Jewel Waupekenay, a softball player at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, strives to honor those who came before her and pave the way for those who will come after her.
A member of the Oneida Nation Tribe of Wisconsin, Waupekenay is a descendant of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and grew up on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Her love for softball developed early on, as she began playing competitively at age 6.
"It's something that I've just always done," she said. "It's a part of who I am."
As the NCAA and its members celebrate Native American Heritage Month in November, Waupekenay shares how the resilience of her ancestors has shaped her life and experience as an Indigenous student-athlete.
What does your identity as an indigenous student-athlete mean to you?
Being an Indigenous-student athlete is such an incredible honor. Not only do I get to showcase my talents through playing a sport that I love, but I also have the opportunity to receive an education. Just to be at a university and doing the things that I do is such an incredible demonstration of the resilience that my ancestors had. Hundreds of years ago, they fought just to be here today. To share my culture with my teammates, my coaches, my classmates and my professors is something that I am very thankful for. I'm proud of where I come from. I'm proud of who I am, and I'm proud of being able to share that with others.
How do you celebrate your culture and heritage?
My culture and heritage is something I think should not only be celebrated within the month of November, but throughout the entire year. I don't think people like to talk about the history of Native Americans in the United States because it's dark, it's sad and it's scary. But I think that (we should) share with people that we are still standing here today, and we are still thriving. We're an incredible example of what it means to be resilient, and I think it is something that should be celebrated every single day.
What are some of your favorite activities and traditions?
One event that I hold close to my heart is the Menominee Nation Contest Pow Wow. It takes place the first weekend of August every single year in the Woodland Bowl, located in Keshena, Wisconsin. It's just a beautiful place to be and a beautiful time to be there. When you hear the jingle of the dresses and the beats of the drums, it's something that really fills your cup. There's an overwhelming feeling of love, and it just makes you feel so proud. Being able to be in that place and share that love with all the people there is one of my favorite things. It reminds me that no matter how far I may go from home or no matter how long I may be gone, I can always come back and rely on my community to be there.
I think one of my favorite traditions is the tradition of family and community. It's something that I hold very close to my heart. I know that if I leave my community, I can come back and find the exact same love as when I left. I think my community really exemplifies what it means when people say that it takes a village to raise a child because I wouldn't be here today without my family. They have given me endless amounts of support, and I'm so thankful for that.
I also love how our community honors our youth. Our youth is the next generation of leaders, teachers and speakers. In my community, the Menominee Youth Services Department does incredible work. They provide our youth with so many opportunities, activities and ways to be successful.
Throughout Native American Heritage Month, how can teams and athletics departments highlight and celebrate Indigenous student-athletes? How can these celebrations and highlights be continued throughout the year?
Throughout Native American Heritage Month, I think that teams and athletic departments can honor Indigenous student-athletes by reading land acknowledgments. Before universities and cities were built, there were tribes that resided on those lands and called those places home. There were families that were raised there. UW-River Falls resides on the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe and Dakota nations and tribal communities. I think that reading the land acknowledgment at public events, sporting events and academic events can highlight that and show respect for the people, families and tribes that called these places home.
Another thing that I think can be done to celebrate and honor Native American student-athletes is the correct pronunciation of names. I know that sometimes our last names can be intimidating. But generally, those last names are sacred. They mean a lot to us and are part of our identity. My last name means "white eagle" in the Menominee language. I know that looking at it, it may be intimidating. But taking the time to go up to an athlete and ask how they pronounce their first or last name is an incredible sign of respect. When you put so much hard work into something (your sport) and you finally get a chance to hear your name, it's a little disheartening (when it is incorrect). Our media crew does a great job. A couple of years ago before our first game, I went up to my coach and I asked, "Can you please make sure that they pronounce my last name correctly?" They did, and they had no problem, which I think is wonderful. Out of respect for who I am in my culture and my identity, I will correct someone when they mispronounce it. (Waupekenay is pronounced WOPP-kuh-NAY.)
Using inclusive language assists in creating cultures of belonging for everyone. Can you discuss why language is so important within the Indigenous community?
I think that within the indigenous community language is so important because it is the heart and soul of a tribe. We all have our own unique language, and teaching that to our next generation is very special. I also think it is important to share our language in other communities, such as universities or the workplace. Making sure that the language stays alive means honoring our ancestors and honoring what they fought for.
