and the bad.”
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Preslee Thorne
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers and They/Them/Theirs
Major: Planning, Public Policy, and Management and a minor in Food Studies
Hometown: Lawton, Oklahoma
Tribe: Chickasaw Nation
Preslee is part of the Chickasaw Nation, which hails from Oklahoma. The Chickasaw nation is a member of The Five Civilized Tribes, and members enjoy a strong community while working with one another to enhance the well being of their nation and celebrating their heritage.
What’s your favorite aspect of your Native American culture?
“My favorite aspect of my Native culture is the resistance and resilience that is inherent in Indigenous blood. I am strong because of knowledge and experiences of my ancestors, family, self, and community.”
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Traven Joseph
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Major: General Social Sciences
Hometown: Gresham, OR
Tribe: Gros Ventre (White Clay), Athabaskan
Traven is an enrolled member of the Gros Ventre (White Clay) tribe, which is located in the the north central part of Montana. The tribe, which is also known as A'ani, A'aninin, Haaninin, and Atsina can be found between Missouri River, Montana, to the Saskatchewan River in Canada. Traven is also an enrolled member of the Athabaskan tribe, which is based in Alaska, from south of the Brooks Mountain Range and down to the Kenai Peninsula.
How do you stay involved with your culture?
"I stay involved with my culture mainly by attending social and cultural gatherings and keeping in touch with my family as well as volunteering with the Native Wellness Institute during the summer where I am available, which promotes the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health of natives."
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Erica Noemi Mendez
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Major: Political Science
Hometown: Chehalis, WA
Year: Sophomore
Tribe: Enrolled member of Quinault Tribe and Chehalis Tribal descendent
Erica is an enrolled member of the Quinault Indian Nation and a descendent of The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Tribal reservation. These coastal Salish Tribes are located in Washington, Pacific Northwest. In addition, Erica is also a descendant of the Musqueam Indian Band in British Columbia, Canada.
How does being Native American inspire you?
"Being Native American has inspired me to be a positive roll model through my position of a Native student leader. As stereotypes and stigma continues to effect Native youth it has inspired me to be more focused on my academics, and community involvement to show youth that with the right influence and dedication anything is achievable."
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Cyrus Lyday
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Major: Journalism
Hometown: Portland, OR
Year: Freshman
Tribe: Enrolled member of Northern Arapaho Tribe and the Turtle Mountain Chippewa
Cyrus is part of the Northern Arapaho and Turtle Mountain Chippewa tribes in Oregon. The Northern Arapaho tribe, which, has over 9,000 members and is located on the Wind Indian Reservation of Wyoming. Cyrus is also part of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa, which originated in Rolette County, North Dakota.
What’s your favorite aspect of your Native American heritage?
“The part I enjoy most about my native heritage is the sense of community. I love that so many like-minded people gather at events like Native American Student Union. I only knew a couple of people from the community here at UO before I came to school. In the two terms I have been here I’ve met many amazing native students and community members by going to NASU, some of my closest friends.”