AMMON CROWFOOT
Ammon Crowfoot is from the Siksika Nation, and the youngest of six children. Basketball is Ammon’s sport; he won the 2009 Tom Longboat Award for National Aboriginal Athlete of the Year. He and his team were the 4A High School Basketball City and Provincial Champions in 2010, and the Alberta Colleges Athletic Association Basketball Provincial Champions in 2012. Ammon was the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association Basketball National Silver Medalist in 2012. He attended Western Canada High School in Calgary and Mount Royal University. Age 20, Ammon is now preparing to serve a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Who was your inspiration when you were growing up?
Definitely my family. All my brothers and sisters were pretty athletic. Being the youngest, I always saw them growing up, and I always wanted to be better than them.
Were there any issues you dealt with as a young person that you see young people dealing with today?
My issues might not be issues for other young people because I put myself at a higher standard. A lot of my friends were into drugs or alcohol, but it’s not for me. I’ve seen it influence their lives and impact them. Athletes like to have fun and they can lose focus of what they should be doing.
What is the role of a leader in the community?
It’s pretty straightforward: do what you want to do and not what others want. Set your own path and hopefully people will follow. Stay true to your vision and be able to stand strong. When you’re on your own, never falter from that.
what is your vision for your community?
For my reserve I’d like to see growth. I would like to see people set goals for themselves and strive for those goals. I grew up on the reserve for a bit and I went to university in Calgary. People living on the reserves can change the negative stereotypes of reserve life. It has to start with a single person, and other people have to see that. I let people know I am Native American, and the reserve I come from.
What role should our traditions and cultures have in the lives of our first nations youth?
In our traditional culture we lived a healthy and clean life,and that’s something we should go back to. I know a lot of Aboriginal people deal with addictions, and that’s keeping them from growing as a people. Some family members on my dad’s side struggled with alcoholism. You need to be more than that.
What advice would you give to young athletes and potential leaders in the communities?
Just do it! Just go for it! Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Never pass up on opportunities because you never know what you could get out of them. Don’t be afraid to be out of your element.
If you had one message to send to the native community of north america, what would it be?
Be the change that you want to see in the world. Be the instigator. If you want something done, do it yourself; no one else will do it. Hopefully you will go about it in a good way and people will follow. Be the change you want to see in yourself, in the community, in the world. This works in many different settings.
How does a leader effectively listen to the voice of the people?
Just by listening and keeping your mouth shut. Listening to other ideas and taking it in. Take in other people’s opinions even if you don’t agree, or if you have different views. Leaders must be able to see the other side.
what is the story behind your story?
My parents wanted more for my brothers and sisters and me, and moved away from the reserve. We grew up in Okotoks and Calgary. The thing that made us achieve our goals wasthe standards that we lived by. My parents showed us the higher standard. The biggest thing that made me choose this lifestyle is I am a member of the Mormon Church. A lot of my faith has to do with the Medicine Wheel and living a healthy lifestyle. It’s more than just playing the sport, it’s what you do with your diet, and your sleep, how you weight lift, and how you mentally prepare to be ready.