10th Annual Youth Leadership Conference at Red Lake - P3

Vickie Fineday conducted a workshop on moccasin making

Hundreds of young people descended upon Red Lake High School for the 10th Annual Red Lake Nation Youth Leadership Conference held Wednesday - Friday, April 29 to May 1, 2015, at Red Lake Minnesota. The conference theme this year was "Growing Together, Stronger Together."

Conferees came from miles around to participate in all or part of the three-day proceedings. Students and others from Leech Lake, White Earth, Bemidji, the Bug School, and other area schools engaged in youth leadership events.

Workshops and presentations were held from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM each day, with a shorter day Friday. As usual, several workshops occurred simultaneously. New additions this year included culturally related workshops on moccasin making, fry bread making, and Teachings of the Medicine Wheel. Other topics included how suicide affects the family, substance abuse and teen pregnancy, self-esteem, positive lifestyles, and Red Lake history and constitutional reform.

In addition to the workshops, a banquet featuring guest speaker actor Michael Spears held Thursday evening was capped with valuable door prizes.

This is the tenth year that the Red Lake Tribal Council, tribal programs and other organizations have sponsored this important event for the youth of Red Lake Nation and others. A host of Red Lake member professionals, and preeminent guest speakers from across Indian Country, joined together to share their knowledge in leadership skills to motivate youth, and to promote indigenous values and tradition.

Day One Highlights: Wednesday, April 29, 2015

At 9:00 a.m., after having their fill of fruit and pastry, students then filled the bleachers in the high school gymnasium.

An Opening Prayer by Obaashiing elder Murphy Thomas followed by a drum song by Little Bear Singers was offered at the beginning of each day's activities in the High School Gym. Thomas along with Chance Rush (Three Affiliated Tribes – Hidatsa) acted as conference facilitators. Emcee One aka Marcus Gwinn (Osage & Potawatomi), who travels with Rush, filled the air with a variety of recorded music and sound affects throughout the three-day event.

On the first day, as part of the opening ceremony, Rush set the pace for the conference by encouraging youth to pursue their dreams, to value education, and to share what they learn with others. "This is your community, your home and your story," said Rush to those assembled.

First day opening ceremonies continued with welcoming address by School Superintendent Anne Lundquist. Red Lake Nation Youth Council President Brendon Strong and Vice-President Jerald Cobenais followed her. The Youth Council, with more than a dozen members, are key players in the organization of the three-day Youth Leadership Conference.

Facilitator Rush then introduced the local and guest presenters for the conference who all gave a short introduction of themselves and the workshops they would conduct. Next facilitator Thomas introduced the Youth Council members.

Keynote, Michael Spears, Actor

After a rousing "ice breaker" by facilitator Rush, he introduced the keynote speaker, actor, musician and motivational speaker Michael Spears a member of the Kul Wicasa Oyate Lakota (often called "Sioux") Lower Brulé Tribe of South Dakota.

Spears follows in the footsteps of several other American Indian actors who have come to Red Lake to share their experiences and - to their credit - give back to the people by sharing their stories of challenges overcome, to youth across the country. In the past actors Adam Beech and Chaska Spencer have been guest speakers at the annual youth conference.

Spears debut role was as the child character Otter, in the Academy-Award-winning 1990 film Dances with Wolves. It earned him national notice at the age of thirteen. By the age of 17, Spears had acted in both TV and film. In 2014 Spears received critical acclaim for his role as Tenkill in "Angels in Stardust."

Spears is also an accomplished hand drum player and singer, often performing at native American "pow-wow" gatherings and in non-tribal venues (he was the opening act for Rita Coolidge and Friends in a 2005 concert).

Michael often travels as a celebrity speaker concentrating on inspirational and educational topics including sustainable energy, and mentors youth across the country. One of his goals is to encourage creation of "natural" sustainable energy sources. He can speak Lakota but is not fluent. Michael first learned from his father and grandfather, and is continuing to learn.

"Inspiration is knowing your path has a purpose," said Spears.

During the afternoon, assorted workshops were conducted most to be replicated the following day. Some sessions were repeated several times so that participants could be involved with most - if not all – sessions.

Day Two Highlights: Thursday, April 30, 2015

After a prayer by Thomas, a drum song by Little Bear Singers, and conference up-dates by Superintendent Lundquist, facilitator Thomas introduced Red Lake's Tribal Chairman Darrell G. Seki, Sr.

Seki spoke about the importance of education and the social ills that sometimes get in the way of success such as drugs, alcohol, and suicide. "Be respectful and remember that education is very important," said Seki. "Say no to cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, and bullying. Be particularly wary of alcohol, it is a depressant and can lead to suicide."

Finishing off the morning was a keynote address by guest speaker Michael Scott. Scott is a motivational speaker who shared a PowerPoint presentation on how suppressing emotions can lead to substance abuse and addiction.

Lunch was followed by another round of workshops.

Banquet

A Youth Conference Banquet Honoring the 2015 boys state tournament basketball participants began at 5:00 p.m. at Seven Clans Casino and Event Center. The menu included roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, salad, vegetable and dessert.

The banquet was facilitated by Chance Rush, who warmed up the audience after dinner, aided with music and sound effects by Emcee One (Marcus Guinn). He then introduced the guest speaker for the evening, actor Michael Spears who again submitted an inspirational speech...dotted with humor...and even a song.

Rush then introduced Red Lake HS basketball coach Keveon Kingbird who recapped the boy's basketball trip to the state tourney punctuated by humor. Then, aided by youth councilors Strong and Cobenais, Kingbird presented those team members attending, some very nice appreciative plaques.

The evening closed out with door prizes won with tickets distributed to conferees that attended the various workshops.

Day Three Highlights: Friday, May 1, 2015

The day started with a "grab and go" breakfast, then a short welcome by facilitator Thomas, a prayer and a song by the Little Bear Singers.

At 9 a.m., a General Assembly was held in the High School gym featuring a special performance by hypnotist Robert Johnston (Muskogee Creek/Choctaw). The popular and humorous Johnston, a professional hypnotist, had the audience rolling in the aisles as he had a dozen people meeting their favorite celebrities, chasing their noses, imitating monkeys, and other outrageous and comical stunts.

Johnston, also a motivational speaker gave a pep talk before his performance. Johnston, a founding member of the Native Wellness Institute, is a motivational speaker, trainer and presenter who entertains as well as enlightens.

As a hypnotist, he has helped many people reprogram their minds to accept success into their lives, which was the last hypnotic suggestion that Johnston left with those who participated in his performance.

A "Closing Circle" large enough to touch all edges of the gymnasium followed Johnston. Little Bear Singers played a healing song. Then while everyone shook hands in the "circle manner," as Young Kingbird drummed a traveling song.

Many youth stayed for the Hip-Hop music showcase show held in the afternoon with music provided by Thomas X (Barrett), Cory Medina, and Frank Waln in the school parking lot near the skate park

Sessions & Guest Speakers "The key to living a 'well life' is balance'," says Chance Rush (Three Affiliated Tribes-Hidatsa) aided by Marcus Gwinn in a session billed as "Elements of Life." "As community leaders, we can encourage that balance in others by being an example ourselves," he said. "Wellness is a gift that needs attention and commitment. It doesn't mean we won't have our frustrating moments, but we can accomplish anything we set our minds to by implementing our social, mental, physical and emotional greatness."

Other sessions by guest speakers included; "Positive Life Styles" with Reuben Crowfeather; "The Power of Positive Thinking" with Robert Johnston; "Motivation" with Michael Scott; and "Self Esteem" with Michael Spears.

Sessions By Red Lake Members/Professionals

Two new workshops added this year proved to be very popular, "Moccasin Making" with Vickie Fineday and "Fry Bread Making" with Jessica Roberts.

Other sessions conducted by Red Lake professionals included the "Art of Expression" with Thomas Barrett; Information on the "Red Lake Youth Council" with Matt Antone, Rory Spears, Jerald Cobenais, and Brendan Strong; "How Suicide Affects the Family" with Jerome LeBeaux, Michael Peters, and Jerald Cobenais; "Red Lake History and Constitution Reform" with Constitutional Commission members Tharen Stillday and Stephanie Cobenais; and "Substance Abuse & Pregnancy" with Kathleen Marmorine, IHS Pharmacist at Red Lake Hospital.

Finally the complexities and layers of the Medicine Wheel was presented by a tag-team Youth Panel made up of Eliza Lussier, Branigan Patterson, James Cloud III, Cory Whitefeather Jr. and Sam Kingbird in a session entitled "Medicine Wheel Teachings," appropriately held in the school's Culture Room.

Background

The Red Lake Youth Council conducted a workshop

The impetus for the Youth Leadership Conference occurred after the formation of the Red Lake Nation Youth Council more than ten years ago. The group began looking for ways to teach leadership skills, and to celebrate the accomplishments of the Nation's youth academically and in other ways.

The Youth Leadership Conference was hosted by the Red Lake School District and sponsored by the following organizations; Red Lake Tribal Council, Red Lake School District, Chemical Health Programs, Indian & Free Prevention/Treatment Program, and Youth Recreation Department.

For More Information

Moccasin making was a popular workshop

For more information on the Youth Leadership Conference, call Marilyn Mountain: 218-679-1452 or Salena Beasley: 218-679-1543 or Tom Barrett 218-679-1545

The Red Lake Youth Program Says Chi-Miigwech to the following sponsors:

Red Lake Indian & Free Prevention Treatment Program

Red Lake Chemical Health Programs

Red Lake School District