by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
“My Indian name is Ta’nape Wašte Wín. It means, her good hands woman. I am Oglala Lakota. I am from Red Cloud High School in Porcupine, South Dakota,” said Payton Sierra.
Payton’s father is Melvin “Smiley” Sierra and her mother is Jennifer Sierra. Both of her parents are Oglala Lakota from Porcupine, South Dakota.
Payton is a sophomore playing golf for the University of Minnesota Morris. Last year as a freshman, Peyton was named First Team All-Conference, UMAC Rookie of the Year and UMAC Player of the Week (9/17/18).
“It’s been a tough season,” said Payton. “A lot of adjusting and changing my game up. It’s been a season of lessons for sure.”
This weekend is the conference championship in Becker, Minnesota.
“I bring a lot of energy to the team,” said Payton. “I’m super talkative, and always trying to find ways to improve my game, and help my teammates improve theirs as well. My team has struggled a little this season. We are slowly making improvements, and we are working towards the same goal.”
Payton’s tribal core values provide direction to her and the people around her. “Respect: As a student athlete I have shown a great deal of respect. I respect my professors, my peers, my coaches, teammates, and my fellow competitors. Compassion and Generosity: I am a very compassionate person, and I think that this defines me as a student athlete because I care about others, and their wellbeing. Growing up I was taught that I should always take care of people, and make sure that they’re well. As a student athlete I continue to do so. I take care of my teammates, and my friends. I am a person that people can depend on and lean on when it is needed. I also have to be compassionate to myself. Learning how to stop, and breathe. Making myself a priority has been a process but I am getting there. Praying: I realized that this life is tough as is, but without prayer I struggled trying to make it as a student athlete. I had to learn to take time to practice my life ways. Prayer has shaped me into a better student and a better golfer, because I now know that I have somewhere to turn when things become rocky and I go off path a little,” shared Peyton.
“My parents and my family have always talked about being a good person to everyone. You do things for people because you have a good heart, not because they will give you something in return. These values shape who I am, not just as a student athlete but as a person,” added Payton.
“Payton’s been working hard both academically and on her golf game,” said her Dad Melvin. “She puts in hours at the weight room and gets to the golf courses weekly to practice. From a parents point of view she’s done a great job of balancing work, studies and practice. I think that was without a doubt transitioning from high school to college was learning to use her time wisely. Learning to use her time wisely was the hardest progression.”
“I am planning to major in elementary education,” said Payton. “I want to be a teacher because I enjoy kids, but also I want to be an advocate for the youth. Athletics will help me on this journey because I will have to learn new lessons when it comes to leadership, and taking on the role of someone who others look up to. I already do that for many kids back home on the reservation. Athletics will help me understand the goodness that comes from paving new roads, and being uncomfortable with the change that is coming. As an educator, and as someone that wants to be an active voice for the youth, I have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, and walking on rocky roads because I know in the end it is going to help my students. Being an athlete has taught me a lot about friendships, competition, hard work, and so much more. And all of those lessons learned will transform me into the best educator, and best advocate I can be. I want to be the person that the youth back on the reservation need. I want to be the voice, the person, that I needed when I was younger, and athletics will help me get there.”
Photograph courtesy of University of Minnesota – Morris Athletics.
Season statistics are located here: https://static.morriscougars.com/custompages/TASGOLF/W-2019/teamstat.htm
