Native Youth 

This is a brand new page added to Indian Rodeo News.  Our goal here is to recognize all Indian children and teenagers who ride horses, rodeo, ranch, and kids who participate in taking pictures at events.

Each month starting with December 2002 we will try to feature a Indian Youth who is active in riding horses, rodeo, ranching, and photography.   


Do you know a Native Indian Youth who has worked hard to achieve their goals and accomplishments?  Would you like to be featured as a Native Youth role model?  Any Native youth ages 18 and under can be featured.  

Indian Rodeo News asks for you to send in your story about yourself, who inspired you to ride, rodeo, ranch, etc.     We welcome as many pictures you have to share with our readers.  Email your questions and or story to 
Gina@indianrodeonews.com 

To Read about the featured Native Youth from the previous months click on their names below to check out their stories and pictures.

December 2002: Nicole Tsosie
January 2003:  Kayonnie Badonie
February 2003: Whitney O'Rourke
March 2003: Charles Gottfriedson
April 2003:  Jenna Johnson, Liana Tom 
May 2003: Devyn Dennison, Jarrett Monroe 
June 2003: Tess Ducheneaux, 
Wade Marchand,
 Ethan Gopher
July 2003: Chantel Williams
August 2003: Trina Bowers, Bobby Louis, 
Desiree Smartlowit

This Month of October we are recognizing  Hattie Emm



Photo 1 Photo of Mount Grant homeland of the Walker River Paiutes






Hattie Maiou Emm was born on October 6, 1985 at the Washoe Medical Center in Reno, Nevada. She is a member of the Walker River Paiute Tribe of Schurz, Nevada. Hattie Maiou Emm is named after her paternal great-grandmother. Maiou is a very special name for it’s meaning in the Northern Paiute language is “to find”.

Photo 2 Hattie at Grandma & Grandpa's house prior to the Annual Pinenut Festival Pageant

Hattie began riding horses before she could walk and her mother could no longer leave her home from the cattle drives. She would kick and scream at the door until someone opened the door.




Photo 3 - Hattie after her championship run at the 1991 Schurz Rodeo & Photo 4 Hattie with Rodeo Club President

Hattie began her rodeo career at a very young age and won her first barrel racing at the age of five then, soon went on to begin professional Indian Rodeo and joined the Western States Indian Rodeo Association when she was eight years old. Since then she has qualified for the Indian National Finals Rodeo three times for the Rocky Mountain Indian Rodeo Association for years 1999 – Albuquerque, New Mexico, 2000 – Albuquerque, New Mexico and 2001 – Billings, Montana in the Ladies Barrel Racing with her horse “Devil of a Hand”. The Barrel Racing event is Hattie’s favorite event but, she is also beginning in the Ladies Breakaway Roping. She always had the love of horses and was intrigued by the speed, power and spirit that horses possess.


Photo 5 Hattie competing at an International Pro Rodeo



Photo 6 Hattie competing at the Lyon County Fair & Rodeo



Photo 7 - Hattie and Devil of a Hand competing at the 1999 Indian National Finals Rodeo


In 2003, Hattie once again joined the Western States Indian Rodeo Association so, she could compete with her best friend, Ashlee Strom of Wapato, Washington. The Duo loves the competition and the people that they get an opportunity to meet at each Rodeo. Ashlee will be representing the Western States Indian Rodeo Association this year in the Ladies Barrel Racing Event. Ashlee finished number one in the ladies barrel racing standings and Hattie will be representing the Walker River Paiute Tribe in presenting the Canadian Flag at each rodeo performance. Hattie finished up number three in the Ladies Barrel Racing Event standings for Western States Indian Rodeo Association.



Photo 8 - Fritz, Ashlee Strom & Hattie Emm







Hattie would like to encourage all Native Youth to pursue their dreams. Whether it’s playing basketball, rodeoing or becoming the next champion skate boarder. Make it happen, because if you don’t pursue your dreams, the dreams won’t come looking for you. Remember whether you win, lose or draw…We are all champions because we are able to participate.


Photo 3 Hattie's High School Basketball Picture
I would like to let any kids that are interested in Rodeo to give it a try - Don’t be shy – Ask questions and don’t be afraid to ask someone for help. At times in my career I always had someone giving me pointers, advice or sometimes giving me heck about something I wasn’t doing correctly. Rodeo is always teaching you, whether it is responsibility and maintenance for your horses, taking care of your tack and when to enter or call back for a rodeo. If you don’t pay attention and take care of business you will get left behind.

In closing, I would like to thank everyone that has supported me with my dreams in Rodeo. A special thank you to my family, my grandparents Irwin & Karen Miller, my Mom, Sister, Brother, Aunties, Uncles, my Rodeo Moms, and especially Harvey Glazier and the People of the Walker River Paiute Tribe. Even though, I am living and pursuing my dreams, I would like all of you to know that every time I am in competition whether I am in Wyoming, California, Washington or in the back yard, I am riding for all of you. I ride for the ones that don’t have the opportunity or can’t physically ride or are struggling with health problems and family problems. Every time you see me in the arena whether it’s at a high school rodeo, a junior rodeo, an Indian rodeo or the National Finals…I am riding for you! And I hope that you are riding with me.

There has been so many rodeo people that have also been there for me…Just to name a few I would like to give a holler to my Rodeo Uncles Shawn and Dave Best of Omak, Washington, Trisha Price of Spring Creek, Nevada, Tibbs Washakie and the Washakie Family of Ft. Washakie, Wyoming, Wauseka Brown, Jr of Chiloquin, Oregon, Lawanda Bronson and the Bronson Family of Pendleton, Oregon, Clinton and Sammy Bruised Head of Warm Springs, Oregon, Mel & Betty Sampson of Wapato, Washington, Dave Peterson of Fuzzy Mountain, New Mexico, Greg & Rhoda Strom of Toppenish, Washington. You have all encouraged me, supported me and helped me as a native youth to have the motivation to pursue my Dreams. I could never thank you all enough…I can’t imagine going through a rodeo season without seeing all of you.

This 2003 Indian National Finals Rodeo I will proudly present the colors of Canada. I will present the colors of Canada at each Rodeo Performance with dignity and pride to my friends of the North. Hope to see you all at the Indian National Finals Rodeo in Southern California!