Leon Matthews. Still image from YouTube
Rez Ramblings
By Leon Matthews
@RezRamblings I have had a difficult time calling myself an athlete and I know I played high school and college basketball. I lettered in both but I had my college letter stolen. I lived without my mother ever watching me play or take a game shot. I left Pine Ridge as an Oglala Thorpe and left with great tradition. I enjoyed my time but I ended my senior year with an injury. I ended my senior year with a stressed ligament and could not return. Little Wound went on to win our district and go on to state. They had the Janis Boys and they were awesome, Doug and Duane Janis were truly amazing athletes and if I spelled their names wrong I am sorry. They were great and led Little Wound to the state tournament. I truly believe I could have helped my team but I was a robot and yet I fought that because I am an artist. I was told when to shoot and when to pass and I enjoyed it but I was singled out because of my faith. I chose to believe in Jesus and when the team went to sweat I chose to go home. I chose to believe in Jesus and was willing to live with whatever happened in my life. Eventually the Thorpes lost to the Mustangs and I was not there because of injury. I do not look back often but I realize it is important because sometimes you are singled out because of your faith. I choose to follow my faith and will continue no matter what happens.
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Because of my faith I have found myself here, here is a great place because I follow God. I realize people may believe or think I should be somewhere else but I believe I am here because of the father. I have sought to follow and this is the place I need to be. I have walked in New York City and traveled the East Coast and took pictures and video. I have lived as a Lakota and will continue to seek to follow my cultural path. I have chosen to stop cutting my hair because I feel it is right. I have a wavy or curly hair but I know I can have a braid at some point. So I will have long hair the next time you see me. It is a choice I believe is from me for no other reason. My life is like a story book because I am truly blessed. I have great friends and a great job that is awesome! I work for a food network star and he is awesome. I have friends that I feed and that is going to be awesome. Plus I will be doing a buffalo feed for two hundred people in two weeks. I have been feeding people as our Lakota leaders did in our past. This is my life and I believe it is going to be amazing I hope to develop my ideas about the casino and other issues we deal with as Lakota. It is time to grow up as a people. It is my world and I hope you will read and listen. Find the award-winning Lakota Country Times on the Internet, Facebook and Twitter.
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