DAY 5: PHOENIX ON TO MONUMENT VALLEY...
MICHELLE:
We checked out of the hotel bright and early to head back to the city for a talanoa with GinaMarie Scarpa. We met her at the Phoenix Suns merch shop with Ralph who had a busy day ahead as the Suns were in the NBA playoffs and had a home game that night.
Following our chat with GinaMarie, we got on the road to the Reservation, ultimately heading to Monument Valley which takes us from Phoenix to Utah. On our way we stopped in a little town called Kayenta to meet up with another friend of Nardi's and her two daughters. Shar is a Native American woman who has spent her life on the reservation. Kayenta is a tiny town, if you blink you'd miss it. We met the family at Maccas in the carpark. It was freezing! When we offered to go into McD's to sit and chat Shar said she was born in the winter and the cold is good for her. Mary had a talanoa with Tru, one of Shar's daughters while Nardi and I chatted with Shar. I enjoyed listening to Shar talk about life on the res. How her father grew up walking everywhere because there were no cars only horses and carts (and that's if you could afford it). Her father has been a sheep herder since the age of 3 and often slept under the stars looking after them. He told her that the air has changed through time and things aren't the same because of technology, life was more simple back then.
After catching up with Shar and her daughters we made our way to Monument Valley. This place was incredible! The air was damp with rain, the landscape was eye-watering...there was a definite spiritual connection here. It felt peaceful but there was an element of trauma in the landscape that I couldn't explain. I could see in my mind Shar's dad walking across the plains with his sheep but I could also see John Wayne on his horse with a gun in his holster. I've seen this place on TV in the movies so it was surreal to see, smell and feel it in person. Very different from film.
We shared a cabin that night and it was cramped. I nabbed the double bed, thank goodness, so didn't have to sleep in the bunks. Reflecting on the day I thought about coming from the cities of LA and Phoenix to hours later being on the reservation...the juxtaposition of these places was humbling to experience. On the one hand, Mother Nature is incredible, on the other hand, it is amazing what Man has made.
MARY:
My thoughts and wondering following our chat with GinaMarie:
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for your invaluable and straightforward insights into leadership. Your knowledge has profoundly influenced my understanding and approach to leading others. The simplicity and clarity with which you shared your wisdom have made complex concepts accessible and actionable, allowing me to apply them effectively in my professional and personal life.
I enjoyed how you talked about 'Keeping the hustle alive' and 'turning every no into a maybe'
If there is a need to then do it- what is the need for my whanau? What is the need for our school? What is the need for my wairua?
Your ability to distill leadership principles into clear, practical advice is truly remarkable and has inspired me to lead with greater confidence and purpose.
Thank you for your unwavering support and for sharing your expertise so generously. I am deeply grateful for your contributions to our kaupapa when we started this intrepid journey as a roopu- who we are as leaders, what we are doing, and why we are doing this!
Driving for another 3 hours and meeting with Sha and her daughter- interviewed in McDonald's...PODCAST interview - Tru Donaldson. I wonder what the native people of Navajo aspire to be in the future? What are their customs? Values/ beliefs? Great interview around adversity- inspiration and leadership is hard from her view!
Being native to NZ Māori, I've found a profound connection with the Navajo people through our shared cultural values and customs. Both cultures deeply respect the land, and community, and uphold rich oral traditions. Ceremonies, traditional arts, and a strong sense of identity resonate similarly between us. Our mutual emphasis on ancestral heritage and spiritual practices fosters a unique bond.
Despite geographical distances, these cultural parallels create a sense of kinship, allowing us to relate and learn from each other, enriching our understanding and appreciation of our respective heritages. This connection highlights the universal threads that weave through Indigenous cultures worldwide.
NARDI
Today really belongs to my dear friend GinaMarie, founder and President/CEO of NABI Nation. An organisation for the advancement of Native American Youth through the game of basketball. I first reached out to GinaMarie back in 2012 but it would be over a year later before we finally met. We pretty much hit it off straight away. I think understanding my New Zealand accent was a big factor, something GinaMarie puts down to her upbringing in Boston. Very similar inflections.
During the podcast GinaMarie talks about her leadership journey and the many challenges she is faced with. I have always held her in high regard for the mahi that benefits indigenous youth but following her talanoa with Michelle, my cup overflows with admiration and genuine aroha for this mana wahine. Her emphasis on the importance of 'Self-Care' resonated with my own personal thoughts especially post COVID. Anna Eliateamby, Director of Healthy Leadership, CIC advocates. "Looking after ourselves (mental health and physical health) allows us to function more effectively". Through a Whare Tapa Wha lens that would be: Taha Wairua (spiritual), Taha Hinengaro (emotional), Taha Tinana (physical) and Taha Whanau (whanau/relationships).
The podcast is a must listen too. While we three drove to Monuent Valley (5 hour drive) we dissected the podcast to its fullest. Self Care - Turn a NO into MAYBE - Belief in what we do - No more burnt toast - remember your Why.
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