Smoke signals., April 01, 2006, Special Edition: Motivational Speaker Lifts Tribal, Page 2, Image 2

2 APRIL 1,2006
Youth Wellness Day SPECIAL EDITION
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To Remember Grand Ronde's canoe family welcomed more than 200 people with an honor song to open the day's activities for the Tribal Youth Wellness Day in the Tribal Gym.
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Family and Friends Students listen carefully to the entertaining yet heartfelt
words of Motivational Speaker Arnold Thomas. Thomas attempted suicide shortly
after his 18th birthday leaving him totally blind, unable to speak for several years and
with severe damage to his face. Thomas discovered reasons to be alive and wanted to
share his story in an attempt to educate those in similar situations.
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Motivational Speakers, singers highlight 4th Ai
Power Point Motivational Speaker and Hidatsa Tribal member Chance Rush
served as the emcee on the day's events. "Our goal is to promote well-being and
positive attitudes to our young Indian leaders," said Rush.
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By Toby McClary
Between family, friends and over
150 Native Youth, the 4th Annual
Native Youth Wellness Day was
one to remember. The wellness day
event took place on Friday, March
24 and was held at the Education
complex.
This year's agenda fea
tured Motivational
Speaker Arnold
Thomas of the
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Tribes,
Native
American
Pop Star Jana
of the Lumbee
Tribe and Ogla
la Sioux Tribal
members Donny
and Tiny Decory
of the "Yo! Pro
gram". Thomas served
as the keynote
speaker for the
day and spoke
on the impor
tance of life. In
his teens, Thomas was considered a
star high school athlete throughout
Nevada and was well on his way to
achieving his goal of playing colle
giate sports and possibly becoming
pro. In the spring of his sophomore
year, his father committed suicide,
turning Thomas' hopes,
dreams and life up
side down. Losing
all harmony and
balance, Thomas
turned to alcohol
and drugs. Shortly
after he turned 18,
he too attempted sui
cide. He put a rifle un
der his chin and pulled the
trigger. The gun shot wound left
him completely blind, caused severe
damage to his face and left him un
able to speak for many years. But
most importantly, Thomas lived.
Through support from his family
and friends he discovered reasons
to be alive and wanted to share his
story in an attempt to educate those
in similar situations.
"You have to figure out a way to re
lease your emotions," said Thomas.
"You have to find an effective way to
just let them go."
After Thomas' lecture, the stu
dents broke up into different work
shops including a stick game class
instructed by Tribal member Melvin
Brisbois and his wife Etta, a Mea
sure 11 awareness class instructed
by Steve Llanes, a motivational
seminar put on by the YO! Program's