Presented during the 2016 MATC Scholars Program, which is presented to encourage Native American students in the STEM fields to transition from attending two-year colleges to four-year degree granting universities.

1. By Kevin Abourezk

2. The early years
Born: Grand Forks, ND
This is where I first lived
after I was born. Nice?
Parents split up.
Not long after I was born,
my dad left and my mom
and I moved back to the
Pine Ridge Indian
Reservation of South
Dakota.

3. The Pine Ridge is a place of
magnificent vistas, like the one to
the right (the Badlands).
The people have a strong focus on
family and culture. I’ve never since
felt as close to a group of people as
I did to my family when I lived on
the reservation.

4. Whiteclay, Nebraska – “Skid Row of Plains”
While a tragedy, it’s only a symptom.
My memories of Whiteclay
include relatives constantly
asking for rides there to pick
up beer.
Of course, I also remember
buying my first pair of tennis
shoes there.

5. A legacy of activism
My family on the reservation
has a long history of activism.
The shootout at Oglala, in
which two FBI agents were
killed, happened on my
grandparents’ land. Leonard
Peltier was later convicted of
killing the agents.
My great-grandmother,
Cecelia Jumping Bull (seen to
the RIGHT), and my great-
grandfather, Harry Jumping
Bull, invited the AIM activists
to stay on their land.
“Grandma Jumping Bull” by Leonard Peltier

6. My family moved a lot:
•Vermillion, S.D.
•Winner, S.D.
•Gregory, S.D.
Moving meant making
new friends, losing old
ones.
It also meant being away
from my reservation
family.
Gregory’s “Twin Buttes”

7. My life off the reservation has been challenging, but rewarding.
Often, I’ve
had to be an
educator.
While I
didn’t ask for
it, I try to
accept this
responsibility
with grace.
Sometimes though,
I feel like I’m
standing in a crowd
screaming and no
one hears me.
But I also can’t
imagine living life
any other way.

8. The college years
Like many Native students,
my college years were
defined by growth and
struggle.
I got drunk a lot and
ruined many friendships …
But I also found my path.
I’ve been clean and sober
for the past 20 years after
attending treatment while
still in college.

9. •17-year veteran journalist
•Father of five, including 3
adopted children
•Earned a master’s degree
in journalism in 2012
•Longtime mentor to
Native students, like you!