“I’ve been watching my dad from behind the chutes since I was 3 or 4 years old and riding since I was 9,” Najiah Knight said during our phone interview. “He’s my inspiration.” The thirteen-year-old’s name is pronounced “nay-jah,” and she’s a spitfire with a heart of gold. Najiah comes from rural Oregon and dreams…
It is such a pleasure to have Arianna Seymour with me today. She is a Colville Tribal member, a student at Inchelium High School, was one of my Rez Stop students when I coordinated the afterschool program, and is one of our archers. She is as sweet today as she was when I was involved…
The thwack of an arrow sinking into a bullseye target tends to pump one’s blood. But when 50 hit at a time, echoing off gym walls, the hair on the back of a mother’s neck raises, and a shiver runs down her back. It all started with a “what if” in 2014: What if we…
Nine-year-old INFR Women’s Barrel Racing Champion and Colville tribal member Rocksie Marchand recently competed at The American Rodeo in Fort Worth, Texas, this past month all due to big dreams and little spurs. The 63 & ½ pound Native girl gets the job done. How? With: Determination. Perseverance. Good old-fashion hard work. “I had a…
From the onset of my work-in-progress, I have wanted to find a teen artist to portray my protagonist’s art project in the book I’m currently writing. The art project weaves history and the old ways into modern culture and attitudes. He or she needed to be Native American and preferably of the Colville Tribes….
Crawfish Races Coyote – Small Lake in the Area Arrow Lakes Legend Told by Martin Louie Colville Confederated Tribal Member and Elder Coyote was teasing Crawfish because he was so slow and because he walked sideways. Crawfish argued he was not slow, but indeed very fast. Coyote laughed, gave him a long look,…
Do horses really teach anything? Or do they merely cost the owner tons of money with feed and vet bills? After working with youth in 4-H, including one of my own, and now having my grandchildren around horses, I believe they teach kids many valuable life lessons. In fact here are eight of those horse…
Chores won’t kill you! Chores create a strong foundation for their future. Responsibility, accountability, and basic life skills begin with sweeping the floor, scrubbing the toilet, doing dishes, and washing windows. Boredom is a choice. I know when my cousins once complained of being bored and my aunt day them do chores all day. Did they…
Part Four: Editing––Demon Hunter Writing is the easy part. Our minds are in the creative mode. Our fingers peck at the keyboard with unfailing speed. Smiles bloom on our faces, eyes dancing as creativity pours out. Our characters are dancing, fighting, loving, caring, and sometimes even in a fit of rage. They are talking, whispering,…
A journey mentoring an aspiring author for a high school senior project. Last spring my phone rang. On the other end came the voice of a young man I knew very well. He was a junior in high school, preparing for his senior project. Why was he calling me? “Hi, Carmen. This is Nathan. I’m…
Welcome back! Today we will continue on with Rick Desautel and Furs of the Fur Trade. For those of you who are just joining in, here is the scoop on the Fur Trade Festival: Every year the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area’s education specialist, Janice Elvidge, heads up the Fur Trade Festival at the Kettle…
Dreams are meant to come true. God says when we commit our dreams and desires to Him, He will bless them. Some of you may not think a day on a sweaty, balking horse in the bushes, mud, and rain qualifies as a dream. But for me, it is and God blessed me recently with…
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