APRIL 1, 2005
Smoke Signals 3
Graodl Roode Hosts Yoetfli Leadership
A jfLA $t A A 'iX-.i , .
Youth Movement On March 10-12,YouthEducationhosted the 2nd AnnualYouth Conference. About 140 students and 20 chaperones attended. There were
workshops, a hip-hop dance and a three-on-three basketball tournament. Youth Education invited keynote speaker Robert Johnston from the Native Wellness Institute.
Robert Johnston
LEADERSHIP continued
from front page
"He was excellent," said
Heimburg. "It was empowering for
the youth to know that these events
are happening all around the coun
try." About 140 students and 20 chap
erones participated in this year's
conference, more than doubling last
year's total of 60 students.
"We even had to turn some stu
dents down due to facility restric
tions," said Heimburg.
Students from all across the state
joined together for the numerous
activities held at the Tribal Educa
tion Complex in Grand Ronde. It
was a regional invitation. Students
from Chemawa, Siletz, Lincoln City,
Roseburg and the Native American
Youth Association attended.
On Friday night, the students
gathered in the Tribal gymnasium
for a hip-hop concert, dance and a
freestyle rap battle. The all Native
hip-hop crew, Culture Shock Camp,
featuring D.J. "Shock B," Rapper
Marcus "Quese" Frejo and Rapper
"Duo," put on a show and even chal
lenged some of the local Tribal
youth to an MC battle and freestyle
competition. The group also in
cluded two "B-Boys" (break danc
ers) to dance on stage and among
the audience during the show.
Brian Frejo, (D.J. "Shock B"), is
an accomplished artist and has
opened for many headlining hip
hop groups including 50 Cent, Ceelo
and Lil John. His younger brother
Marcus "Quese" Frejo has also won
many awards as a rapper and mu
sical producer. Culture Shock
Camp is sponsored by an American
Indian clothing company Native
Threads. The camp tours the na
tion looking for Indian reservations
to influence wellness among Na
tive youth.
Tribal member and Tribal Youth
Prevention Coordinator Lisa Leno
organized the dance and explained
that she wants to set up events for
youth that have a healthy, safe
and positive atmosphere.
Indian Boarding School took home
trophies.
Marissa Buckles (Sioux) and
Dante Grant (Omaha), both stu
dents from Chemawa, organized
the tournament and said that it took
about three months to get every
thing coordinated.
"It's a positive thing to bring ev
eryone together, but most impor
tantly, it's about having fun," said
"This was a really positive event. I was sur
prised to see how much talent we have right
here in Grand Ronde. "
Lisa Leno
Tribal Youth Prevention Coordinator
"This was a really positive event,"
said Leno. "I was surprised to see
how much talent we have right here
in Grand Ronde."
Beginning at about noon on Sat
urday, there was a three on three
basketball tournament in the gym
nasium. The tournament was coed
and there were 14 teams compet
ing for t-shirts that were awarded
to first, second and third place
teams. Trophies were handed out
to the top boy's team and the top
girl's team.
Yellow Stones (girls) and Nato
(boys), both teams from Chemawa
Grant.
Grant is a junior at Chemawa
and holds a 4.0 grade point aver
age. He is excited about college and
is interested in going to either Or
egon State University or Fort Lewis
College after he graduates.
Buckles, a sophomore, plans to
attend college as well. She wants
to play basketball for Montana
State University and says that if
she does well there, the Women's
National Basketball Association
may be in her future.
"I just really enjoy playing bas
ketball," said Buckles.
I
Brian Frejo "Shock B"
The continuous growth of this
event has left the Youth Education
Department and the Youth Lead
ers Group wondering if the Grand
Ronde facilities are large enough to
host upcoming conferences, but
seem very pleased with the outcome
of the previous two years.
"Overall, this event has been a
huge success," said Heimburg. "I
want to think that each student
leaves with a positive thought to
carry with them."
( ' "I s
rf -'H'-" G far
f t -j (y-
The Atmosphere In Here The students danced to the beats of Culture Shock Camp, a hip-hop group sponsored by
Native Threads clothing line on the evening of Friday, March 1 1 . Students also took part in a free-style battle on stage. D.J.
Brian Frejo aka "Shock B" also spoke earlier that afternoon on his life experiences and battles with gangs and drugs.