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Uncork Exclusive Rare Wines, Remote Vineyards Revealed!

Elevate your wine experience with grapes grown up to 9,000 ft in the Andes Mountains. 

Some of the rarest, and finest: Yet most won’t make it to the US. But wine lover and adventurer Will Bonner has made it his mission to import unique, small-batch wines that other importers overlook. 

And he’s sharing them through the Bonner Private Wine Partnership, where you'll get these exclusive wines delivered right to your door. 

Finding your Audience

Needles in a Haystack

As a Native writer, finding your audience in the vast digital landscape can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Our stories and unique perspectives, often grapple with the challenge of reaching an audience that resonates with our voice.

This disconnect has made it challenging to find readers who understand and appreciate the nuances in my stories.

Creating a balance between staying true to my cultural roots while making my work accessible to a wider audience is a complicated task.

There's a constant negotiation between representing my community and adapting the reach to non-Native readers.

Deciding whether I should target only my Native audience that deeply understands and values Native storytelling or to aim for broader appeal was a strategic choice. Each path comes with its own set of challenges and rewards.

The difficulty in writing for those outside of the Native community is the challenge of overcoming stereotypes and misconceptions about our culture. Educating readers while engaging them in a narrative can be a tough balancing act.

Finding support within Native communities can be empowering. However, it also means navigating the expectations of each Tribe. There are so many ways to create separation and classes in the Tribal community.

Did you grow up on the rez? Have you ever culturally sang or danced? Ever spend time on council? How much blood quantum do you have? How Native do you look?

Born into a spiritual war, the truest Natives have almost created a secret society to protect the people. The easiest way to protect that society is to heavily vett everyone who wants to join, Natives included.

However, here at ‘I Know a Native’, we are not a Tribe. We are a movement. (FYI, 99 percent of Natives can’t stand it when you call your friend group your “Tribe”, myself included)

While we respect the process and check all boxes, it’s not our journey to find differences, but commonalities.

As a Native newsletter, our journey in finding our audience is intertwined with the quest to preserve and share our cultural heritage. It’s about creating a dialogue, building bridges, and challenging the status quo.

Our stories have the power to enlighten, educate, and resonate across cultural boundaries. The path may be filled with challenges, but it is also rich with potential and purpose.

We write not just to tell our stories, but to invite others into our world, hoping to find those who will listen with understanding and empathy.

If you don’t know, now you know, a Native. 

A Native Lacrosse Team in 2028 L.A. Olympics

Article via Apple News

It isn’t hard to make an argument for letting the Haudenosaunee Nationals lacrosse team compete at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

The collection of elite Native American players, recruited from across the Northeast, belong to a people who invented the sport centuries ago. Playing under their own flag at last summer’s World Lacrosse Championship, they beat out a slew of nations to finish third behind the U.S. and Canada.

Now, with their game added to the Olympic program for 2028, President Biden has called upon sports officials to make room for the Haudenosaunee among the usual gathering of nations.

“They perfected [lacrosse] for millennia,” he said. “Their circumstances are unique.”

But this laudable idea faces some very real challenges, bumping up against a tangle of Olympic regulations.

The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, composed of U.S and Canadian communities, first played lacrosse on wide-open stretches of land, using sticks fashioned from hickory and catgut. They have always viewed the game as a gift from their creator and approach it with joyfulness. This attitude helped during hard years as the team struggled for a place in the modern sport, which has come to be dominated by elite universities and upscale high schools.

International tournaments refused them entry because the confederacy was not recognized as a sovereign nation. Opposing players chided them with racist taunts.

Winning at recent world championships was crucial, as was earning respect on and off the field from much of the lacrosse community.

The Olympic Games represents something even bigger.

“This marks a positive step forward in the ongoing journey,” veteran player Randy Staats said, “toward a more inclusive and respectful world of sports.”

To understand the hurdles they face, think of the International Olympic Committee as a corporation intent on protecting a big money-maker. Like Oreos or Kleenex. The Swiss-based organization strictly regulates nearly every aspect of its Games.

Here’s where things get tricky.

The 109-page Olympic Charter states that, to participate, athletes must be part of a team submitted by their National Olympic Committee. And that NOC must represent “an independent state recognized by the international community.”

There is also a requirement that each NOC represents competitors in five sports.

Haudenosaunee athletes can try out for the U.S. or Canadian teams, depending on where they hold citizenship, but at issue is whether their confederacy meets the Olympic Charter standards for fielding a squad of their own. 

The IOC doesn't seem to think so. In a statement to The Times, the organization said "it is up to the two NOCs concerned [USA and Canada] ... to decide if they include athletes from Haudenosaunee in their respective teams."

The Olympic Charter does allow for some exceptions, which the IOC employed to create a refugee team for athletes forced to flee their native countries as a result of conflict or natural disaster. But officials' reluctance to apply that process to the Haudenosaunee suggests they are concerned about the precedent it might set.

The team's inclusion could encourage a long list of unrecognized countries around the world to apply for Olympic entry. Scottish curlers, whose homeland is credited with inventing that sport, could make an argument for competing under their own flag instead of being part of the British team.

On Thursday, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee chief executive Sarah Hirshland spoke about wanting to “honor the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and their history and legacy” but stopped short of saying the team should be allowed to compete.

Any such decision might have to wait until 2025 and the establishment of Olympic qualification standards for lacrosse.

None of this has deterred the Haudenousaunees’ growing number of backers.

In a joint statement, the team and World Lacrosse, which governs the sport, expressed “sincere gratitude” for Biden's comments. Olympic organizers in Los Angeles also pledged their support.

“Rarely does an organizing committee have the opportunity to include a sport in its program that has such an important history as lacrosse does with the Indigenous peoples of North America,” LA28 said in a statement, adding that it will work to “find a solution that honors the sport’s heritage and allows participation for Haudenosaunee lacrosse athletes.

Alissa Pili - Inupiaq

Alissa Pili is a prominent figure in women's college basketball, known for her exceptional skills on the court and her journey to becoming a standout player.

Born in Anchorage, Alaska, Pili showed a natural talent for sports from a young age, excelling not only in basketball but also in volleyball and track and field. Her versatility and athleticism were evident as she garnered multiple accolades in these sports during her high school years.

FYI she has a total of 13 state championships

Pili's high school basketball career was marked by extraordinary achievements. She was named Alaska's Gatorade Player of the Year multiple times, demonstrating her dominance in the state.

Her prowess on the court was not just limited to scoring; she was also known for her rebounding, defense, and leadership skills. Her high school success set the stage for her collegiate career, where she chose to attend the University of Southern California (USC).

At USC, Pili continued to flourish. In her freshman year, she made an immediate impact, earning the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year award. This accolade was a testament to her seamless transition from high school to college basketball, showcasing her ability to compete at a higher level. Her playing style, characterized by her strength, agility, and basketball IQ, made her a formidable opponent.

Off the court, Pili is known for her dedication to academics and her role as a student-athlete. Balancing sports and studies, she has been an example for young athletes who aspire to excel in both areas. Her commitment extends to her community as well, where she is known to participate in various community service activities, reflecting her well-rounded character.

As her collegiate career progresses, Alissa Pili continues to attract attention from the basketball community for her skills and dedication. Her journey from Alaska to the collegiate basketball scene serves as an inspiration to many young athletes, especially those from her home state, showing that hard work and determination can lead to success on the national stage. With her potential and work ethic, Pili is poised to leave a lasting mark in the world of women's basketball.

This section as always is brought to you by the Kossin Brand. The purpose of the Kossin brand is to connect our people through inclusivity and commonalities. Many other brands and companies aim to divide and conquer, however at Kossin they do not. If you enjoy this section and being introduced to a new Native every week please click the “Shop Here” button below and support them by picking up a piece of Kossin Merch.

f you enjoy our memes don’t forget to follow on Twitter now known as X.com, Instagram and Tik Tok for more exclusive content. The profile links are listed below. @LouistheNative on all platforms. 

Uncork Exclusive Rare Wines, Remote Vineyards Revealed!

Elevate your wine experience with grapes grown up to 9,000 ft in the Andes Mountains. 

Some of the rarest, and finest: Yet most won’t make it to the US. But wine lover and adventurer Will Bonner has made it his mission to import unique, small-batch wines that other importers overlook. 

And he’s sharing them through the Bonner Private Wine Partnership, where you'll get these exclusive wines delivered right to your door. 

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