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Photos of Pathkeepers

5th Annual Native Youth Leadership Camp

July 16-23, 2017

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Staff getting Ready to Welcome and Register Pathkeepers Youth to Summer 2017 Camp.

Opening Ceremony of Pathkeepers Camp 2017.  Setting up tents and exploring Camp grounds.  Thanks to everyone in helping to welcome Campers to Virginia Tribal homelands, and our fabulous interns, Connor, Emily, Diamond and Shawn Marta! 

Campers Get Moving with:

     1) Walking and Running on trails each morning and playing the "running game";

     2) Fishing with Mr. Andrew.... Catch and release with respect and appreciation; 

     3) Learning mens and womens' powwow dances with Pathkeepers Interns Connor and Emily Tupponce; and

     4) Tending to and Picking Vegetables in the Camp Garden.

Lacrosse with Mr. Corey, a former member of the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Team!  Go Pathkeepers!

Campers playing, riding and embracing horses and Native Horsemanship with Miss Angelina, Miss Lucinda, Mr. Mike, and his granddaughter.  

A special thanks to our 4-legged partners, River, Traveller Bird, Austin and Lamar!

Dancing and singing at our Pathkeepers Pow Wow -- "Everybody Dance!" -- Thanks to the Yapatoko Drum and Singers who came as host drum!

Mr. Ralph Zotigh joins Pathkeepers Camp staff and leads Campers in cultural activities, including:  

    1)  Kiowa "Handgame".

    2)  Mr. Zotigh shows Campers how to make traditional chokers.  

    3)  Powwow Drumming and Singing and shares the Pathkeepers song which combines northern and southern style singing.

    4)  Storytelling.

Camp included many other creative and educational workshops, and we were honored to have incredible guest presenters. Special thank you to all our guests, elders and volunteers!​ Some of these educational and cultural workshops included:

    1)  Beading workshop led by Pathkeepers Board member, Miss Lucinda Long-Webb.

    2)  Music Composition Workshop led by Mr. Gali Sanchez, and recorded at White Dove Studios in Culpeper, Virginia. 

    3)  Creative Logic and Poetry workshop led by Poet-In-Residence, Mr. Barney Bush.

    4)  Navajo language and culture workshop led by Miss Lucinda who also shares one-on-one time with campers to assist them with their creative writing.

"Tribal Leader, Entrepreneur and College Day" with Native leaders, entrepreneurs and discussion of college preparation and financial aid.  

Heading 4

Field Trip to Washington, D.C. - Day One:  

    1)  Meet and discuss Native youth issues with U.S. Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico.

    2)  Visiting and taking tour of the U.S. Capitol.

    3)  Touring the Natural History Museum.

    4)  Meet with Navajo Nation Washington Office.  Thanks for the pizza!

    5)  Visit the National Indian Gaming Association to participate in the Center for Native American Youth's "Gen-I Native Youth Summer Networking Reception."

Field Trip to Washington, D.C. - Day Two:   Pathkeepers holds a Mock Hearing in the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Hearing Room.  Pathkeepers youth identified 4 Native issues they were concerned about, wrote up a Senate bill for each, drafted testimony, opening statements and questions, and held a hearing on each issue.  Every camper played either a Senator, Committee staff, or a witness (like tribal chairman).  Thanks to the Committee for giving our youth this incredible opportunity!

Field Trip to Washington, D.C. - Day Two (Continued):  

    1)  Visiting the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) and exploring its many exhibits on Native culture, history, and artistry.

    2)  "Hey -- There's my Tribe's flag!"

    3)  Round dance with Pathkeepers and other visitors to NMAI.

    4)  Singing the Pathkeepers Song with Mr. Ralph Zotigh in the atrium of the NMAI.

    5)  Visit to the Abraham Lincoln Memorial on the Washington D.C. Mall.

Fun Pictures around Camp:  Eating fresh, healthy and traditional foods all week, and a special thanks to Miss Stephanie, Ms. Gardner, and Mr. Anthony for all their help cooking such wonderful and tasty and healthy foods all week; hanging out around Camp.

Last Day of Camp:  Campers give Final Presentations to the entire Camp, and Say Goodbyes, until we see each other again..... 

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