Tell us about your time at Red Cloud?
I was a student at Red Cloud from pre-kindergarten through graduation, so 14 years. But looking back now, it doesn’t feel as long, it’s gone by so quickly. I think what I loved most is that I never misplaced at Red Cloud. I always felt like it was a second home. I think in high school I had some of my best experiences, because I found so many people who thought the same things I thought. I learned so much, and I had great friends and teachers—like my science teacher Katie Montez—who were always there for me to be a strong support network.
What have you learned at Red Cloud that’s shaped who you are today?
For me personally, learning my language so that I can understand when elders talk to me—it makes me feel happy that our indigeneity is spreading, and that we are starting to become more relevant in the world. Understanding Lakota makes me feel that I’m making my ancestors proud, that I can openly speak my language and learn about my culture without having to endure what they endured.
Looking back over the past 14 years, I think that Red Cloud has really looked at our language and culture as important—that it’s not just about math and science, it’s also about us learning who we are. And we had the perfect teachers, like Unci Philomine, to guide us. I’ve loved having indigeous people to teach me and help me learn more.
Social justice issues became important to you at Red Cloud—why is that?
Red Cloud provides a lot of opportunities to learn about what’s going on in our own community but also beyond the reservation as well. As I got into high school, I had teachers who loved talking about social justice, and as I learned more about environmental issues, I knew I wanted to know more and started to research. It’s become a passion and part of my plans going forward.
We also have the chance to go to seminars and conferences. I’m a part of the Native American Healthcare Scholars Program and went to the American Indian Science and Engineering Society’s (AISES) national conference, as well as the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in Washington, DC. They both brought people together to address a range of social justice issues, and helped me become more passionate about them.
What are the biggest issues facing indigneous youth and communities today?
I think for young indigneous people, mental health is critical. It’s a really big issue because of intergenerational trauma that is passed down through families. There are so many young children that aren’t as lucky as I have been—I couldn’t imagine going through what they are going through. We have children as young as 8 years old who, because of intergenerational trauma and what they were taught, are really struggling.
And for indigneous people as a whole, the rising number of Missing and Murdered Indigneous Women (MMIW) is one of our biggest struggles. It’s a daily fear, even for me. Racism across the board is so damaging, and that’s what makes it so hard for many indigneous people to get where they want to be.
Life at Red Cloud changed a lot this spring. How did the pandemic affect you and your classmates?
Having to quarantine for the last three months of your senior year isn’t ideal. It was really hard on all of us, especially going into it not knowing what was going on and how long it would last. But I grappled with it by telling myself—I’ve already made it this far, I can make it through these few months in this way. And our teachers were very understanding about how challenging this transition was, from being in school each day to having to log on to a computer and be in class virtually.
Right now I feel safe because I’m taking the right precautions. At home on the reservation only 10 people are allowed in stores at one time, we must wear masks when in public places, and social distancing is a must do. It’s become a normal part of community life.
What are your plans for the future?
I’ll be attending the University of Minnesota Morris. I plan to do general studies my first year, and then in my second year begin a major in environmental studies with a minor in psychology, and I’ll also be playing on the golf team. Right now my main goal is to use my education to bring environmental awareness not just to the world but to my own community. I look at how it is now and there’s so much to do. For example, all the recycling facilities are in Rapid City, an hour and a half away from the reservation. There isn’t enough environmental awareness on the reservation—and I want to fix that.