Native American Climate Action Foundation

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Latest News

NATIVES AND OLYMPIANS DAZZLE At NUGGETS NIGHT

By Suzy Chaffee on January 19, 2005

“Wow. That was amazing,” said representatives of both cultures at the Denver Nuggets second annual night honoring the “American Indians of Colorado” on March 22, at the Pepsi Center. Thanks also to a touching opening blessing by Lakota Robert Cross and anthem by Dee St. Cyr of the Denver Indian Center, followed by a half-time show featuring 60 of North America’s most colorfully magnificent pow wow dancers, the Nugget players found themselves fancy-dancing all over the Clippers, to a 105 to 80 victory.

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Tribes Share Wisdom To Prevent Natural Disasters

By Suzy Chaffee on January 16, 2005

As a result of a heart-melting gift to her friends, of an Indian children’s dance to launch a wiser New Year, Denise Rich, Aspen’s Grammy award-winning philanthropist, is helping the tribes get their message out to the mainstream on how to heal the Earth and prevent natural disasters, in the wake of the devastating Tsunami. NBC Today Show Host, Katie Couric, and Wendy Whitworth, executive producer of the Larry King Show, and their children were among the guests uplifted by Denver’s 7 Falls Dancers. The star was two year old Penelope Rodriquez, formerly known as “Sometimes She Dances, Sometimes She Doesn’t,” fresh from a command performance for the Lieutenant Governors of America.
*Photo Caption: (close-up of Penelope) Two year old Penelope Rodriguez (Pawnee) of Denver’s “7 Falls Dancers,” melts hearts at Denise Rich’s old fashion launch of Aspen’s New Year. Photo credit: Jeffrey Finesilver

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Snow Blankets the West after Gratitude Prayers at LA Show, organized by Native Voices Foundation

By Suzy Chaffee on December 19, 2004

Snow Triggers Shopping Frenzy at LA Ski Dazzle! “This is the most early snow in Southern California in 35 years,” say weather experts. The result was record-breaking, youthful crowds in a “pulsating frenzy” at LA’s Ski Dazzle Show, buying everything to go skiing and snowboarding in California and other Western resorts this magical season. “This was our best show ever,” said the euphoric producers, Judy Gray and Jim Foster, who gifted “Califonia’s First Caretakers” and the team of Red, White, Black and Yellow participants – the Black Elk Prophesy – in the Big Bear Medicine Wheel ceremony with free tickets, a booth and snow sports equipment.

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Tribal Salute Reversing Manifest Destiny “Thanks for keeping the Rockies pristine,” says Governor Owens.

By Suzy Chaffee on November 19, 2004

Denver, CO (PRWEB via SportsFeatures) November 8, 2004 — “Denver’s launch of the ‘Salute to America’s First Caretakers’ at Colorado’s SnowSports Expo just might be another reversal of Manifest Destiny,” beamed Olympic skier Suzy Chaffee at the Convention Center event on November 6. Two years ago, the New York Times wrote that the “Indian-led return of the buffalo to the Great Plains is resurrecting their ghost towns… and reversing Manifest Destiny.”

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Thanksgiving Gift to Tribes by U.S. Skiers

By Suzy Chaffee on November 19, 2004

Sacramento’s Salute to California’s First Caretakers at their Ski and Snowboard Show last weekend, launched the state’s inclusion into the national welcoming of the tribes back to over 1/4 million acres of their beloved ancestral mountains at 100 U.S. ski areas this season.

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“BEST GAMES EVER,” SAY OLYMPIANS, TRIBES

By Suzy Chaffee on August 19, 2004

Over a hundred people: Olympians, tribal people, spectators, and press from around the world, gathered near the steps of the Zappeion, a modern Olympic birth site, on Sunday, to celebrate the Greeks’ hosting of the acclaimed “Best Games Ever.” Greek Minister of Tourism Dimitris Avramopoulos and Christina Chanopoulou, of the European Organization of Strategic Planning, gave the gathering their enthusiastic blessings, and were thrilled with the sentiments “that the Greek Olympics turned out as the visionaries planned!”

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Olympic Prayer for Peace and Protection of Greece…

By Suzy Chaffee on April 19, 2004

We humbly ask you to pass on this prayer to your teammates, friends, colleagues and loved ones, so that we may create a circle of loving energy around Greece and planet Earth throughout the Olympics… to protect, heal, lift humanity, and celebrate Who We Are!

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CHUMASH EARTH DAY FOUNDER HONORED IN SANTA BARBARA

By Suzy Chaffee on April 19, 2004

Akima “Rick” Castaneda, a unity leader of the Coastal Band of the Chumash, was honored by Olympic Skier Suzy “Chapstick” Chaffee on April 18, in Santa Barbara for being a founder of Earth Day. Earth lovers and dancers, singers, drummers from other tribes and cultures joined Akima in a spirited opening prayer to the Four Directions at the Sunken Gardens of the court house.

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Utes, Olympians Join In Aspen’s Gratitude Ceremony

By Suzy Chaffee on April 19, 2004

The Ute Indian Tribe, Colorado Olympians and Aspen community will join to celebrate the closing of an abundant snow season this Saturday, April 10th at 3 PM at the Gondola Plaza at the base of Aspen Mountain. The event is co-hosted by Native American Olympic Team Foundation (NVF), co-founded by Olympic skier Suzy Chaffee, and Integrative Sustainable Solutions (ISS), founded by UN Eco Award winner Joanie Klar.

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TRIBAL HEROES HONORED IN TELLURIDE BLIZZARD

By Suzy Chaffee on March 19, 2004

Telluride, Co. – The Ute drum again echoed thru the Telluride Mountains as a blizzard swirled around the splendid Ute Mountain Manning dancers during a press conference and “Gratitude Ceremony” on March 27. “It looks like our golf season has been postponed,” said the ecstatic Pete Woods, Telluride Ski and Golf Company’s marketing director at the gathering on the deck of the Inn at Lost Creek in the Mountain Village.

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Creating joyful unity thru sports to heal Mother Earth for all our Children

By Suzy Chaffee on February 19, 2004

“It’s wonderful seeing the Native Community opening the Birkebeiner Event,” said Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, as 30 splendid Lac Courte Oreille youth danced, drummed, chanted and whirled down Hayward’s Main Street on February 19th. They were a highlight of the Opening Ceremonies of the largest cross-country ski race in North America.

The stunning royalty in beaded crowns, representing the Woodland Tribes, then presented the Governor with a birchbark basket filled with Wisconsin’s yummiest tribal-made products – wild rice, wild rice pancake mix, maple syrup and sausages, plus a Boys and Girls Club Tee-shirt, thanks to Becky Taylor.

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OLYMPIANS HONOR TRIBAL GIFTS TO OLYMPICS AT ATHENS

By Suzy Chaffee on February 16, 2004

While celebrating the Greeks for their greatest gift to peace, joy and health, in history – The Olympic Games… and the French for reviving the Olympics in 1896, Olympians from seven countries honored Native Americans at Athens for inventing the roots of 10 Olympics Sports, at the site of the first Modern Games. A group of about 75 Olympians and their families and spectators there also hailed the contributions of other tribal peoples around the world.

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Chaffee honoring speedski champ Stew Young

By Suzy Chaffee on February 16, 2004

Chaffee honoring speedski champ Stew Young, as well as MVP’s of the Salt Lake Native American Olympic Opening Ceremonies, Forest Cuch and Larry Blackhair (N. Utes), and Olympic ice dancing star Naomi Lang (Karuk), at NAOTF’s Olympic press conference and reception that inspired the world story: “Indians End Games End Game on High Note.”

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COLORADO THANKS TRIBES FOR SNOW

By Suzy Chaffee on November 16, 2003

Magnificent ceremony by members of the Ute tribe, Denver Indian Center, and Mile High Pow Wow Association, at the Colorado SnowSports Expo on November 8.

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NATIVE TRIES OUT FOR NBA

By Suzy Chaffee on October 16, 2003

Warlance Foster, Navajo-Lakota basketball star, with Nuggets manager Kiki Vandeweghe (Blackfeet heritage) during his “impressive” NBA tryout at Denver’s Pepsi Center.

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Valley Becomes Model for President’s Health Initiative

By Suzy Chaffee on March 19, 2003

A 3-day long event united all of Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley toward a goal of providing a variety of sports activities to improve the health and self-esteem of Indians. From Aspen to Glenwood Springs, members of the Ute Indian Tribe of Fort Duchesne, Utah, skied, swam, skated, danced and shared culture.

The event, which included an announcement that the Utes will always be able to participate in Aspen’s new recreational facility for free, just as they have at Aspen’s skating rink, all the way down to Glenwood’s Sunlight Ski Area, helped make the valley a model to the President’s Initiative to restore the health of the “undeserved heroic Native Americans.”

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Reneissa Ridley, Northern Ute dancer/skier

By Suzy Chaffee on June 16, 2002

Reneissa Ridley, Northern Ute dancer/skier, making first contact with 10 yr old King Oyo of Unganda at NAOTF’s first Olympic Tribal (Ski) Exchange at Keystone, Colorado.

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Honoring the First Americans and Creating Native Olympians

By Suzy Chaffee on April 16, 2002

King Oyo of Uganda and his royal entourage, including the queen mother and the kingdom’s prime minister, visited Keystone Resort Saturday and met with Ute Indian representatives from the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in Utah. The Ute contingent included drummers, dancers, a teacher and James Martinez, who carried the Olympic torch through Aspen. Ugandans living in Denver and representatives of the International Olympic Committee, along with donations from Keystone and the Four Points Sheraton in Silverthorne, made the cultural exchange possible.

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Royal Support

By Suzy Chaffee on February 16, 2002

Princess Caroline has invited Suzy and Stew Young, Tulalip speed ski champion and member of the newly forming Native American Olympic Ski Team (before his World Cup event in Austria) to her Ski and Music Festival in Veysonnaz, Switzerland Feb 11-19, 2005, sponsored by Credit Suisse.

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Miss Indian World, Ke Aloha Alo, meeting with Shahbaz Behnam,

By Suzy Chaffee on February 16, 2002

Miss Indian World, Ke Aloha Alo, meeting with Shahbaz Behnam, IOC Eco leader, at Lausanne headquarters following Gstaad.

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HEALING OF THE CONTINENTS EVENT

By Suzy Chaffee on January 16, 2002

Starting with Europe and Native America!Suzy meeting with Jonathan Guinness, (Lord Moyne of British House of Lords), in England following the Athens Olympics in 2004.

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“FESTIVAL OF WORLD CULTURES”

By Suzy Chaffee on December 16, 2001

During “FESTIVAL OF WORLD CULTURES” near Dublin August 26-28 -Lord Moyne (also a brilliant writer) then connected Suzy with his trusted niece Marina Guinness in Dublin (seen here under her 5,000 year old elk horns at her manor.) With the support of their illustrious friends, family and writers, we are hoping to be able to announce at this year’s “Festival of World Cultures,” the planning of this historic healing event -starting with Europe and Native America – to be a priceless jewel in the crown of next year’s event.

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9/11 Trend of Healing Hearts & Oneness

By Suzy Chaffee on October 19, 2001

This Native coverage can demonstrate to the world how America has transformed since 9/11, which coincidentally is the code for “Help!” Never before have Americans and the world connected hearts in a deeper, more satisfying way – many finding that serving someone in need feels even better than serving ourselves, or being served. In hurting others we are hurting part of us. In healing the hearts of others, we are healing our hearts that were never healed from the atrocities of the Roman Empire and Inquisition, taking 9 million women and some men who had a spiritual connection with nature out of the gene pool. And in healing ourselves we are healing the world.

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RCTIC ELDERS INVITE TO JOIN “MOTHER OF ALL EARTH PRAYERS”-MAY 31

By Suzy Chaffee on February 19, 2001

ARCTIC VILLAGE – On May 31, Arctic Elders invite you, as a member of our Earth Family, to join them in the following Prayer to give love and appreciation to Mother Earth. On that day Indigenous Elders will also lead ceremonies at Mexico’s mystical Mt Kushumaa near San Diego. “Our intent is to further rebalance Mother Earth and Her weather for humanity, including helping Keep the Polar Ice Caps Cool, with the grace of God” said Olympic skier Suzy Chaffee, co-founder of Native American Olympic Team Foundation (NVF), the orchestrator.

“It is awesome how th

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10 OTHER REASONS FOR AMERICAN INDIAN OLYMPIC INCLUSION

By Suzy Chaffee on February 19, 2001

1. Out of appreciation, since Native Americans invented the roots of 10 Olympic sports, including team sports as a substitute for war: canoeing, kayaking, ice hockey, field hockey, 3 day marathon, sledding sports, Australian Crawl, baseball, basketball (with S.A.Tribes) and soccer.

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Olympian Suzy "Chapstick" Chaffee, NACAF's Co-founder and Co-chairman, gives a ride to Navajo Cissy Esiddy at Telluride, CO, the pioneering ski resort.


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Suzy “Chapstick” Chaffee International Fitness Consultant & “Yummy Organic Superfood” Coach

winterskol12
Torrance "Blue Feather" Miller, N.Ute dance-skier, one of the stars of Utah Olympic Opening, dancing to 4 tribal victories in Aspen's Winterskol Parade. He asked his teacher, Loya Arrum Cesspooch, "Why do they treat us almost like celebrities in Colorado. "Because you are valuable Utes,"replied Loya, a descendent of Chief Colorow who lived near Aspen.

Hight, Suzy and Kerwin Tom of Ute Mt Tribe in Telluride Skiing - The Bridge to Unity! Broderick
briging


Fancy Dancer, Evan Grant, dazzles the crowd at the Telluride event.


Southern Ute Co-Founder, Alden Naranjo, at memorial for brother Eugene who started unity bridge.


PRO SNOWBOARDER JEREMY JONES RECEIVES WHITE HOUSE “CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE” AWARD


Danielle Pelham (U.S. Chickasaw Tribe) winning the 2009 Taekwondo World Championships. Including her in the London Olympics could be a healing for humanity and help safeguard a phenomenal Games and their future.


13 yr old Olympic Hopeful Mariah Cooper (Lac Courte Oreille-Oneida), Jr Miss Honor the Earth Princess, prayer-signing her love for Mother Earth to open event for Wisconsin Governor Gaylord Nelson, a Father of Earth Day.

Native Americans who inspired some of this progress L to R - Gene Tagaban (Tlingit-Cherokee), Mariah Cooper, (Lac Courte Oreilles-Oneida) Olympic Hopeful, Rollingbears Quintana (Lakota-Azteca)
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75 OLYMPIC MEDALISTS AND OTHER WINTER SPORTS ATHLETES URGE OBAMA ACTION ON CLIMATE, CLEAN ENERGY

Olympic skier "Suzy Chapstick" Chaffee joyfully unveiling affordable solutions right under our noses to cut global warming, fires and cancer almost in half.  Read more...

Photo courtesy Telluride SkiCo, a pioneer of her Native Ski Programs


Ute Mt youth welcomed home to Telluride's Mt Village with Ute sculpture to ski, snowboard and celebrate by Telski and town leaders: L-R Rabbi Michael Saftler, Olympian Suzy Chaffee, Kit Collins (cowboy hat) and Mayor David Glynn. Atop, Timber Manning holds baby eagle feather. Credit: Karen Goldman.


"Giving Native youth sports opportunities is the No. 1 priority of Indian Country,"
Tex Hall, former President of the National Congress of American Indians, NAOTF co-chair 2000-2001, Chairman of the Affiliated Tribes of N.D., tried out for the Denver Nuggets.

What a surprise as I thought Americans and Canadians lost completely their links with the ancient roots, knowledge and traditions of the original inhabitants, so thanks for sharing and all your efforts. --Eduardo de la Barrera, Latin American

NAOTF’s inspiring work is helping bring racial harmony to America.”       -- President Bill Clinton

“As co-founder and Vice Chair of the U.S. House of Representative’s Native American Caucus (60 members), congratulations on your Native American Millennial Ski events. It’s heartening to know that there are groups like yours across America that are working to better the lives of their Indian friends and neighbors."     --Patrick Kennedy, Member of Congress 

"Congratulations on all the efforts of Native American Olympic Team Foundation. All of us at Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation hope that the success of our "Future Ute Olympians Program" (taught by Billy's Olympic coaches) will stimulate other resorts and towns to host Native American youth for ski and snowboarding experiences. If we may be of further help in spreading the word, please let us know." --Chris Diamond, President, and Billy Kidd, Director of Skiing
2015 NAOTF & Suzy Chaffee
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