Restore Pride in Indigenous Youth
Donation protected
Hello everyone,
Welcome to my profile! My name is Wolfkiva and I am of the Hopi First Nations and I belong to a self defense organization called Nexus of Guardian Art (NXGA). At NXGA, we are a band of individuals who come from many different First Nations, Tribal, and Indigenous communities from all around the world with one purpose in life...to protect and help all forms of life regardless of race, age, sexual identity/orientation, creed, religion, or lack thereof. We seek to recover and preserve the quality and pride held by First Nations communities in regards to culture, traditional knowledge, ceremonies, and their ancestral domain. We also stand in solidarity against the economic, social and political issues that many, if not all First Nations, Tribal, and Indigenous people face today.
What is Guardian Art?
Nexus of Guardian Art is a First Nation Fighting Art that incorporates the power of strength and agility and the innate human nature to protect one’s self and others. With its world-renowned recognition, Guardian Art has been able to extend its reach and open self-defense schools in First Nation communities across our Mother Earth through true selflessness. Currently Guardian Art makes its home in First Nation communities in North and South America, New Zealand, Borneo, Japan, North Africa, and Vietnam. This practice helps and enables participants to return focus, discipline, and purpose through self-defense and coordination training, as well as a sense of reconciliation to our traditional ways. This specialized training takes all forms of Martial Arts (MMA) and our traditional Spirit Running (PARKOUR in European terms), and fuses them back together like how the original First Nation's self defense training was once practiced. With the help of our Guardians (instructors), we navigate our teachings through drawing our powers from the world around us and within the realm of the four directions in order to strengthen and enhance the mind, body, spirit, and emotions of each participant.
To learn more please visit www.guardiannexus.com
How can Guardian Art restore pride in First Nations and Indigenous Youth?
Guardian Art has inspired its participants to push harder and reach higher in all aspects of their lives. Through our training we have been able to transform participants into strong, confident and competent individuals. Through the implementation of this project I plan on not only helping youth becoming the best version of themselves, but also to return the focus to cultural preservation in order to restore pride in identity amongst First Nations children and youth. In partnership with First Nation communities my intention is to create relationships with local leadership, elders/knowledge keepers and community members to create programming that is culturally relevant to the territory and people of the nation.
For example, our Canadian NXGA school teaches youth the power and importance of the Creator’s Game (Lacrosse, European term) through ceremony and practical land-based activities; such as spirit running and shinai ceremony. Youth have not only been taught how to not only play the Creator’s Game, but have found a way to restore their pride and connection with the self, with the Creator and the land.
Who am I raising money for?
Through this campaign my goal is to raise money to create satellite programs for underserviced children and youth within First Nations communities across the United States and the world! As a first step, I would like to extend this art to the children and youth of the Hopi reservation located in north east of Arizona; the traditional territory of which I am from.
How the money will be used?
The money fundraised as a result of this campaign will be used to obtain all necessary safety equipment destined for students to learn and train the practice of Guardian Art. The safety equipment will consist of self defense equipment, landing pads, spotting blocks, floor mats, and anything else that would prevent kids from falling and getting hurt. Most importantly, this equipment will assist in the necessity of creating a safe and sustainable Guardian Art programs as it is my intention to gift this equipment to the students, as well as to train future leaders in the steps of becoming masters of Guardian Art.
How soon will I need the funds?
I plan to set out on my journey come this December and travel from the Nexus of Guardian Art headquarters in California to the Hopi reservation. It is my hope that between now and December this campaign will have gained enough traction in order to commence the implementation of a permanent Guardian Art program on the Hopi reservation.
Why did I start this campaign?
As previously mentioned, it is my intention to make the practice of Guardian Art available to more First Nation youth and communities across the United States. However, with my salary as a teacher of Guardian Art only permitting me to sustain my life where I am currently teaching and residing I am barely able to cover my own costs of travel to reach out to these communities. As a result of this financial barrier, I am not able to purchase and provide the equipment necessary to teach and train the children and youth in a safe and confident way. The costs of the equipment mentioned earlier can start anywhere from $400-$500 per spotting block; $700 per landing mat; and,$150 per 3ftx6ft floor mat. These few pieces of safety equipment do not even total a fraction of what it would all cost after shipping.
This is why I have started this campaign and am reaching out to the public with great humility and in need of help.
My dream and my vision:
Starting my Guardian Art journey back in 2005 after doing much soul searching, I have acquired self-confidence and determination, as well as the necessary skills to protect myself, my family and loved ones. As an individual, Guardian Art has also helped me battle challenges such as depression, bullying and low self-esteem. Through this journey I have been fortunate enough to turn what was once an after school activity into a passion and career. I dream of giving back to First Nation communities and to underprivileged youth that suffer the same, if not worse challenges than I've experienced growing up. I dream of being able to not only demonstrate, but to instill a sense of hope and security within these youth.
Much of the Indigenous youth population are subject to challenges such as bullying, gang violence, depression, suicidal tendency, inter-generational trauma, drugs & alcohol, prostitution, rape and sexual assault, death, and many children have gone missing or have being abducted. I am in pursuit of breaking down these social norms and realities Indigenous youth face and it is my dream to dedicate my life’s purpose to this cause. I dream of bridging the gap between other First Nations communities in order to allow them to open up their homes, their land, and their hearts to other First Nations youth. As well as to allow them to experience a life that offers opportunity to explore different places, experience other cultures, and provide a new outlook on life and travel so that these youth can return to their own communities feeling proud of who they are, and where they come from.
I dream that the next generation of youth grow up with sense of inspiration and a desire to be better individuals for both themselves and their communities.
Whether I make $1 or $20,000 I'm thankful to those that have inspired me along the way. I want to thank my family, teachers, friends, and students who've encourage me to embark on such a journey. I am thankful to those who took the time to read and donate to my page and I hope to meet all of you along the way.
-Nexian~Thrive
Welcome to my profile! My name is Wolfkiva and I am of the Hopi First Nations and I belong to a self defense organization called Nexus of Guardian Art (NXGA). At NXGA, we are a band of individuals who come from many different First Nations, Tribal, and Indigenous communities from all around the world with one purpose in life...to protect and help all forms of life regardless of race, age, sexual identity/orientation, creed, religion, or lack thereof. We seek to recover and preserve the quality and pride held by First Nations communities in regards to culture, traditional knowledge, ceremonies, and their ancestral domain. We also stand in solidarity against the economic, social and political issues that many, if not all First Nations, Tribal, and Indigenous people face today.
What is Guardian Art?
Nexus of Guardian Art is a First Nation Fighting Art that incorporates the power of strength and agility and the innate human nature to protect one’s self and others. With its world-renowned recognition, Guardian Art has been able to extend its reach and open self-defense schools in First Nation communities across our Mother Earth through true selflessness. Currently Guardian Art makes its home in First Nation communities in North and South America, New Zealand, Borneo, Japan, North Africa, and Vietnam. This practice helps and enables participants to return focus, discipline, and purpose through self-defense and coordination training, as well as a sense of reconciliation to our traditional ways. This specialized training takes all forms of Martial Arts (MMA) and our traditional Spirit Running (PARKOUR in European terms), and fuses them back together like how the original First Nation's self defense training was once practiced. With the help of our Guardians (instructors), we navigate our teachings through drawing our powers from the world around us and within the realm of the four directions in order to strengthen and enhance the mind, body, spirit, and emotions of each participant.
To learn more please visit www.guardiannexus.com
How can Guardian Art restore pride in First Nations and Indigenous Youth?
Guardian Art has inspired its participants to push harder and reach higher in all aspects of their lives. Through our training we have been able to transform participants into strong, confident and competent individuals. Through the implementation of this project I plan on not only helping youth becoming the best version of themselves, but also to return the focus to cultural preservation in order to restore pride in identity amongst First Nations children and youth. In partnership with First Nation communities my intention is to create relationships with local leadership, elders/knowledge keepers and community members to create programming that is culturally relevant to the territory and people of the nation.
For example, our Canadian NXGA school teaches youth the power and importance of the Creator’s Game (Lacrosse, European term) through ceremony and practical land-based activities; such as spirit running and shinai ceremony. Youth have not only been taught how to not only play the Creator’s Game, but have found a way to restore their pride and connection with the self, with the Creator and the land.
Who am I raising money for?
Through this campaign my goal is to raise money to create satellite programs for underserviced children and youth within First Nations communities across the United States and the world! As a first step, I would like to extend this art to the children and youth of the Hopi reservation located in north east of Arizona; the traditional territory of which I am from.
How the money will be used?
The money fundraised as a result of this campaign will be used to obtain all necessary safety equipment destined for students to learn and train the practice of Guardian Art. The safety equipment will consist of self defense equipment, landing pads, spotting blocks, floor mats, and anything else that would prevent kids from falling and getting hurt. Most importantly, this equipment will assist in the necessity of creating a safe and sustainable Guardian Art programs as it is my intention to gift this equipment to the students, as well as to train future leaders in the steps of becoming masters of Guardian Art.
How soon will I need the funds?
I plan to set out on my journey come this December and travel from the Nexus of Guardian Art headquarters in California to the Hopi reservation. It is my hope that between now and December this campaign will have gained enough traction in order to commence the implementation of a permanent Guardian Art program on the Hopi reservation.
Why did I start this campaign?
As previously mentioned, it is my intention to make the practice of Guardian Art available to more First Nation youth and communities across the United States. However, with my salary as a teacher of Guardian Art only permitting me to sustain my life where I am currently teaching and residing I am barely able to cover my own costs of travel to reach out to these communities. As a result of this financial barrier, I am not able to purchase and provide the equipment necessary to teach and train the children and youth in a safe and confident way. The costs of the equipment mentioned earlier can start anywhere from $400-$500 per spotting block; $700 per landing mat; and,$150 per 3ftx6ft floor mat. These few pieces of safety equipment do not even total a fraction of what it would all cost after shipping.
This is why I have started this campaign and am reaching out to the public with great humility and in need of help.
My dream and my vision:
Starting my Guardian Art journey back in 2005 after doing much soul searching, I have acquired self-confidence and determination, as well as the necessary skills to protect myself, my family and loved ones. As an individual, Guardian Art has also helped me battle challenges such as depression, bullying and low self-esteem. Through this journey I have been fortunate enough to turn what was once an after school activity into a passion and career. I dream of giving back to First Nation communities and to underprivileged youth that suffer the same, if not worse challenges than I've experienced growing up. I dream of being able to not only demonstrate, but to instill a sense of hope and security within these youth.
Much of the Indigenous youth population are subject to challenges such as bullying, gang violence, depression, suicidal tendency, inter-generational trauma, drugs & alcohol, prostitution, rape and sexual assault, death, and many children have gone missing or have being abducted. I am in pursuit of breaking down these social norms and realities Indigenous youth face and it is my dream to dedicate my life’s purpose to this cause. I dream of bridging the gap between other First Nations communities in order to allow them to open up their homes, their land, and their hearts to other First Nations youth. As well as to allow them to experience a life that offers opportunity to explore different places, experience other cultures, and provide a new outlook on life and travel so that these youth can return to their own communities feeling proud of who they are, and where they come from.
I dream that the next generation of youth grow up with sense of inspiration and a desire to be better individuals for both themselves and their communities.
Whether I make $1 or $20,000 I'm thankful to those that have inspired me along the way. I want to thank my family, teachers, friends, and students who've encourage me to embark on such a journey. I am thankful to those who took the time to read and donate to my page and I hope to meet all of you along the way.
-Nexian~Thrive
Organizer
Wolf Kiva Lightning
Organizer
Fremont, CA