by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
The All Nations Football Conference is a 9-man league formed by eight tribal schools in South Dakota. The conference’s mission is to provide a positive football experience for tribal school athletes. Rather than being outsized and outmatched by public school competition, the conference strives to compete with opponents of equal size and match. The semi-finals will be held at the top seeds of each division on November 1st with the championship game being played at the DakotaDome on November 8, 2019 in Vermilion.
Select players from each of the four semi-final teams will be featured this week in a story with ndnsports.com.
Mykael Loera-Prado is a 5-8, 168 lb. running back, defensive back, kick and punt returner and punter for Lower Brule Tribal School, South Dakota. The #2 seeded East Division Lower Brule Kul Wicasa will be visiting the #1 West Division Red Cloud in the semi-finals of the inaugural All Nations Football Conference this Friday, November 1, 2019.
“I’m originally from Rosemead, California but I currently live with my brother Arthur Brown in Lower Brule,” said Mykael.
Mykael is a 2019 First Team East All Nations All-Conference member. “I believe I bring another perspective of how a sport should be played. I take the weight room, rehab, and film study seriously,” said Mykael, who also is a track athlete.
“Lower Brule Tribal School core values are the 12 Lakota Virtues, and the top three I believe are important for a student athlete including Respect (Wawóohola), Sacrifice (Ičičupi), and Wisdom (Wóksape). These three values show the maturity of an individual from respecting elders and higher authority, learning to sacrifice for the better of another person or self growth and having the wisdom to learn from other individuals experiences,” added Mykael.
“I’m praying and working towards a football scholarship,” said Mykael. “I’m trying to become the third person in my family to receive a scholarship and graduate from a four-year university. Athletics will give me the opportunity to pursue the career of my choosing.”
“My mom Tracey Prado has been a huge impact in my life,” said Mykael. She is a single mother with four kids. She would work morning to night to provide for us and no matter how long she worked she would always be at my games cheering me on.”
“Two other positive people in my life are my Uncle Zeke Prado and brother Arthur Brown and they have had a huge impact in my life and they’re the reason why I got into football. From being a little four year old watching my brother play high school football and watching my uncle coach football led me to loving the sport as a young kid. As well as getting my degree because they’re the only two people in my family to get their degree,” added Mykael.
