by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
Walter Toyawday Young Bear is a 6’4”, 309 lb. offensive lineman in the right guard position for the Norman North HS Timberwolves, Norman, OK. His Indian name is Say Tay Oy Day, meaning Heap O Bears, and this was also his maternal grandfather’s Indian name. Walter’s parents are Alice and Russell McClellan. His father Jasper Young Bear lives in White Shield, North Dakota. Walter was born and raised in Norman, Oklahoma. He is Kiowa, Comanche, Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara. The Three Affliated Tribes include the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara.
“I am a member of the Kiowa Gourd Clan and I was brought up in the Native American Church,” said Walter. “I also come from the Bear Society of the Arikara and I am a grandchild of the Waterbuster Clan of the Hidatsa.”
Walter competes with the power lifting team and this year he qualified for the State Power Lifting Championships.
“I started attending football camps during the summer after 6th grade,” said Walter. “I love playing and competing in football. In week four during the 2019 football season I was named ‘Player of the Week.’ I was invited to join the TrenchMafia led by J.R. Conrad, a former OU Offensive Lineman. The TrenchMafia is a brotherhood of lineman and only those that are recommended by their coach can become a member. We work out on the weekends to improve our skills and become stronger and hopefully get a college football scholarship. My passion is working out and learning about fitness and nutrition.”
Coach J.R. Conrad said: “I see so many great qualities in Walter, he displays leadership in every training session. He is a leader by example, an extremely hard worker, and shows great patience as he mentors the younger guys we have in our group. Walter is coachable, intelligent, and has a passion to improve. He wants to compete and is willing to sacrifice his Saturday’s to make sure he is staying ahead of the curve. Walter is a mountain of a young man, but one of the things I admire the most is how humble he is, he takes nothing for granted and earns it every session. He will have many opportunities to get a degree and chase his dream of playing football at the college level. As an Eastern Shawnee Tribal Member, I couldn’t be more proud of Walter and how he represents himself, his family, and native culture. We are excited to see what is in store for him, I know the Creator has big plans, and no doubt he will give back throughout the entire process.”
Norman North HS Football Coach Justin Jones said: “Walter is an outstanding student athlete on our football team. Walter is a multi year starter for us at guard. He has exceptional feet and great size. He is good at the point of contact and is a very physical football player. He is one of the cornerstones of our OL. He is a leader on our football team, displays tremendous work ethic and leadership. Walter was also a state qualifier in power lifting. Walter has a bright future and will no doubt play at the next level in college.”
“Growing up, I was raised by maternal grandma, Georgia Kaulaity and my maternal grandfather, Walter Kaulaity, who was a fluent Kiowa speaker and Kiowa historian,” said Walter. “He taught me my Kiowa language and he emphasized to me to always be involved in my culture and be proud of who I am and where I come from. My grandpa was one of the leaders in the Kiowa Gourd Clan for 45 years of his life and devoted everything he had to donating his time to the organization. The Kiowa Gourd Clan has their annual ceremonials every summer and my grandpa never missed being part of it. Since I am carrying on his name, Say Tay Oy Day (Heap O Bears), I will continue carrying on his legacy by gourd dancing and supporting the Kiowa Gourd Clan. Tradition, culture, and family are a big part of who I am and what shapes my outlook on life.”
“My parents are also a big part of who I am today,” said Walter. “Since I was in the 6th grade my parents pushed me to always try my best and work hard at football practice. My parents have given me every opportunity to hone my football skills by taking me to football camps during the summer and allowing me to have a gym membership so that I can continue to work out on the weekends, outside of regular football practice. The other influences in my life are my friends who are on the football team. We are all competitive with each other and being around my friends and other players on the football team are what pushed me to be better.”
“Since the pandemic started with COVID-19 virus I am unable to work out with my football team or go to the gym,” said Walter. “I am very fortunate to have my own weight set and I have been working out in my garage for a couple of hours each day.”
“One of the main motivators that pushed me to that extra level of competitiveness was an incident that happened to me a year ago,” said Walter. “I was diagnosed with an infected lymph node and I was admitted to the OU Children’s Hospital for a week during my 16th birthday. In just two weeks, I lost around 50 lbs. I was really upset at my weight loss because I knew as a lineman I was not on a competitive weight level. I only weighed 240 lbs. and I was 6’3”. From that time on, I made a promise to myself I would reach 300 lbs before the football season. It took me another two months before I could fully commit to working out. I was still weak and my energy level was so low, but with hard work, determination and a generous diet, I was back at 285 lbs by the summer and I was getting stronger every day.”
“My ultimate goals in my life are to earn a football scholarship to a college or university and to keep my grades at a competitive academic level,” said Walter. “I love being a positive influence to my five-year old brother and I know he is always watching my every move. He does try to emulate me and he is always cheering me on at every football game. I know that the younger kids are always looking for positive role models so I do my best to be that young Native man they can aspire to be like. My Mom and Dad say that someone is always watching my actions and how I carry myself so I try my best to always work hard and leave everything out on that football field. I love being a lineman and I want to be the best at whatever I try, whether that is in school or sports.”
“My parents tell me I can achieve anything in life with hard work,” said Walter. “They give me unconditional love and support in anything I do. With their encouragement and my belief in myself and my abilities I know I can go anywhere and I will be successful, but I also know I need to put all my effort in whatever I want to achieve.”
“Walt is a good big brother, son, and friend,” said mom Alice McClellan. “His teachers and coaches say he is always thoughtful and kind to those around him. He is a very encouraging teammate and friend and he always wants those around him to succeed. Whenever he participates in his Kiowa traditions, especially gourd dancing, he makes sure his little brother is right by his side. Walt keeps a close eye on his brother to make sure he’s dancing in beat and his regalia is nice and neat.”
“As parents, his Dad and I never have to worry about his grades and his athletics. He’s always been very studious and he wants to continue on to college. His ultimate goal is to get a football scholarship or an academic scholarship,” added Alice.
“I have a vision of my team making it to the playoffs and restoring Norman North HS’ former glory days despite us having two bad seasons back-to-back,” said Walter. “I hold myself accountable by thinking about my teammates that I play for. I’m confident because I feel like I’ve progressed so much since the season ended in strength and game knowledge. I’m resilient in ways that whenever I don’t feel like doing something like doing an extra set of bench or going all out on another sprint, I think of who I’m playing for, Norman North HS Timberwolves!”
“Don’t look at where you are now, look at where you can be”, said Walter. “I wrote this quote!”
Photo Credit: Alice McClellan
Beautiful article!! I’m very proud of my nephew, continued blessings little brother