by By Dan Ninham, contributing writer
“Niin sa Gaashbaashkwe. nindizhinikaaz makwa nindoodem miskwaabekong nindoonjiba: The loud crack of thunder women. I am Brooke Dorman-DeFoe. I am from and enrolled in the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.”
Dorman-DeFoe is going into the ninth grade. She competed for Team Wisconsin at NAIG 2023.
“My major accomplishments this year was getting on the podium taking third place for the discus throw at my middle school track meet, reaching my goals, beating my personal records and being able to compete with lots of indigenous athletes,” said Brooke Dorman-DeFoe.
“I am so endlessly proud to be not only indigenous but an indigenous athlete,” said Dorman-DeFoe. “I run for my culture, I run for my ancestors, I run for the people struggling and suffering and when I run I am in ceremony and I am giving sacrifice through running to help heal them.”
Dorman-DeFoe’s main mentor is her dad, Phil DeFoe. She said, “He always shows that he is proud of me and supports me through my athletic decisions, pushes me to do my best and goes out of his way to train with me.”
“Brooke always is smiling and light hearted, but she also is as serious as you can be and focused when she gets serious,” said dad Philip DeFoe. “During NIAG, instead of running off and doing other fun stuff, Brooke spent much of her free time standing on the sidelines not just cheering on her teammates but other athletes too. She absolutely loves athletics and shows everyone around her she does.”
“I am consistently training at a high level to do my best at my events including sprinting and throwing for my 2024 track season,” said Dorman-DeFoe. “I ultimately hope to compete in the Native American Indigenous Games 2027.”
Photo: Kristal Hill
