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

Update: December 18, 2003
Charlie did very well this year, he finished 3rd at the Canadian High School Rodeo Finals in the Bull Riding event.  Charlie also went to the National High School Rodeo Finals in New Mexico.  We will find out his goals for 2004!!! Keep up the good work Charlie.  


This Month we are recognizing  
Charles Gottfriedson


Charles riding a Jr. Bull and scored 78 points and he won the 
buckle for that rodeo!  
                                      
  

It all began when i was a little boy I had to be no more than five or so. I was at my grandpa's we were branding calves at the ranch hand my grandpa asked me if I wanted to get on a calve for fun so I did. I 
pulled my hat down over my eyes and said lets got they opened the gate and 
let the calve out. When I came off I felt like one of the bull riders on 
T.V. that I used to watch the feeling was great. 

But my mother did not want 
me to ride steers or bulls. I had asked her almost very day if I could ride 
it was the same answer all the time "NO". When I turned about 7 yrs I was able 
to go to a steer riding school in Merritt B.C. it was a lot of fun to learn 
how to ride steers. 


Charles riding at the Canadian Indian Finals 2000, 
He got 72 points on that steer, and later finish 5th overall


I didn't go to many rodeos until I was about 13. At that 
time I was a alright rider but not the greatest until I won my first real big rodeo in Alberta.  I won about $500 dollars.  I got a lot of confidence to ride so I started to rodeo real hard and I would ride my horse bareback so I 
could have real good balance. The people that helped me get to where I am today are Ron Gottfriedson (Grandfather), Ron. JrThomas (Uncle), Daniel 
Gottfriedson (Uncle), Calvin Draney (step-father) all of these people helped they all had something to do with rodeo.  Ron Gottfriedson was a saddle bronc 
rider, Ron Thomas is a saddle bronc rider, Daniel Gottfriedson is a bull rider and saddle bronc rider, Calvin Draney was a bareback rider and bull rider. They all taught me something about bull riding. I am very grateful 
that they helped me become the type of rider that I am today.


 
In 2000 I won 5 buckles one of the five was the steer riding champion of British Columbia for the Indian Rodeo association here.  2001 i was the runner up in the Jr 
Bull riding for the Indian Rodeo Association here in BC. 
In 2002 I had qualified to go to the National High School Rodeo Finals in New Mexico it was the greatest moment of my life to ride with the best of the best. Even though I never rode both of my bulls I was happy be there. 
In 2002 I had qualified for the Canadian High School Rodeo Finals were I had finished in sixth in Canada in the bull riding event. This past year was the best of my 
life I always wanted to ride bulls and always wanted to be a bull rider ever since I was little and watch my uncle Daniel ride bulls I wanted to ride bulls to.  And now I am living in a dream I and hope I can go to the National 
high school finals once again and do a little bit better than I did last year in the bull riding. 



My goal is to make the short go at the nationals 
and to win the Canadians in the Bull riding event. I was also selected for the National High School All Star Team for 2003. Which was a great honour to be selected to be a part of the best female and males in North America. To me 
this was the best year in my life I never thought that I could ever go this far with bull riding and I am so happy that I did.  So if you dream big make sure you follow your dreams you may not get it right away but it will come 
so try hard and never ever give up.