Sports camp carries life lessons
By Manuel Jesus
Special to the Times
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(Times photo - Paul Natonabah)
Seanique Winstead, right, of Tohajiilee, N.M., cups the ball with his racket and races for the net against his opponent in a game of lacrosse at the Native Vision sports camp at Bernalillo High School June 13.
It was three fun-filled days of lessons at this year's 12th Annual Native Vision Sports and Life Skills Camp for instructors and campers.
The first Native Vision camp was in Chinle in 1995 and offered instruction in only one sport. Eleven years later the camp offers six sports for youths to learn and improve skills. The camp also allows them to try other sports they are not accustomed to.
Native Vision's annual summer camp celebrates the positives and avoids the negatives in the lives of Native yout.
The professional athletes who conduct the clinics combine athletic teachings with breakout sessions that promote discipline, teamwork and the pursuit of education.
The camp is also about leadership and campers participate in interactive activities to promote teamwork and focus on their future.
The camp also gives youths an understanding of the history of sports such as lacrosse. During the camp, lacrosse was mentioned often because it's a sport that isn't well known in the Southwest.
Original sport
Allison Barlow, co-founder of Native Vision, talks about lacrosse with whoever wants to know about it.
"Lacrosse is the original sport with the Native people," Barlow said. "They (Iroquois) say it's like medicine to them. They (campers) are all excited to get lacrosse here."
"It's a different game to the kids, different types of skill sets," said Clark Gaines, co-founder Native Vision.
In one breakout session, lacrosse instructor and mentor Ansley Jemison, Seneca, gave a brief history of the game for the young campers
Jemison said the game is all about respect. He is a member of the Iroquois national team and the professional Rochester (N.Y.) Grey Wolves.
"It was inspired by our people," Jemison said. "It was given to us and for us to pass it on to our children and our grandchildren.
"It's a healing game," he said. "It's medicine to us. As children, it was given to us by our creator. We're playing it for (the creator).
"We need to play it with a good mind," he added. "Good attitude. We can't get mad at our teammates and if we lose, we can't be mad at the other team. It just not a game, it's a gift. It gave us an education."
Jemison said lacrosse is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. He said there are professional teams in Denver, Dallas, Los Angles and Phoenix.
While lacrosse is new to the camp, basketball is still the most popular sport as over 150 youths registered to improve their skills.
Never quit
Basketball instructor and former NBA player Dan Roundfield played for the Washington Bullets in the 1970s and 1980s.
He told wonderful stories about playing against legendary players such as Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabaar of the Los Angles Lakers and Julius "Dr. J" Erving of the Philadelphia 76ers.
In his account of the battles on the court, he encouraged the youths that no matter where they're at in life, they should never quit. Once they see where they're at, they should learn to be thankful to those who helped them get there, he said.
"Use your talent that you have. It's a tool for you to get to your accomplishments," Roundtree said. "I took basketball and it got me to where I wanted to be, but you can't do it without education.
"I never got a basketball scholarship," he said, "but I did, however, get a academic scholarship and that was my tool."
Culture as a tool
Former Chinle High and Northern Arizona University basketball player Lionel Blie also was on hand as a camp instructor. Blie, originally of Round Rock, Ariz., told the youth that he used his culture as his tool.
"I love basketball," he said. "I played it everyday, but most Native Americans never forget who they are. Wherever I ever went, I was always questioned as to who I was and I always told them who I was and where I'm from.
"I always practice my culture," he said. "I know my language, my clanship. Every where I went, I always run into a Navajo, that makes me feel good about myself."
Besides his culture, Blie said it was education that helped in his career after graduating from NAU in 2000 with a degree in elementary education.
"You have to earn everything," he said. "They just don't give you a bag and a jersey - you have to earn it. And if you don't work hard, you can't play.
"Because of my grades in my first year in college, I sat on the bench for the whole season," he said. "I had about six different tutors to help me. I started playing again when I got my grades up. College is really hard, but I never quit."
In a breakout session, Blie told the group his grandparents raised him.
"In my senior year, we were to bring our parents to our senior night and that night my grandparents were attending," he said. "They really surprised me when they showed up in their traditional attire, velvet shirts, turquoise necklace and bracelets.
"It was one of the most memorable moments," Blie said. "Take care of your grandparents, parents and take care of your body and love yourself."
Going places
Kennedy Slowtalker, 13, of Leupp, Ariz., made the long trip to Albuquerque to take part in the camp.
"I wanted to come because I wanted to learn more about basketball, but I met new friends and new people," said Slowtaker, a student at Mount Elden Middle School in Flagstaff.
"(The mentors) are really cool," she said. "They're teaching us about how to use the sport to get us through school, college. They told us how basketball can get us to other places, to different countries and meet famous people. That was cool."
At the volleyball breakout session, about 40 students were on hand and mentor David Noble told his own version of being successful.
"What person can help you to get to where your dreams are? If that person wants to help you, then say 'yes,'" Noble said. "Don't let anyone tell you 'no' to get to your dreams. Look for someone who is always going to help you to get to your dreams, but you are going to have to make some sacrifices, don't let anyone tell you 'you can't.'"
Barlow was excited that over 500 youths attended the camp, which she says allowed them to intermingle and learn from each other.
"They stay here in tent city for those who have to drive for more than an hour," she said. "Some kids from New Mexico and Arizona also stay if they want to, even if they are from here. We just want to make them feel like a family away from home."
"It's been fun because we get to see them evolve," said Gaines. "At first they are quiet and once they've understood what's going on and by the end, they are interacting with one another. They loosen up and they understand why they are here. We all support them."
"Kids are so energetic that they come back every year and it's encouraging," he said, "and that the older campers have been encouraging the younger and newer campers. They never quit or give up. They're wonderful."
The program has involved five tribes in 11 years, all of which have hosted previous camps such as the White Mountain Apache, Navajo, Eastern Shoshone, Northern Arapaho, and the southern pueblos.