"Everyone Has a Song"

HUNDREDS PARTICIPATE IN RED LAKE YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Ten Days of Activities for the Nation’s Youth

Rez Jeopardy was a very popular session conducted by Salena Branchaud and Charlene Defoe. Questions like “what is the English word for Makoons, were queries about Red Lake culture. (Answer: cub bear)

The Fifth Annual Red Lake Youth Leadership Conference was held on April 6 - 8, 2010 at the High School in Red Lake, MN. The conference theme was “The Nation’s Youth – Red Lake’s Future”. Workshops and presentations were held from 9 AM until 3 PM each day. As is customary, several things occurred simultaneously.

A family of Conference attendees

In addition to the three days of workshops, the week-plus activities included an all-Indian basketball tournament, entertainment, banquet, door prizes, and an Honor the Youth Pow-wow.

Hundreds of participants found sunny skies and wore light jackets or short sleeve shirts. Conferees came from miles around to participate in all or part in the week's proceedings. Students and others from Leech Lake, White Earth, Bemidji, the Bug School, and other schools participated in the youth leadership events.

Conference leaders Eddy Wadda, Happy Frejo, Chance Rush, and Robert Johnston discuss the day’s activities.

This is the fifth year that the Red Lake Tribal Council, tribal programs and other organizations have sponsored this much anticipated event for the youth of Red Lake and others. A host of Red Lake professionals, and well known guest speakers from across Indian Country, joined together to share their knowledge in leadership skills to motivate youth, and to promote native values, tradition, and language.

Adults and elders attended many of the workshops.

This year conference organizers wanted to bring both youth and elders together to learn from each other. On the night preceding the conference, an event billed as a “Traditional Community Gathering & Round Dance Social” was held at Red Lake Casino/Event Center. Part of that gathering included an elder panel that spoke to, and took questions from youth. Elders returned the favor my attending many of the workshops held on the following days.

THREE DAYS OF LEARNING AND FUN

An Opening Prayer was offered on all three days by the Spiritual Advisor/leader for the Conference Carol Barrett, with the Chemical Health Drum.

Follow your dreams! Value education! Share what you learn!

On the first day, as part of the opening ceremony, Chance Rush (Three Affiliated Tribes – Hidatsa) 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.

This was followed by welcome remarks by Red Lake Chairman Floyd Jourdain, Jr., and Youth Council President Amber May.

“Smoke” and “Big Steve” at the Awards Banquet.

A keynote address was presented on day two by Jason “Smoke” Nichols. Nichols also conducted the “Closing Ceremony” on day three. This included short comments by “Big Steve”, a Red Laker and rap artist who has been touring with “Smoke”.

During the time of conference, assorted workshops were conducted, repeating themselves five times so that participants could be involved with most...if not all sessions...if they so chose.

Chance Rush in workshop makes a dramatic point to conferees.

“The key to living a ‘well life’ is balance”, said Chance Rush in his session entitled “Elements of Life”. “As community leaders, we can encourage that balance in others by being an example ourselves”, he said.

Edward Wadda shared his vision for Native Youth in the areas of history, leadership, culture, family, school, spirituality, and friendship.

Edward “Eddy” Wadda (Eastern Shoshone), conducted a workshop entitled “Warriors Don’t Quit”. “Youth leaders serve as positive mentors in communities struggling to find a voice for their young people”, he said.

Dare to Dream!

“The Power of Vision” with Brian Frejo, “is a dynamic and interactive workshop which dares youth to dream, visualize and realize their power to achieve their personal potential”, says Frejo. His sister Happy Frejo (Seminole/Pawnee), conducted a session entitled “Upon the Page: A Journaling Workshop”, geared toward participants interested in writing.

Rap artist and motivational speaker Jason “Smoke” Nichols was the keynote speaker on day two.

“Everyone has a song that they know every word and can make them sing at the top of their lungs”, says Jason Nichols aka “Smoke” in a session entitled “Lyrical Healing”. “This type of song, no matter where you are or what you are doing, can steal your total train of thought, and take you back to a place that puts a smile on your face every time you hear it”. This was the prologue for Nichols presentation encouraging youth to express themselves through music, poetry, and art.

Collin Wesaw has the full attention of participants as he gingerly walks on glass.

The ever popular Collin Wesaw conducted a workshop on “Moving Ahead”, which was guaranteed to motivate, to be “no nonsense”, inspire, and bring a big smile to all attending.

Robert Johnston conducts a workshop on “Walking Together”.

“Healthy Relationships start with healthy individuals”, says Robert Johnson, (Muskogee Creek/Choctaw) in a workshop entitled “Walking Together in a Good Way: A Guide to Healthy Relationships”. The session looked at characteristics of healthy and unhealthy relationships. Johnston guided participants in discovering steps to strengthen relationships with friends, parents, siblings, teachers, the opposite sex, the earth, the Creator and “of course...you!”

SESSIONS BY RED LAKE MEMBERS/PROFESSIONALS

The Red Lake Nation Youth Council playing the time honored game of "telephone".

“Be prepared to check your vanity at the door and have a fun time”, said the billing for a workshop conducted by the Red Lake Nation Youth Council members, entitled “Feeding the Spirit”. The Youth Council, which has about a dozen members, was involved in planning the three-day Youth Leadership Conference.

Perhaps the two most popular workshops were conducted by Red Lake members-professionals from the Chemical Health Programs. The two session/workshops were not only educational, but just plain fun.

Darren Defoe draws Charlene Defoe’s attention to a photographer. Shown with newly completed hand drums.

Hand-drum making with Darren Defoe and Myron Barrett continued to be a very popular workshop now several years running. Defoe and Barrett took a large group of participants through the process of making their own hand drums. This took the entire length of the conference, so participants showed up at the same room during each of the five sessions.

Rez Jeopardy was a very popular session conducted by Salena Branchaud and Charlene Defoe. Questions like “what is the English word for Omakakii, was under the category of "Indianish". (Answer: frog)

Rez Jeopardy, all agreed, was an extraordinary amount of fun. Billed as “just like the game show but about the Rez”, sessions were always filled to capacity including several adults. Contestants chose from categories that included "Indianish”, (questions about the Red Lake homeland) Drugs and Alcohol, Sponge Bob, and Nickelodeon. The fun included buzzers, and “applause” and “oooh” signs.

Chance Rush emceed and entertained attendees at the banquet. Sierra volunteers to work with Chance. He says strike a pose. Sierra chooses the Statue of Liberty.

Wednesday’s conference closed with an Awards Banquet in late afternoon. Dinner included chicken, meat balls, potatoes, salad, bread, soft drinks, and more. The program was hosted by Chance Rush, who had everyone laughing.

Jhordan Donnell, Vice President of the Red Lake Nation Youth Council addresses the crowd before supervising the handing out of academic and other awards.

Chance Rush assisted by Jhordan Donnell, and Candy Lynch draw names for prizes awarded to participants who filled out evaluation forms.

Prize drawings closed out the program. Those who completed evaluation forms for up to five workshops, were given tickets for the drawing. Prizes included a 32” flat screen TV, Blu-Ray disc player, HP laptop computer, iPod Touch, several iPod Nano’s, and $50 and $100 gift certificates for Walmart.

Hypnotist Robert Johnston puts a few folks under much to the amusement of those at the Banquet. Johnston laughs with the crowd as one hypnotized young lady has difficulty in finding her nose which has escaped across the floor.

The evenings events concluded with entertainment by the popular and humorous Robert Johnston. Johnston had the audience rolling in the aisles as he had a dozen people searching for their noses, looking for Santa Claus, meeting their favorite celebrities, and other outrageous and comical stunts.

Red Lake H.S. Principal Ev Arnold shares a laugh with conference organizers Marilyn Mountain and Salena Branchaud

Salena Branchaud, a Red Lake Nation member, who has worked with Chemical Health for several years, said at the events conclusion; “I have always had a passion for working in this field”, she said. Branchaud who is also a Youth Council Advisor said, “the Leadership Conference is not only to teach, but to help students head into the Spring and Summer feeling good about themselves”.

A large crowd gathered for the Awards Banquet at the Seven Clans Event Center.

The impetus for the Youth Leadership Conference occurred after the formation of the Red Lake Nation Youth Council more than five 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. (Over 65% of our Native population is under the age of twenty-five).