Billy Kidd (Abenaki) Blissfully at one with the mountain! 1st U.S. male to win an Olympic (Silver) Medal in Alpine Skiing. Founder of "Steamboat's Ute Future Olympians Program. Captain Native American Ski Team
NAOTF's 1st NATIVE SKI PROGRAM IN TELLURIDE
The Native American Olympic Team Foundation
The Native American Olympic Team Foundation (NAOTF) is a partnership of U.S. Tribal Leaders, Elders and Olympians dedicated to creating a healthy generation of Native Olympians. It is possiblethanks to the 60 ski areas/ communities, Snow Sports Industry, and Tribal Sponsors in the U.S. and recently Canada (13 resorts with the First Nations) who've led this historic "honoring and healing of the past." (NAOTF is formerly Native Voices Foundation)
"Welcoming The First Peoples Home, Is A Good Way To Start A New Beginning". (Ron Allred, Telluride SkiCo's Native ski pioneer)
By inviting the youth and families of your neighboring Indian Nations to ski, snowboard and share their Earth honoring culture:
magnificent dances, mountain blessings,
sustainable wisdom and snow gratitude ceremonies...
WE ARE CREATING
A BRIGHTER FUTURE
FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN!
Mariah Cooper, (13) Lac Courte Oreilles (Wisc) Olympic Hopeful in X-Country, placed 2nd in the 2007 Barneberkie (13 & under) of the Berkiebeiner, largest x-country race in US with 14 countries.
NAOTF's Missionis "To Create Joyful Unity through Sports & Education, toHelp Heal Mother Earth For All our Children, including through the Olympics"
Top: Inuksuk (Inuit) Stone Man Symbol of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
L-R Mariah Cooper (Ojibwe-Oneida-FN Metis) as White Buffalo Calf Woman skier, Ross Anderson (Cheyenne) 2nd in Mondial Pro Speed Ski Championships, endangered Arctic Bears skating on thin ice, 6 yr old Delaney Tyon (Oglala Sioux) winning Nastar National Championships, Shirley & Sharon Firth (First Nations Gwichen), 4X Canadian Olympic XC Teams, Bottom L-R, Mariah as XC Olympic Hopeful blessing trail, Derek Howell (Pawnee) soaring eagledancer, Naomi Lang (Karuk) 2002 US Olympic Ice dancer's "Salute to Nature," Joe Tompkins (Alaskan Tlingit) 3X US Olympian, celebrating 2010 Downhill World Cup Paralympic victory with son Donald.
Suzy and the Native Stars, Great Job!! Clear a place on your mantles for an Oscar! -- Billy Kidd
"GREAT!" -- Steve Binder, Emmy award-winning producer, director
MAGNIFICENT FILM I LOVE IT!!!! You captured the spirit and heart of the breathtaking world in white, mystical, pristine, evocative and pure, oh how we unite unto the eagle! Why I want to screen it at the next UN Indigenous life celebration.
--Tish Lampert, UN photojournalist, media relations for UN Ecostat NGO.
I had no idea there are so many great Native American and First Nations Champions." -- Kim Chaffee, inventor of river power turbines that preserves fish and communities
This is my favorite all time ski movie as it captures the Poetry!
--Ginger Tindell, Vail skier, Puerto Vallarta Writers/Press Group
"Beautiful, inspiring, brilliant - a gift of love and transformation!"
-- Connie Baxter Marlow, co-director of epic world Elders docu on nature of the universe: www.InSearchofTheFutureMovie.com
What a surprise as I thought Americans and Canadians lost completely their links with the ancient roots, knowledge and traditions of the original inhabitants, so thanks for sharing and all your efforts. --Eduardo de la Barrera, Latin American
Mariah Star Cooper Olympic hopefull skiing, and performing
Mariah Star Cooper is an Olympic cross country skiing hopeful that was asked to contribute in another way, by performing the an Indian prayer in sign language. Mariah is from the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe reservation and will be attending the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada during February.
Native American Olympic Bid (+)
Olympian "Suzy Chapstick” Chaffee urges switch to natural products to "Keep Winters Cool"