Haudenosaunee Volleyball and Youth Leadership Camp
Submitted by Marguerite Haring
The Grandparent Club would like to say nya:wëh to all the families who sent their youth to the Haudenosaunee 2-day volleyball and youth leadership camp held on July 7 & 8, 2023 on the Cattaraugus Territory, Seneca Nation. We are so proud of our upcoming youth leaders!
This was our first year hosting this camp. It was a success and the coaches, Lauren Schad (Cheyenne River Lakota Nation), Annika Stephens, Assistant Coach NCAAA South Dakota Mines, community coach Lindsay John and the youth requested that we host the camp next year again.
Tribal affiliations attending included youth from the following Native Nations: Cattaraugus & Allegany Senecas, Tonawanda Seneca Nation, Tuscarora Nation, Onondaga Nation, Oneida Nation, Akwesasne Mohawk, and members from the Ojibwe Nation. There were 25 young leaders on the first day and 30 on the second.
We would like to send a big nya:weh to the co-sponsors: Native Pride, J.C. Seneca Foundation, Fierce Lacrosse, Seneca Diabetes Foundation, SNI President’s Office, Seneca Gaming Corporation, SNI Committee Grant, the Larry Henhawk Family, SNI employees (dress down day), Cattaraugus Community Center along with guest speakers, Dr. Rodney Haring, the Roswell Park Department of Indigenous Cancer Health outreach team, and SNI Tribal Councillor Odie Brant-Porter.
We are also thankful for the Roswell Park Health Communications team for covering the event and creating this video sharing some of the youth in action along with wellness and cancer prevention materials for youth, families, and community members.
