Two American Indian superskiers captivated the hearts and minds of the next generation of skiers, as well as ski area leaders, at the “Salute to North America’s First Caretakers” at Seattle’s SnowSports Expo November 12-14. Kids were spellbound by their “weapons of mass instruction” – the magnificent eight foot Raven wings, storytelling, and snowdance of Tlingit x-treme skier Gene Tabagan, and the eight foot skis and shiny red war-painted suit of Tulalip speedski champ Stew Young.

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Thanks to Native Americans being the “No 1 Draw of the Salt Lake Olympics,” and Natives being the “showstoppers” at European and Asian Ski and Tourism Shows, say international marketing leaders, who are invited by world leaders to put on cultural shows… and thanks to award winning Indian films, like “Dances with Wolves,” “Smoke Signals,” “Thunderheart”… Native actors, reenactors, and film makers are bonafide stars, who, like Native Sports Stars and spiritual leaders, are ideal bridge makers between cultures, especially after the 9/11 tragedy.

World Watch Institute,
Earth Charter,
Native-led Eco Hikes,
Aspen’s Eco Sports Camp

Prophecy & Hope:“Prophesy says that it is time now to share some of our sacred traditions of our culture. With the birth of the ‘Miracle,’ a female white buffalo in 1994 in Wisconsin, it signals the time when the 4 colors of man will be coming together to unite and heal. Creator has given different gifts and responsibilities to each of the colors. Ours is to help preserve Earth for all the children. Time is running out. It’s time to act,” say many Indigenous spiritual leaders of the Americas.

“I’d like the thank the tribes if they are responsible for this early fluke snow storm that dumped two to four feet in the San Bernadino Mountains, and put them on our staff,” announced Fritz Coleman, KNBC LA’s weatherman. Following Chaffee’s research, skiers got to thank the cross-cultural team at LA’s Ski Dazzle Show

Stars of the Western ski shows (who want help to join ski areas and tribes and take the kids of both cultures skiing/boarding): Speedski champ Stew Young (Tulalip, in tuck) with Raven dancer, X-treme skier Gene Tabagan, and L-R, Timberline’s Jim D’Eagle (Lakota), Lisa Santana (Lummi V.P of Northwest Indian College), “Uncle Paul” (Tlingit), and Olympic host Chaffee.