Olympian Suzy
"Chapstick" Chaffee, NAOTF's Co-founder and Co-chairman, gives
a ride to Navajo Cissy Esiddy at Telluride, CO, the pioneering ski resort.
Fancy Dancer,
Evan Grant, dazzles the crowd at the Telluride event.
Ed Hall, Washington DC's leading Indian advocate, calls Aspen Airport's
Native Art Exhibit, "a prototype for America." More on the exhibit
Southern Ute
Co-Founder, Alden Naranjo, at memorial for brother Eugene who started
unity bridge.
“As co-founder and Vice Chair of
the U.S. House of Representative’s Native American Caucus (60 members),
congratulations on your Native American Millennial Ski events. It’s
heartening to know that there are groups like yours across America
that are working to better the lives of their Indian friends and
neighbors."
--Patrick Kennedy, Member of Congress
Friendship
Circle Dance at Aspen's historic celebration.
"Giving
Native youth sports opportunities is the No. 1 priority of Indian
Country," Tex Hall, former President
of the National Congress of American Indians, NAOTF co-chair 2000-2001,
Chairman of the Affiliated Tribes of N.D., tried out for the Denver
Nuggets.
Joanie Klar,
honored by Chaffee for winning UN Eco Award, with a Amazon headdress by
Fulni O Tribe.
“NAOTF’s
inspiring work is helping bring racial harmony to America.”
-- President Bill Clinton
Suzy with Hawaiian Princess Gya Watson, and NAOTF Team - Washoe Chairman
Brian Wallace (NAOTF co-chair 2002-2003), Walapie Camille Gordon (Southwest
ski organizer) and Scott Halazon (Advisory Board).
NATIVE AMERICAN OLYMPIC TEAM FOUNDATION (Formerly Native Voices Foundation) Creating Joyful Unity through sports and education to heal Mother Earth for all our Children, including through the Olympics.
to create joyful unity through sports and education to help heal Mother Earth for our children, including through the Olympics. By inviting Native Americans back to their majestic ancestral mountains for skiing and honoring celebrations, the wisdom of Native Voices is again being heard clear and strong. Through creating a bridge between our co-existent but different cultures that have different values and priorities, we enrich each other, and create mutual respect and appreciation through skiing, cultural ceremonies, travel, and good times. High risk snow sports at ski resorts build health, self-esteem, leadership skills and bonding friendships, in addition to making educational, job and career opportunities more accessible outside the reservation.
Torrance "Blue Feather" Miller, N.Ute dance-skier, one of the stars of Utah Olympic Opening, dancing to 4 tribal victories in Aspen's Winterskol Parade. He asked his teacher, Loya Arrum Cesspooch, "Why do they treat us almost like celebrities in Colorado. "Because you are valuable Utes,"replied Loya, a descendent of Chief Colorow who lived near Aspen.
Hight, Suzy and Kerwin Tom of Ute Mt Tribe in Telluride Skiing - The Bridge to Unity! Broderick
"NAOTF has the best way to start a dialogue between our cultures I’ve seen. I hope that all the U.S. Ski Areas will reach out and participate in this exciting opportunity to invite their local tribes to ski in the Great American Outdoors - a chance to nurture future Native Olympians."--Bjorn Dahl, while Director of State and Private Forestry, Western Region, former President of Kirkwood Ski Area (Tahoe) working with Washoe Nation, and 8th Generation Norwegian Forester.
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.
"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
Suzy and the Native Stars, Great Job!! Clear a place on your mantles for an Oscar! -- Billy Kidd
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
XC Olympic Hopeful Mariah Cooper (Ojibwe-Oneida) supporting Lil'wat Elder Ron Lester's Vancouver ceremony. The rain and fog turned into "rare bluebird days."
Along these lines, Suzy Chaffee, cofounder of the Native American Olympic TeamFoundation, has been a tireless proponent of encouraging the intervention
The National Ski Areas Association's NRDC study said that Colorado and Utah would be losing its snow by the end of the century unless there is an intervention - the East likely earlier. Fortunately, a consensus of the UN's 192 countries in 2012 identified the key to regenerating Earth: a combination of science/green energy and Ancient Wisdom, especially through the tribes
For the last two hundred million years up until 1970, our ‘home’ looked like this beautiful blue planet from Apollo 17 with three satellites orbiting it. Today, earth is shrouded with about 1,100 satellites, most for cell phone companies, and a half a million pieces of trashed ones, and most dangerous of all, some dumped nuclear waste. Together they are blocking the critical sunlight that Man and Nature need to happily thrive. Read the full story here.
People around the world have recently mourned the passing of Whitney, Amy Winehouse, and First Lady Betty Ford, exemplified by the touching New Years Tributes and Grammy Salute to Whitney. With the help of doctors Drew, Phil and Gupte these (celestial) shooting stars left us with priceless lessons to prevent or recover from alcoholism. And I believe they are happy to see that their passing is uncovering solutions that could save millions of children and their families from heartache. Read More
What if we had the power to reduce the roots of violence by 50% – including one in three women raped world-wide – through a simple diet shift and planting fruit trees in schools?Read more
OPINION: “Some good must come of this,” has been the cry after one of the worst mass killings in U.S. history at Newtown’s Sandy Hook Elementary School. Little has been done after a decade of school massacres. “We have 15 times more gun violence than any other country, and we must learn from them,” said CNN’s Fareed Zakaria. Therefore, I believe we need a holistic approach that includes the best solutions from other countries:
The World’s Youth say we need emergency action to create a “Future We Want.” Hurricane Sandy helped the doubting Toms recognize that the greatest threat to our National Security and humanity is Climate Change. And leaders now believe that frustrated young people are not kidding when they say they want Climate Justice!
PHOTO CAPTION: (L) 12 year old Xiuh (Shoe) Martinez, (center in white shirt/yellow shovel), and his Earth Guardian Kids demonstrating in Boulder how to reforest Colorado after its wildfire and save a billion trees worldwide. Photos: Tamara Rose Roske.
From Antarctica to Iran to New Zealand, Billy Kidd has literally skied the world. Since 1970, the Olympic silver medalist and world champion racer has not only been Steamboat’s director of skiing, he has been America’s premier spokesman on behalf of his sport. With his vast experience, he is uniquely positioned to consider what the next 50 years of skiing might bring.
October’s launch of the UN’s Girl Empowerment Initiative, and revelation that three Native American women represented the U.S. and their Indian Nations at London’s Olympics, are creating ripples of hope and prosperity for depressed Nations in the U.S. and around the world.
PHOTO Caption: “I will always love this team,” said “phenom” goalie (far right) Tumua Anae (Native Hawaiian) of her Gold Medal U.S. Olympic Water Polo Team in London. Credit: Jeff Cable.
Time to Listen to The Children! Lisa Montoya: RIO+20 Earth Summit’s media “phenom,” Boulder’s Xiuh (Shoe) Martinez at October’s Denver Climate Change rally praising President Obama for his renewable energy policies that create the future the youth want, including snowsports.
Olympic skier Suzy “Chapstick” Chaffee, who led the 1977 Title IX March in DC at the request of the PE Teachers of America, celebrating this team effort with her Olympic mom Stevia. Photos courtesy Naotf.org.
Danielle Pelham (U.S. Chickasaw Tribe) winning the 2009 Taekwondo World Championships. Including her in the London Olympics could be a healing for humanity and help safeguard a phenomenal Games and their future.
NATIVE AMERICAN OLYMPIC TEAM FOUNDATION
Torrance "Blue Feather" Miller, N.Ute dance-skier, one of the stars of Utah Olympic Opening, dancing to 4 tribal victories in 
Could National ‘Snow Gratitude’ Ceremonies Extend Future of SnowSports? 
U.S. Olympic Nordic star Lars Flora
