by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
August Bushy is a senior multi-athlete at Warroad High School, Warroad, Minnesota. She plays basketball, hockey and volleyball. “I am affiliated with Buffalo Point First Nation and White Earth Nation. My mothers name is Tina Goodin and my father is David Bushy and we live in Warroad, MN.”
“One of my core values is being strong,” said August. “Not necessarily physically, but mentally as well. Trying a new sport is a difficult thing and I was scared to join basketball for the first time as a senior, but I had built up the strength to put myself out there and I went for it. Going from playing hockey for seven years to joining basketball as a senior couldn’t have been anymore of a change, but by telling myself that I have to be strong I was able to make this transition a little easier.”
“Something else that defines who I am is representing my people. I am trying to rid of the stereotypes that Indigenous people were given by showing that I can do things that other people can. I am also trying to make a change in my community by volunteering and creating a group for Native American students to come to a safe environment to socialize and play games. I represent my people by dancing in powwows as well it brings me so much joy and it is something that I am extremely grateful that I get to be apart of,” added August.
“I am playing spring volleyball,” said August. “I have been on spring and summer volleyball teams for the past three years and have been working hard on becoming a better player and putting in the effort to do better by staying after practice with Coach Culleton during the regular season. I worked out using a program our coach set up for us last spring with fellow teammates to help my vertical and overall performance. I am planning on doing that again since basketball season is over.”
“Our spring season starts in late March and I will be going to open gym almost everyday until then so I can improve myself. I will be pushing myself to become a better player and can only hope for the best once it comes to trying out for the team at the University of Minnesota Morris. I plan to major in environmental science.”
“Jaimie Snowdon is always someone I can go to for anything,” said August. “He was my coach in past years and has shaped me into a better student and overall person. He sees the potential in everyone and has always been there to give me the extra push that I need.”
“I have known August since she was young,” said Jaimie Snowdon. “She has always had the drive to do well, help out or serve her community. She has been a great student and has been active in sports all her life but the one thing that I am most proud of her is representing her school and community as the Warroad Indian Education Princess a number of times. I have seen her mature into a fine young adult and is becoming a very good pow wow dancer. I am excited for her future after graduation and all the fabulous things she is going to accomplish.”
John Larson is August’s head coach in basketball and track at Warroad HS. He said: “August will be the last one on the court or at the track to get better at her craft. There was one time that I was driving by the track and saw an individual practicing their jumps. I wondered who it was, so I turned around and watched for a little while. It was August all by herself, she understands that you get better during the times that no one is watching.”
“I am very dedicated to all of the sports I am involved in and put a lot of effort into becoming a better athlete and overall teammate,” said August. “I try to make it a priority to be a excellent student and maintain good grades. I am a student rep for the American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (AIPAC) in Warroad and go to the meetings that are held monthly. I am a part of Student Council and Minnesota Honors Society and go to weekly meetings for each.”
August has advice for other student-athletes to stay on track to succeed: “Stay on top of your schoolwork and push your self during practice. Being a student-athlete in high school is an incredible opportunity that you will not regret. It goes by fast, so cherish all of the memories you will make with teammates and within the sport itself. Showing up at practice and putting in the effort will allow you to become a better player and will benefit you more than slacking off does. Practice can be tough, but there will be many other obstacles in life. You just have to push through and become better at whatever it is you are doing and keep going.”
Photo Credit: August Bushy
