Lakota and Dine
Age: 15
I am a 10th grader at La Sierra high school in Riverside, California. I enjoy lyrical, ballet, modern dancing, pow wow dancing, volleyball, color guard, and hanging out with friends. My interests are Native Traditional Fine Art and drawing. I enjoy high school and have been on the principal’s honor roll award each semester.
As a Native American teen living in the modern world, I often feel alone and different. I am one of only a few native students at my school. This makes it important for me to represent my native culture and traditions, I come from two tribes, Lakota and Dine, and being native is an important part of my identity and who I am. Native dance is one way I share my traditions and share my culture with others. I count because I am the next generation of native people and I am a future tribal leader.