Valley
Becomes Model for President's Health Initiative
March 2003 . American Indian Report
Utes
winning Aspen's Winterskol Parade
A 3-day
long event united all of Colorado's Roaring Fork Valley toward
a goal of providing a variety of sports activities to improve
the health and self-esteem of Indians. From Aspen to Glenwood
Springs, members of the Ute Indian Tribe of Fort Duchesne, Utah,
skied, swam, skated, danced and shared culture.
The event, which included an announcement that the
Utes will always be able to participate in Aspen's new recreational
facility for free, just as they have at Aspen's skating rink,
all the way down to Glenwood's Sunlight Ski Area, helped make
the valley a model to the President's Initiative to restore the
health of the "undeserved heroic Native Americans."
Native Voices Foundation (NVF) was chosen to spearhead the American
Indian portion of this nationwide, ethnically diverse initiative
to bring Olympic spirit and sports opportunities to youth. NVF
was chosen because of its success in previous similar ventures,
said NVF co-founder and former Olympic skier Suzy Chaffee. In
the past NVF has been instrumental in encouraging the snow sports
industry to give $650,000 in clothing, equipment and lift tickets
to the tribes and gaining a pledge from the U.S. Olympic Alumni
Association to teach the youth.
On Feb. 4, the Denver Nuggets honored the American Indians of
Colorado at a half-time show during a Chicago Bulls game that
featured top Indian basketball players and dancers. The Nuggets
also will lead a National Native Basketball camp next summer as
part of the initiative. Later this year, NVF also has planned
a skiing-skating celebration honoring Naomi Lang, a Kanik who
just won her fifth national ice dancing title. NVF also plans
a recognition ceremony for American Indian star athletes as the
White House.
"We want American Indians to have a new set of heroes. We
love our warrior heroes but we want peace heroes too." said
Chaffee.
Sports helps American Indians by improving self-esteem and improving
their general outlook on life, Chaffee said. A ski program that
gives skiing time to Indian students who do well in school actually
has encouraged the young people to get better grades. Outdoor
sports also help Indians connect with their spirituality and teaches
non-Indians about ecology.
James Martinez, a local Ute (who carried the Olympic
Torch through Aspen), a volunteer with Native Voices, helps William
Miller of the Northern Ute Tribe get started on skis for the first
time. Aspen Ski Co. furnished the tribe and the volunteers with
ski passes to Snowmass resort.
