ISTUYEE MONTEZ
Istuyee resides in Oakland, California with her 4 year old daughter; she works for a defense law firm, and is a freelance writer, poet, actress, aspiring playwright and artist.
FROM Browning, Montana. The Blackfeet Reservation, 5 miles of the Rocky Mountains. Amskapikuni. Third daughter of Artists, Olivia Bearchild & Richard Montez.
Mission: To contribute to the empowerment & progress of Indigenous peoples, aid Native Youth in their efforts to break cycles of destructive behavior and continual healing through the art of expression, by any means necessary
Who was your inspiration when you were growing up?
Growing up, my inspiration was eldest sister Aurora, she was a teenager at the time. We lived in Missoula, Montana, she was always singing and dancing in the house. Listening to loud music, and crimping her hair. She was a knockout, a real Native Supermodel, to us anyway. She sang in the choir and had a lot of friends. She also had a car and on occasion one would find me being tossed about the back seat laughing my lungs out as she drove around town. Some of my fondest memories are of her comforting me and teaching me how to dance. I never heard her cuss or fight with anyone. She was always very positive and smiling. She taught me to be brave and unashamed to be different. Living in a small community, common to a lot of Native peoples, where being different easily attracts criticism and entices gossip, she gracefully embraced it all, the good and the bad. She embodied freedom and independence for me, something I value very much today.
What is the role of a leader in the community?
The role of a leader in the community is to lead by example. Ideally, its striving to be an honorable and dignified person, by making wise choices guided by honesty, compassion and understanding and- to add my little spin on this- an indigenous sense of justice.
What is your vision for your community?
My vision for my community is tied directly to a dream I have to own and operate my own theatre. I would like to see our Native Community here in Oakland enjoying and playing in our own theatre equipped with fantastic lighting and sound, and I’d be director, yes, this is my vision right? Haha, yes to have an all Native Playhouse is a personal goal and a vision I have, for my local community.
What role should our traditional culture have in the lives of our Native American youth?
Tradition should play an integral role in the lives of indigenous youth. This may not be easily achieved but if we as individuals and communities strive to keep cultural traditions alive and continue to renew them, then every indigenous child could have access to their culture! Cultural preservation should be a priority today, so that it will be a large part of our children’s lives tomorrow.
What issues did you deal with as a young person that you see youth dealing with today?
I grew up poor, so I had to work after school to survive. I dealt with a lot of stress and I could have easily went down the wrong path, or stayed there rather. Because I did for a little while in my teens, find comfort in with the wrong crowd, doing things like drinking or smoking weed to forget about it all. But my job (and reading books) kept me out of a lot of trouble, and it gave me a sense of responsibility and empowerment which I needed. I see a lot of youth from poor families with too much time on their hands, and I wish for them that they would seek out work to escape their situations at home or wherever they may be, and use that energy to make money and learn positive ways to create change in their lives, literally. Also, reading whenever possible is the greatest remedy I’ve found for stress. When I couldn’t stand whatever environment I was in, I would read and I’d find my bliss.
What advice would you give to young athletes and potential leaders in the community?
My advice to young athletes and community leaders is to take care of yourself, love yourself and protect yourself, it’s easier said than done. And when you think you’re good, you could be better, never stop challenging yourself. Gosh, I could really go on and on with snippets of advice but I’ll stop while I still have their attention. Do what you can for the community at large, and do your best to learn and preserve your tribal traditions.
Why is education important for our young people?
Education is important because it gives us understanding of our world, our place in it and enlightens us to our own power. When we understand ourselves, and the world we live in, change appears possible. I think it’s a lot easier to dive into a pool when you know how deep it is.
What challenges did you have to overcome to be where you are today?
To be where I am today, I’ve had to overcome poverty, family dysfunction, amongst other things I’d rather not say, but really I wouldn’t wish it on anyone else and I don’t particularly think I would be willing to do it over again! Yes, it was that bad.
What is your story behind the story?
I was a little girl that liked to read, and day dreamed about being a ballet dancer. A lot of what I do now is to feed that curious little girl still inside me and provide for my daughter the opportunities to live out her childhood dreams.