Youth News

My name is Jennica Peter, and in July, I was a Team New Mexico athlete in the 2011 United States Indigenous Games (USIG) held in Milwaukee, WI. This quadrennial tournament serves Native American youth in the way that new friends are made as well as connections to various sponsors such as Gatorade, Nike's N7 campaign, Lids inc., and Hilton Hotels. Coaches scouting for college level teams and various tribes from across the United States are also introduced to the athletes and connections created.
The sports featured in the USIG include fast pitch softball, basketball, swimming, archery, wrestling, cross country, track and field, and many other sports. Each state is allowed one team in the tournament meaning only a state's elite are competing for one of three medals: Gold, Silver, or Bronze. Many individuals train on their own for months, years, and even their entire sports careers to be selected to represent their tribes and states in this event.
This year, Team New Mexico took 112 athletes representing the Navajo, Pueblo, and Apache nations of the state while competing in 7 of the sports played in the Games. Team New Mexico took the all-around Silver medal in the Games because most of the athletes earned either gold, silver, or bronze medals, as well as being awarded the Spirit and Sportsmanship Award for a 4th time.
I competed in Women’s 19 & under Fast pitch Softball with 13 other athletes, some of whom were college age. We got the bronze medal after playing 5 games against teams from Florida, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and California. We stayed together as a team in the humidity ,which some thought to be slightly ridiculous, and the wins and losses. Our team represented the Jemez Pueblo, Navajo Nation, and Cochiti Nation well by playing hard and holding our own against some of the best teams to be seen in the history of the USIG.
This trip was a great experience that I will carry with me that would not have been possible without your support, donations, and prayers. Thank you.

Jennica Peter