By NB3 Foundation

 Highlights of NB3FIT Golf Team at the NB3 State Golf Championship

Finishing off the school year, members of the NB3FIT Golf Team competed at the New Mexico high school state golf tournament at Santa Ana Golf Club, Twin Warriors Golf Club and Four Hills Golf Club, helping their respective schools
Laden Lovato (14th overall) and Gabriel KnowsHisGun (29th overall) helped the 5A Cibola High School boys team finish second overall in their class.
Girls:
Alyssandra Rodriguez finished 7th overall representing 5A West Mesa High School.
Maddison Long finished 24th in 5A representing Volcano Vista High School.
Representing Kirtland Central High School: Elysse Woods finished 23rd Dallas Dan 19th in the 4A division.
 Skyler Woods (6th) Zachary BlueEyes (11th) Ardell John (10th), Luke James (35th) helped the 4A Kirtland Central boys team finish second overall in their class.
1-3A Divisions Boys: Angelo Martinez finished 4th overall representing Bosque Prep and Adiance Cheromiah finished 6th place for Laguna-Acoma High School.

After state, the youth are continuing to meet regularly practice and compete in tournaments around the state.

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By NB3 Foundation

NB3FIT track season

The NB3FIT Track season is well underway with only a few weeks left until the state track meet June 11.
This season has been filled with lots of learning, and long days on the track. Lot of the work is paying off as we are seeing a good number of our runners placing and receiving ribbons. Next up, the team will be competing at the New Mexico Jags Track Meet June 4! Follow us on social media to keep up with the team at the meets.

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By NB3 Foundation

Community Partner Highlight: Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association (APIA)

Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association (APIA) Youth Program has a longstanding record of providing Unangax̂ youth with culturally relevant programs that promote healthy lifestyles. Located in Anchorage, Alaska, APIA is one of four organizations who make up the Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation’s Community Empowerment Cohort. The cohort is focused on initiating collective impact efforts that measurably impact Native youth health through physical activity, healthy nutrition, youth development and cultural connections. With a goal that includes increasing the psychological and physical well-being of youth through use of cultural traditions and healthy foods, APIA has initiated a collective movement that includes six community partners from across the Aleutian Islands.

Beginning with an environmental scan, APIA collected feedback from a variety of individuals in the region. The scan included an online survey giving community members a chance to respond to questions pertaining to youth programs, culture and the health and wellbeing of their youth. “We wanted more data from individuals in the region,” Olivia Bridges, youth services coordinator said. “We felt we didn’t have enough representation from all the communities like we wanted to.” 

Upon analyzing the results, APIA saw some glaring similarities emerging from all the communities. Bridges said the importance of traditional language, and youth and elder connections in programs were the highest ranked and most recurring in just about all the survey responses.  “We were happily surprised how many people said they wanted to see more youth programming with elder and youth connection, and programs in their traditional language,” Bridges said. “After seeing and hearing this it made us think, wow we really need to do programming with youth and elder connections with our funding.”

With knowledge learned from the environmental scan, APIA and their six community partners are now moving forward together strategizing and working towards making meaningful changes in community that will impact the health and futures of youth. Currently, one of APIA’s partners in Unalaska is utilizing funds to cover the travel costs for a culture bearer to fly to the Aleutian Islands to teach a headdress making workshop to youth and families. This investment shows the emphasis and value communities in the region place on cultural connections and its impact on youth health. “Communities know what they want to do; they know what they need; and what kind of programming youth and elders in their communities want to be doing.” Bridges said.

With the guidance of the NB3 Foundation and fellow cohort members, APIA will continue to work with the six community partners through spring 2023.
Through the Community Empowerment grant, APIA has broadened their reach forming new partnerships and working with 6 community partners to include: Aleut Marine Mammal Commission, Atka IRA of Atka, King Cove Strong Non-profit of King Cove, Qagan Tayagungin Tribe of Sand Point, Aleut Community of Saint Paul Island, and the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska.

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By NB3 Foundation

NB3FIT track team set to race this weekend!

The inaugural NB3FIT track team is set to hit the track for the first time on Saturday, April 30 at Eldorado High School in Albuquerque, NM. Youth elementary to high school age will represent their communities and NB3FIT at the upcoming meet. For many of the youth, this will be their first track meet.

NB3FIT is long known in the cross country community, but this spring NB3FIT has ventured into a something a little different. A learning experience for coaches and youth, the hope behind starting the track team was for youth to have the opportunity to run in the spring; rather than having to wait until fall when cross country season is. The track team has been practicing four times a week  learning proper running techniques and the rules around track.

Earlier in April, NB3FIT track team joined Running Medicine at Albuquerque High School for a practice meet. Youth suited up in their uniforms, laced up their running cleats and got a chance to experience a race-like environment.

This weekend youth will have the opportunity to compete in two events of their choosing. Some will be competing in the long jump, 800 meter, 1500 meter and a variety relay races.

 

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By NB3 Foundation

NB3FIT in community: Visits Algodones Elementary with Running Medicine

The principal at Algodones Elementary School worked with Running Medicine Native Health Iniative to start a morning running program for all their students and staff. The initiative provides students the opportunity to begin their day being physically active and connecting to each person’s spiritual and cultural views through that physical activity every single day. Our NB3FIT team joined the school for the kickoff assembly to introduce the running program to the students. NB3FIT coaches Autumn Quiver and Jennie Holmes spoke with the students about the importance of being physically active, then led the school through a dynamic warm-up.

For 20 minutes everyone at the school was moving; students and staff ran and walked at all paces. There were many smiles and lots of encouraging words being shared. At the end of the session, the students said goodbye to the NB3FIT coaches and were sent to their classes full of energy. The NB3FIT team is looking forward to continuing to be a part of the local initiative in the future!

Letter from Principal of Algodones Elementary School (Courtesy Running Medicine Facebook):

“We launched Running Medicine yesterday and it was powerful. The entire school, staff, and students assembled on the large, grassy playground. After a prayer from a respected elder, we warmed up with NB3 team members and then took off running. The energy was incredible as our whole school came together to enjoy the spiritual, psychological, and physical sensations associated with the medicine of running!

At the end of the day at our staff meeting, every single faculty member reported that their students were more focused and there was less random misbehavior. My favorite statement was when someone said, “It felt like we’ve been doing this all the time! It just seemed so natural”

I have never in 29 years of this work seen an entire school cone together in such unison and with such powerful energy. I am so excited for the good this will do for our community!!!”

Ben Talbert, EdD

Principal

Courtesy: Running Medicine

 

Courtesy: Running Medicine

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By NB3 Foundation

NB3 Foundation releases ‘Keeping Track’: A toolkit for Indigenous Youth Program Evaluation 

The Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation is excited to announce the release of Keeping Track: A Toolkit for Indigenous Youth Program Evaluation.  The youth program focused toolkit is aimed at providing resources and information that will assist anyone involved in a youth project, program or serving at a youth-centered organization create an evaluation approach that reflects and supports their community’s needs and strengths.

In 2019, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians awarded a grant of $167,394 to the NB3 Foundation to fund this innovative toolkit to help enhance the overall health of Native youth. The toolkit is designed to facilitate an Indigenous evaluation process that can help determine what is important to community stakeholders; what needs to be measured to satisfy stakeholders; what is feasible and appropriate to measure based on community values and norms; how to measure these items in a way that emphasizes Indigenous ways of being and knowing; and how to report, and use the evaluation findings to further promote Indigenous systems and organizational and programmatic sustainability.

From an Indigenous perspective, using this toolkit is a continuation of the knowledge handed down through generations of learning.“Evaluation has a history. What the Keeping Track Toolkit provides is a way of understanding the positive history that Indigenous communities have as evaluators. That is powerful! The Toolkit also provides a foundation of knowledge for evaluation and practical strategies for building an evaluation system that fits your specific situation,” peer reviewer of the toolkit, Director of Zuni Youth Enrichment Project, Joseph Claunch, Ph.D. said.

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Chairman Ken Ramirez says mapping the progress of health is the key to guiding the youth into a healthier future.

“Our youth need educated advisors who know how to serve every level of their health needs,” Ramirez said. “The Tribe is proud to increase the resources given to both the youth and those serving them daily to ensure they activate every level of wellness available to them.”

In this toolkit you will find resources that range from theory to practice. Each section building upon the work NB3 Foundation has done with community partners and stakeholders. Sections include:

  • What Is Evaluation – Outlines the history of Indigenous and Western evaluation and how it can be used in your community.
  • Foundations – Provides an overview of the underlying fundamentals and values that guide the toolkit and Indigenous evaluation systems
  • Indigenous evaluation systems – Outlines the process to develop an Indigenous evaluation system for your own organization, project or program.
  • Evaluation Resources – Provides several approaches, strategies and lessons that can be used to help develop your own evaluation systems.
  • References 
  • Glossary of Terms

To embrace new challenges and opportunities, the toolkit is designed to be an evolving resource. The NB3 Foundation will continue to build and improve upon the current version to meet the needs of Indigenous communities.

VIEW AND DOWNLOAD TOOLKIT HERE

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By NB3 Foundation

Evaluation kicks off spring with refreshed knowledge kits

The Evaluation and Research Department were onsite to kick off the NB3FIT youth programs to gather data from participants.The two methods implemented include, the Rez Dog likert scale and Knowledge Kits (surveys). Both methods included questions which were developed using the NB3 Foundation’s four core areas of physical activity, healthy nutrition, youth development and cultural connections, and also using the outcome statements developed by all staff at the foundation. Findings from these methods provide general patterns that can be strong indicators of changes taking place in the youth that we serve.  We will revisit these evaluation techniques at the end of the NB3FIT spring programming for a post evaluation to determine where the youth are at and how the summer camp has impacted them.

New in 2022, were digital knowledge kits with updated engaging graphics. Before, the knowledge kits consisted of a variety of black and white images for youth to choose from. Our hope is the updated colorful graphics will be more intriguing and more easy for youth to identify with. The great news is the icons are now available for download for use in your community and youth programs! You’ll see corn grinding, cattle work and feast day dances, powwow dancing and bread making depicted in the icons. We continue to use these to remind youth physical activity can be outside of just playing sports or working out in P.E.

You’ll also see Rez Dog Emoji’s that we use in our knowledge kits and when conducting our Rez Dog confidence evaluation game. The Rez Dog Likert Scale was originally called the Self-Confidence Snails and the activity encourages participants to score changes in their self-confidence before and after the program. Learn more about how we utilize the Rez Dog Likert Scale in this article.

Visit our Resource Page to view and download icons.

 

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By NB3 Foundation

Spring is here and youth programming is back!

After a much needed rest, our NB3FIT programs are back in full swing. New this spring is the addition of our track program. We’ve had cross country in the fall, but this year NB3FIT decided to continue the running into the spring with a new track team. The track team is open to youth from 6-18 and is focused on getting youth active, learning the fundamentals of running and competing in track. The team will be competing in local youth track events this spring! Stay tuned to see how the first season goes.

Also back this spring is NB3FIT Golf! We are excited to be back at the beautiful Sandia Golf Club four days a week to host programming.  Truly a unique experience, the program is focused on teaching not only golf, but also the importance of healthy nutrition and youth leadership. Youth practice twice during the week and meet up on Saturday’s at local golf courses to get on the course experience. NB3FIT Golf is a great way to get a junior golfer introduced to the game and to help fine tune skills for more advanced players.

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By NB3 Foundation

Water Trailer will be rollin’ through the 2022 Gathering of Nations

You are invited to visit us and taste some refreshing fruit infused water from the Water First! Water Trailer at the 2022 Gathering of Nations. The NB3 Foundation crew will be out and about giving samples of healthy and tasty fruit infused waters, as well as providing information to youth and families about the benefits of choosing water over sugar-sweetened beverages.  

The water trailer was created as a tool for the NB3 Foundation staff to take our Water First! Campaign on the road and into communities. If NB3 Foundation is asking you to drop sugary drinks, then of course we had to give a tasty alternative. Previous flavors have included pineapple-jalapeño, mint-orange, strawberry-basil, cranberry-orange, watermelon-mint and many more!  Tell us what combinations you want to try! 
 

We haven’t been to Gathering since 2019! So if you see us on the road, give us a honk and wave! We hope to see you soon at GON.  

Friday and Saturday April 29-30, 2022 at EXPO New Mexico. The trailer will be located between the Manuel Lujan building and the Arts building. You can’t miss us!  

 

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By NB3 Foundation

NB3 Foundation receives $6 million donation from MacKenzie Scott

Today the Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation announced a donation it received from writer and philanthropist  MacKenzie Scott. This $6 million gift enables the organization to continue advancing its mission of ensuring Native children achieve their full potential by advancing cultures of Native American community health.

“The NB3 Foundation is exceptionally grateful for this gift and what it means for organization and, most importantly, the youth we serve,”  NB3 Foundation COO and Acting President and CEO, Jon Driskell said. “This support will allow us to significantly expand our existing programs while also developing new initiatives that otherwise would not be possible. Ultimately, this support will help us further ensure Native youth across the country are empowered to achieve success and live out their full potential.”

Over the past 17 years, the NB3 Foundation has been leading the way to improve the health of Native American children by supporting and funding Native-led programs and providing opportunities for youth to live healthy, active lives.

With this funding, the NB3 Foundation will continue to support community-led approaches addressing Native children’s health, engage Native-led organizations and communities in policy/systems/environmental (PSE) changes, strengthen and learn from Indigenous-centered evaluation methodologies and build our long-term internal capacity.

“I am incredibly thankful to MacKenzie Scott for her investment and confidence in the foundation’s work to make long-term change benefitting Native American children’s health,” Notah Begay III, NB3 Foundation founder said. “This funding will help us broaden our reach in communities; impacting the lives of even more Native youth and families for years to come.”

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