by By Dan Ninham
M’Kenzie Whiteman, 18, is a member of the Crow Nation. Her Crow name is Ichkualee anne’eche itche and means Walks In a Good Path. She is a member of the Bad War Deeds clan. Her mother is Jessica Whiteman-Yarlott and her grandparents are Cindy and Larry M. Whiteman. They live in Hardin, Montana.
M’Kenzie is a graduating senior at Hardin HS. She played on the golf team and qualified for the state meet her junior and senior year. M’Kenzie was awarded the Most Valuable Player her junior season.
The University of Providence in Great Falls, MT announced in April 2020 the signing of M’Kenzie of Hardin, MT. M’Kenzie plans to study political science and criminal justice.
“I’ve learned that it is important to be a person of integrity,” said M’Kenzie.
“In golf, you have to be a person of integrity. You have to be honest in scoring, trying to stay positive, and encouraging others to have their best game. Integrity, to me, means doing the right thing even when nobody else is watching. Your reputation is what others think about you. Character is different. It is based on integrity. I believe it is more important that I be a person with good character,” added M’Kenzie.
“Coach Holly Cannon always pushed me to be my best,” said M’Kenzie. “She was supportive of me in and out of season. She gave me pointers and hints on how to improve my game.”
“Holly Cannon was a great leader to the entire golf team my sophomore year,” said M’Kenzie. “She always spread positivity and kindness.”
“My grandparents Cindy and Larry M. Whiteman and my mother Jessica Whiteman-Yarlott have always being supportive and always wanting me to have a positive outlook on even my worst days,” said M’Kenzie.
Indigenous athletes have a holistic significance to who they are, and how they prepare and compete.
“Physically, every hole is a new opportunity,” said M’Kenzie. “I need to release any negative experience on a previous hole and do my best on the next one.”
“Spiritually, I pray to do better at the next hole,” said M’Kenzie. “If I do well, I thank God for the help.”
“Emotionally, I count to 10, take a deep breath and move on,” said M’Kenzie.
“For a graduation gift she bought all new clubs and a driver for the college level,” said mom Jessica. “She joined a woman’s golf league this summer to practice and she also went out with Holly Cannon who is an assistant coach. Holly has given her tips on how to swing and be more successful with her new drive. Each game she plays she has come to my mom’s saying what she messed up on or what Holly told her to try and it worked. “
“As a college student, it has been an experience. It’s not your normal college preparation. She gets a call saying she can start practicing a certain date then a few days a week later it’s been moved back. When she had to pick her classes we were told two of them have already been moved to online and would be six weeks and intense,” added Jessica.
“I get very emotional when I think about her leaving but also very excited to see her move forward with her life and can’t wait to watch her play golf at the college level,” said Jessica.
Photo Credit: Cabel Noteboom Photography
