state b boys basketball

this weekend the white river tigers went to state b boys basketball tournament in Aberdeen. they left Wednesday for a practice on the court so the boys could get adapted to the lard arena around them. then on Thursday we went to an exiting game against the warriors who were ranked as #8 in the state while we were ranked #1 we came out on top by about 11 points. on Friday the boys competed with one of our biggest rivalries the chargers. this game was not to exiting we won by about 30. then Saturday we were in the championship game for the 5th year in a row (new state record) we won the champion game 52 to 43 our boys were overjoyed the look on there faces was priceless our one guard jumped over 2 rows of chairs into the bleachers to find his mom another ran over to our senor and jumped onto him. they were thrilled. after the game we all rushed onto the court were we hugged the boys took pictures and just enjoyed the moment.

State "B" Boys Basketball Champions

Something like winning a state basketball game is a pretty big deal in a small town like WR. Everyone is talking about it, the players are the hot topic any door you walk through. It's just a big deal. I mean almost the whole community travels to all of their games and if they don't they listen on the radio. Same thing for state the everyone goes and if you don't you'll most likely be found watching it at home. Saying WR has school spirit is a bit of an understatement. I mean it's not just the kids at school, not just the parents, its the town. It's almost like a holiday, it just brings people who usually wouldn't be together, well... together. For 3 days we all pack into the gym, cheer as loud as we can, in return the boys work as hard as they can. It seems to be working I mean we won, and not to mention almost 7 years in a row we have returned to state. We may not have won every year. But how many schools can say that for almost 7 years in a row they have gone to the class "B" state tournament. I say almost 7 because i'm not sure it it is 7, its just what I hear everyone else says... So i'm pretty sure im right on that one. But anyway, it's just something we're used to. I mean to have a hotel room for it you have to book it months in advance. Some people book it right when they check out almost a year ahead. But you see, we are used to it, we just expect to go every year. There isn't really a question about it. I mean our boys have talent, they're ranked #1 seed in almost their entire season. It's not hard to guess if we'll go to state or not.

I guess it all leads up to how they play the night of the game. And the Boys Basketball team is something WR is proud of, I go out of town for things, doctors, family, etc. and One lady asked "Your from that town where all those good athletes come from, right?" I mean with questions like that it's hard not to be proud.

All in all it's just all around fun to support the team. I mean traveling to see them play, cheering as loud as you can, and getting bragging rights because you go to school with them. It's nice being able to have something to be proud of as a town. It's kind of nice to see, I mean having one team, a bunch of high school boys, bring an entire town together for a season. I guess that's just another perk to appreciate. I think even if they didn't go to state we'd still be proud of them. Even if they weren't #1 seed. It's the fact that any sport can bring the best(and sometimes the worst) out of a town. But I am proud to come from WR to. The kids are kids, yeah we have our smart mouths and rude attitudes. But when it comes down to it, you'd be suprised at how some kids conduct themselves when visiting other town for events. We always get comments on how good the kids act, weather it be BB, VB, FB, track, etc. And it's always an easy crowd. It's one of the little things people like about WR. You see, as great as all this is. I wouldn't trade it for the entire world. Because for a split second, you can actually see an entire school, town, community be happy together.

So, for what it's worth it was a pretty fun weekend. And an even better season, now we're off to run track and start all over.

Winning State (Boys Basketball)

We'll I didn't go but congratulations to our boys on a job well done. The crowd I heard was as energetic as the boys were. First LNI then all those games won. This whole season I think we lost only one game.... I think. I'm glad our boys put themselves out there and got it done. And that's all I really have to say.

Where I'm From

In the middle of a sea of grass
Right next to nothing and nowhere
Sits my home, the little town of White River
To the buildings, to the roads, to most of the people
It's quite plain and somewhat sleepy
But at least its not full of bitter smog
Or crowds of people as far as the eye can see.

Here is the little town of White River
There's not much to do, right next to none.
But for the fun stuff to do around here
It seems to be even more enjoyable
No matter how minor it is.

This area is the only home I've known
And no matter where I move
When I'm older and on my own
This place will always be my home
Here in the sea of grass and next to nothing and nowhere.

J.B, 15

Where I'm From

Our class had a small poetry slam this week and the the prompt was to tell about where they are from.  These are my favorites:

I'm from somewhere besides poverty and the rez
I'm from a place of STRONG people and STRONG land.
I'm not dumb!  I am smart!

Yes, I realize the place I'm from is not famous.
Nor rich.
Nor envied.
Nor sunny at times.
But the place I'm from is Strong
And it always will be.

No, I realize people don't get a chance here.
We don't have theatre schools.
Nor dance schools.
Nor basketball clubs.
We work extra hard for the things we want
And sometimes we don't get them.

We've worked so hard and it doesn't come.
We're angry.
We grieve.
We're upset.
But we have to remember all that we sacrificed
We can be proud we took the time and worked for something.

So yes, my people may not get a chance to famous
Or known
But my people know how to work
In the end, that's all the counts.

R.A., 15

Columbine School Shooting

The video was about these two boys who couldn't take anymore high school. Most people can't and thats understandable. I honestly think its the parents job to understand their own child and give them guidance. Its in the right mind of a parent not to be the best friend of their child but to be a person they will listen to. Cause sometimes they won't listen to their friends. I think most of the parents actually put things into their child heads and thats not the kids fault. They teach them to dislike certain ways, sometimes they even tech them to dislike races. It's sad I've seen this done and I've heard about this. It's horrible to keep a human from knowing right from wrong.

These boys didn't have to end their story, as well as the other students, like this. I think it was the lack of understanding from the shooters parents. And the misconception the parents of the children, that bullied the shooters, gave them. I say this to point out what we all pretty much lost our knowledge of whats right and wrong, our understanding that everyone is also human, that everyone has feelings no matter how much they hide it. And every child looks up to their parents and tries to act out the illusion of how the real world is suppose to be.

I feel bad for all the lost ones but if your going to be ugly towards a person you mine as well think of every possible outcome there is. Try to love instead of hate, I think thats the biggest issue in this world.

School Shooting Response.

You know, the fact we even have school shootings is a bit scary. It could happen anywhere, any time, at any given moment. You could be walking down the hall, eating lunch with your friends, studying for a math quiz. That's whats so scary about it. You never see it coming, but it can be avoided. In every story, someone was bullied and treated badly. It builds up and one day they decide enough is enough. The torture that is high school can take it's toll on some people, it's not just high school, it's school in general. Besides that fact it's crazy to see stories about kids being killed, because one person decided that violence was the answer.

People always blame the shooters parents, If they knew how easy a teenager could hide things, live two whole different lives at home and at school. I'm not saying the parents wouldn't have seen signs or possible details leading up to try and stop it. But if it was your child, would you expect to find guns in their bedroom? No, it's a parents blind eye, you love your child with everything you've got. You wouldn't want to believe that he/she has a gun and may or may not be planning to commit cold blooded murder. So you don't. You push aside the fact and hope it never happens.

The saddest part of it all, the usually the shooter commits suicide after it all. They take innocent peoples lives, then their own. People always say "If they are going to take their own life then why have to make others suffer?" I understand where many people are going with that statement. But the fact we have to make a statement like that makes me a bit sick. I understand the shooter is guilty and had no right to come in and take peoples lives. That is crystal clear, but the question that is getting me is, Why were they mad enough to actually kill someone? Were they bullied? Treated so horribly they would walk into their school and open fire? See, not only is the the shooter guilty, but a bit misunderstood. I get they had no right to take your child's life. They had a lot of nerve to take the lives of innocent people. But how did they get that angry? To pull the trigger on a life, and then their own?

I guess what i'm trying to say is, School shootings shouldn't be a problem. A kid should feel safe when they are at school. No worries about if they are going to live through the day. But that brings me back to feeling safe at school. Bullying. It's a problem, a big one at that. It can do a lot to someone's mind set. Make them go crazy, or just simply break them. Think about it.

ohio school shooting

This particular shooting bothered me because they seemed oh so ordinary and no one knows why they did it doesn’t seem like they had a legitimate reason it just goes to show you an ordinary day could be instantly turned around by to kids with guns and incentive 12 people were killed that day buy 25 more were injured and 10 students had to watch there science teacher bleed out right in front of them and die this is one thing that I hate because for some student school is the safest place for them because at home there parents may not fees them or beat them so when you come to school you are supposed to be safe a school about 20 miles away had a shooting and now they have metal detectors and no one gets in without first going through the detectors will our school ever come to that I pray it never happens in white river schools or in any school because people die the ones who don’t which there friends die right in front of them

Ohio school shooting

Well i think that it is a really scary thing, that could happen anywhere at anytime. It mostly happens because the kid gets bullied a lot by many different people. So i guess that is there way to get revenge. Its crazy if you think about it because a person can only take so much until they finally snap.

I dont think what the kid did was right because it defiantly wasn't right at all, all Im saying is just think about how the kid was feeling getting bullied on a daily basis. It probably felt like the only way to make it all stop.

I always try to stick up for people that are getting bullied because no one else does so i might as well. But i think that if people stuck up for themselves and what they believe it that it would take them along way in life. No one should let people walk all over them. Stand your ground, then people will leave you alone.

todd becker foundation

yesterday we went to an assembly and the topic was drunk driving
the speaker had lost his brother Todd in a drunk driving accident he talked
about how his brother had "gotten off the narrow path" he was a good
kid who was a state champion athlete he was influenced only by his older
brother who was the speaker he told about how he encouraged his brother Todd to
"live the better life" which was sadly off the narrow path he kept
saying "it’s only another step its only just another little step" he
started at one end of the gym and every time he told us about another bad thing
he would take one more step in the other direction and once he had gotten all
the way to the other end of the gym crash that was the scene of the wreck he showed
how everything lead up to that cold February night when his brother was the
only one killed he walked onto the scene of the accident and saw Todd’s 2
friends, fine, they literally walked out of the care and smashed in the back of
the car was a white body bag his brother Todd was dead head caved in his arms
and legs broken he never had a chance the back seat were Todd was siting was
hit by a truck this changed the life of his older brother he is now "back
on the narrow path" but Todd’s spirit will continue to change the lives of
many students at the end he wanted everyone who wanted to "get back on the
narrow path to come down and join him” in tears me and a large group of friends
and strangers from other schools joined in the group

You know, they say this is a country of equality and freedom. Have you ever realized that really only applies if you're white? I mean if you're African-America, Native American, Asian, Mexican, and the list goes on, they aren't treated the same. I mean they say racism is not a problem in the present day world. "They" are wrong; "They" obviously haven't opened their eyes. This so-called great country that supports "equality" and "freedom to all" has a lot of catching up to do. I'm not saying it's everyone who isn't white isn't treated fairly; I do see that we've come a long way in that area. I'm just saying it's still here, it's well and alive. People are still being treated differently because of the color of their skin, their religion, their culture.
It is a problem but there are more issues this "Great Nation" has. It isn't just that, its society. Society makes it out like this "Everyone is equal and everyone should and will have the same opportunities" So far we're doing good, right? Ok now they say "Only people who work will have great opportunities." Sounds fair, work hard its good deal. Then when you aren't looking or listening they say "Well, we don’t like you because you have black skin or you’re Native American so we don’t think you capable for this job. Hey, we’ll take this guy. He’s not that great or qualified as they were but he’ll do" Who so they pick? I'm pretty sure you'll pick up on it. Society has a way of picking. That’s crazy isn't it?
Now, don't get me wrong I'm with this "Proud to be an American" group. I am. But I'm just saying that we aren't perfect. We judge people for something they can't control, and we break them. Only so we feel like we have control. America is a great country with great people, I'm just saying, we can use some work. We are anything but perfect so this role we try to play as "perfect" is a waste of time. "Perfect is an illusion made up in our heads. And the racism is just as much of a waste! You can't control what you're born into. But you can control how you act. Racism isn't something you're born into, it’s taught. So, we can control it.
I may sound like a crazy teenager who is just ranting about something that people assume is fixed, that I see everyday. It's not that I’m "mad at the world" It's just something that has to be said. I know, it’s been said a million times before. Obviously you weren't listening. So listen now. Get over yourself and your "pride" because judging someone by the color of there skin is ridiculous. That’s like me judging you because you have long nail or short nails, blue shoes or green shoes, anything of the sort. Stupid.

Re: John Trudell

This guy is the smartest person I've ever listened to. He knows the thoughts of the government and how they make every thing work. He knows what the governmet has done to the reservation. He wants to show the world the genocide the U.S. government has portrayed. The reservation is the poorest part in the U.S. and everyone knows it. About the 80's he was making a difference in some peoples lives about thier preceptions on native americans.

I felt bad for him when the Government found out how much he knew and how much of an impact he was making. They burned his house down while his pregnat wife and his childern were in there. I hate how people would hide such things to keep us in secresy. And how they attack the heart just to kill the spirit so they can't go on. But he picked himself up and continues his work. While he's in so much pain he's still finding reasons to get up in the morning and keep speaking the truth. I just wish more people would watch his videos and realize what the reality of genocide is. The reservation is made up with a broken culture and depressed memories.

Truth, it's as if it were a made up word to keep the arrogant mind at ease. A word which means this is a false statement but for the sake of sanity believe in this. What really is true? Why don't they answer the your burning questions, or listen to our cries for help at the very least. In the traditional ways of the native americans truth meant complete honesty with another human soul, from the soul.

You see what I think everyone has noticed the people that know the real truth slowly disappear. They're all gone the great ones we looked up to as graceful, intelligent, and real. Where did they go? Why are most of them assasinated? But no one will know this answer until the truthful man steps up. The one with all the answers.

John is one of these extraordinary people that will tell you the complete truth. I only wish i could meet him in person. He is no doubt a person I think highly of.

racism

i think the racism in some communities is horrible in one town we had a basketball game and of course it had to be there so all of the students were throwing out racist comments almost like it was just the cool thing to do we have one girl on our team who was running the baseline and got tripped by one of the high school students who was sitting in the front row we were lucky she didn't get hurt but they said things like get those Indians of the court and they called the white kids Indian lovers it is so annoying because its like some people don't realise we are all people

"Growing Up Online" Response

Growing Up Online showed a lot of good points. It is hard for a kid that spends most of their time on the computer or cell phone to put it down and do something other then that. I live on my computer. It’s something to keep me occupied when I’m bored. There are a million things you can do. It’s not all necessarily bad. It can be something other then Cyber bullying and predators. Cyber bullying is a problem, so are creepy people who are on the internet. But if you ask me it’s a generation of kids who grow up using technology. My dad can hardly turn a computer on, most kids get a new gadget of some sort and not half would even consider looking at the manual. It takes them less then an hour to figure out how it works and how to play with it. It plays a big part in today’s life. Every where you go there is one way or another some technology involved. The gas station, grocery stores, and at home. It’s just kind of something that you find every where you look and it’s no really something you can avoid. It as a shame the Facebook can take some ones entire social life, or just being online. It’s almost addicting to some people. The constant reminders, and being out of the loop when you choose no to be online. Most of it really seems pointless when you think about it but, making a habbit out of it, you really can’t stop.
The internet plays a huge part in my life, and most people I know. So all in all it’s kind of just a big deal.

Response to the "groqwing up on line"

Growing up online Has been there since 3rd grade for me. And when I was in 6th grade it was uncool if you didnt have a page on a social network. My old school used to let us us our own assigned computer. And eventually we got to this point were we could hack into the computer and get on sites the school wouldnt let us on. (I know wow thier rebel :P)
But it's true in ways that a teens computer can be the lifeline to thier comfort and serenity. It is for me. I have friends on my accounts that understand me and see exactly what I'm thinking. I know some people are like why don't you try it in the real world and stay away from those unknown scary people. But hey I don't have the gas money to see my friends all the time. And I doubt that any of the kids at my school would take a little bit of time out of their golden years to listen to me rant. (Super glad I have this blog)
But I'm not saying others don't use it for bad things as well. Like their are girls I know personally (kinda wish I didn't) that take pictures that have way too much skin.
Hey, look all I have to say if you don't want your child doing that raise them right and keep them outta the wrong group of friends. Cause most likely they'll do whats right. For sure.

Response to A Class Divided.

One word for the lady teacher.... AMAZING! She's a visionary, truely extrodinary. She found out how to show children, what videos can't. The feeling of the actual person being discriminated. If everyone knew eachothers feelings I'm guessing we wouldn't have that much violence in the world. The class divided is practicly the world behind color. I think elementary teachers are the biggest impression on a childs personality.
I only say this because a teacher is the person that has the most one on one time with each student. I can honestly say my 3rd grade teacher had the most influence on me. But I am also colored (Native American in case you didn't already know) and people that live in South Dakota can tell weather your a native or just really tan. Which in turn they still discriminate against you and your culture.
We can have our future kids growing up learning to love not hate. Cause in church schools don't they kinda make you into loving god and believing in nothing else but him? (Honestly no offense to anyone who is religious) So why can't the school teach us virtues instead of letting us know that we need insureance instead of a voice of reason. Cause most likely one of your classmates will be a criminal, and he/she could have been different if only somebody cared.
You see dscrimination comes in many different shapes and forms. And it's only in the eyes of the beholder who can really understand whats happening. Most people who have been discrimnated for most part of thier lives can honestly say they are loyal to thier kind of people. But that kindness can be shared, its just every man's choice. Why are we so blind to see, that normal can never be. In every persons life thier is a part thats going to be extrodinary or unusual. Its just life. And im glad she showed those 3rd graders adult feelings before they ever do anything dicriminating.

responce to a class divided

this was truly an exersize that i dont think evey school could pull of i would be afraide that in our particular high school they would feel how great it was to be on top of the people with blue eys or brown that they would see how great it was to be able to say i am better then the blue eyed people or i am better then the brown eyed people that it would only make people want to be on the top more then the people who were on the bottom would just be waiting for the chance to be on top and then wen all was said and done i think our school would almost be worse with the racism i do know that some would be touched and changed by the expiriance but for the most part i dont think it would work here

Response to Incident at Oglala

I remember my parents talking about this when i was younger. I don't think it was right because all they were worried about was the two white people that got killed, Nobody cared about the Lakota man that got murdered.

Response to Incident at Oglala (Leonard Peltier Story)

This video was in a way heart breaking to see how Leonard Peltier was falsely accused and is still in prison. He is in prison until the year 2035 for the 1st degree murder of 2 FBI agents who followed him onto the reservation.  What they did do, in my opinion anyway, was defend themselves.  Think about it if some stranger in a nice car drove into your town (which was a warzone) uninvited with a gun. What would you do... I know I would defend myself.  It is the human way. Not Indian, not white, but any human.  The evidence was sparse against Leonard (considering the FBI the scientists and gun professionals could not pin point Leonard directly to killing the FBI agents). The courts continued to find little things to say he was there and he shot the agents, but the physical evidence could not support many of the claims against him even when another man only being called "Mr. X" came forward saying he killed them. They still have Leonard locked up...you know something I will be 38 by the time he gets out of prison.  He will be in his 80s so if anyone out there reading this knows the family of Leonard Pelteir we are hopeful that he returns home soon and he will be forever.

New Year :D And some thoughts about my race.

Ok! So it's a new year. Time to start over again. I'm just looking forward to spring and the summer. (just for the rain nothing else :D) What are you looking forward to? Me I'm just going to "live in the moment" but I do want to grow my hair out. For school.... I just want to pass the 9th grade.
Ok besides all this mumbo jumbo. I watched a video with the journalism class today about what happened after the Wounded Knee stand off. It was pretty sad. I would've cried if not for the fact that I'm used to it. I mean I grew up learning that in every story, every part of history, my people are always the ones mistreated and killed. It used to be sad like when I was 5 years old. But now it's just too common that the Traditional Native dies. Technically this is OUR country and everyones illegal. They should know that this is genocide. And the UN should take it up on the US and tell them this is almost as bad as Libya. Children were killed brutally when they set foot on our land. I mean they did the same thing to Africa making them slaves, But they got their country back. We didn't...we're an endangered species of human. We're probably up there with the myans and the atlantians in the lists of "the soon to be missing".
If however we do disappear then maybe just maybe we'll finally get noticed. So if we're gone and you're here reading this...they had a choice. We couldn't help ourselves cause we we're the ones with actual hearts. I can't understand people who think the world disappears after you leave. And that there aren't consequences to the actions they display or the words that they say. This is all coming from me, a 15 year old girl at school living on the reservation, obviously a human. And I can see what a whole room of congress is blind to.

Native Americans in the Media.

Native Americans in the media is a sketchy subject. I mean now days there isn't much to tell, but if we talk about the "Cowboys and Indians" the classic tales of Cowboy, he who usually in every show beats the "bad guy Indian." And not only that, but most of the time is wasn't even a real Native American! It was a white guy painted "Indian Red." It would be a lie if I said I didn't cheer for the Cowboys when I watched the old films and shows with my grandparents. But it was hard no to. They showed the Natives as bad people, like they were villains and the Cowboys was the hero. They might have had a lot wrong about the Indians, but they sure did know how to persuade people. A blessing and a curse. I will say though, for the time being, they were very crafty at doing it to. Some say they were even crafty enough to have some Native Americans cheering for the cowboys.
Again it's a sketchy subject. Because after all, they did basically take an entire race of people and put a stereotype in eveyone's head about them, using live television. some of those stereotypes are stll alive today. The sad part of that one is that once people are labeled in today's society, it's pretty hard to get a new one and Native Americans have had the role of "the Bad Guy" on the big screen of a mighty long time. And getting that stereotype put back in the box is hard enogh, there are about a thousand more to eliminated after that. So, it can be tough to think of an actual Native American in the media sometimes and not think of the classic "Cowbos and Indians" stereotype.

LNI

Wow, LNI best time of the year. I hung out with my friends and family. It's like the NBA but for the reservations. We all get together and have a lot of fun and laughs. I even met some cousins I never met before. Our school got to go home Champions of the whole thing! It was truley amazing. I'm glad for our boys, I mean thier hard work paid off. I couldn't be there for all the games.But I still watched them onTV and listened to the games on the radio.
LNI is short for Lakota Nation Invetational. Besides Basket Ball we have other categories we can win at to represent our schools. Like Wresteling, Hand games, Art, Quiz Bowl, and many more. Our school is also a big hit in the arts. I can truley say i a Proud to be a White River Tiger. (I dont care what the other schools call us) #TIGERNATION!

Lakota Nation Invitational basketball tournament...

Well I had a great weekend overall, playing basketball . We got 8th out of 16 teams. We could have did way better, all 3 of the games we lost were really close games. We won or 1st game against Custer. Our 2nd game we played Crow Creek but lost by 10 points. Our 3rd game we played Red Cloud and lost by like 6 points. Our last game we played Saint Frances and lost by 4 points. But overall we played hard and never gave up. I think we should have won our last 2 games, because we were ahead the hole game, unlit the end. But its OK though. We always have next year. I hope we do even better next year, because its going to be my senior year. But i love my team. Over the years we grew so close like a family. We had a lot of ups and downs together, but we never gave up on each other. I know i can always count on them. They are all like sisters to me now. The bond we share is going to last for a long time. Next year we are going to lose our only senior. And i am going to miss her so much. To be completely honest i think its going to feel kind of weird not being able to play with her next year. So i want to make this basketball season the best it can be. =))

after LNI

LNI was alot of fun. It was 15 native schools (well and one school whose entire team was white so how they got to come I have no idea).  Our boys team battled for first place with them and came out victorious clearing out the other school 69 to 32. It was cool because the last 5 min our coach put the JV team out on the floor to finish out the tournament. We are happy that the only injury we had on our team was a wrist which was an old injury.  When he fell it was sore again but I expect him the be playing again come out next game.  A boy from Todd County (who was actually my classmates brother) hurt his knee when he dove for the ball along with the largest and quickest from White River.  Our boy got out of it without even a bruise. I don’t imagine the Todd County boy will be playing for a while. As far as I know, that was the worst of it and when u are playing 1 game a day for 4 days that’s pretty good. Our girls ended up with 6th I do believe which isn’t too bad. We played hard we won the knowledge bowl.  We also got many awards for art all. All and all, a great success from white river at the LNI tournament

LNI

So this week is LNI (Lakota Nation Invitational) which is a huge basketball tournament in Rapid City. It also has a quiz bowl, archery, and art contests. It spans over 4 days and people who go have a lot of fun. They take 5 starting varsity, 5 bench people, 2 stat keepers, and a ball girl / boy.   For art, our teacher brings about 10 to compete.  Our school only has 2 or 3 competing in archery and about 20 in the quiz bowl. Since we have a basketball team going, that also means our 3 cheerleaders (which also compete) are there. All the spectators that go watch left us with 100 some students yesterday. There were only 38 kids in school and today so we have study hall all day because teaching us something new and then reteaching it to the 60+ people that aren't here would be almost pointless.   I have taken advantage of this and am just relaxing with the few friends have left after everyone left.