May 2005:  Shelby Osceola

October 2005:  Kalgary Johns

November Featured Native Youth 2005
Joni Begay

Name: Joni "Doby" Begay

Age: 17

Family: (Mom, Dad, Grandparents, brothers, sisters) Marie and Johnson
Begay (parents), Marissa Begay, Joncelita Tso, and Cheryl Begay (all older sisters), Loren Begay (older brother), Jonovan Begay (little brother), Allen Sr. and Liliann Jones (maternal grandparents), and Alex Sr. and Virginia Begay (paternal grandparents). Remus Tso (brother-in-law), Arlin and Tilton Tso (nephews), Teria Begay (sister-in-law), Starr
Begay (niece)

What tribe are you a member of or descendant from?
The Navajo Nation

Grade in School, name of school:
Junior at Chinle High School

Activities you are involved in at your school:
I am a member of the high school rodeo team, a
member of the basketball club, a member of varsity club, and a
volleyball and basketball player.

Pets: (horses, cats, dogs, lizards, cattle, pigs, Llama's, etc) I have
5 horses Aztec (barrel horse), Chickaroo
Twister (breakaway, barrel, pole, and goat horse), Cleopatchtrea (a bay
horse), Lady Oola (barrel and pole horse), and Blaze (a red roan), two
dogs Skippy (boarder collie), chongo (chiawawa), one sheep
Molley (black faced  sheep), and two cats Troubles and Mulan.

What events in Rodeo, Horse Showing, Showing Cattle, photography, or
helping your family with are you involved in? (If you travel with
your Mom and Dad at rodeos or horse shows, cattle shows, or working the ranch, please explain what your responsibilities are)

The events I do in rodeos are Barrel Racing and
Breakaway Roping. At Jr. rodeos I do Barrel Racing, Pole Bending,
Breakaway Roping, and Goat Tying. My parents have been taking me
around to these rodeos that are on and off the Navajo Nation. My
responsibilities are to keep my horse in shape for the up coming rodeos and to have my equipment ready and steady.

What achievements have you made in your event you compete in or
activities you are involved in?
I have been a Barrel Racing champion at many rodeos
and Jr. rodeos. I also been an all-around champion for WJRA, the
year 2004. I have been named all-around many times for WJRA. I also
got horse of the year in 1998. I am a member of WJRA, IJRA, and
AHSRA. I have also made it back for open shows such as: Navajo Nation Fair 2005(Barrel Racing top 10 out of 62 racers), Arizona State Fair 2003, 2004, and 2005(Barrel Racing and Breakaway Roping), and
Central Navajo Nation Fair Rodeo 2005(Breakaway Roping).

What are your future goals in your events you participate in?
My goals in the events I participate in is to be one
of the top participants in all rodeo associations on and off the Navajo Nation Reservation.


Who is your ultimate hero?
My family!!!

Within the Rodeo world: Who is your ultimate
favorite Cowboy and or Cowgirl?
Fred Whitfield and Charmayne James


What is your favorite TV show?
Wildfire!!!

What is your favorite Movie?
"Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken", "Hildago", and
"Dreamer"

What are some of your favorite songs or musicians?
All country songs!!!

What do you do, to help others?
I would do anything to help others, I would take
time off of what I'm doing and help people who need it.

When you grow up and graduate from school, what are your plans for
your profession?
To keep rodeoing and training horses (barrel and pole
horses).

Do you plan to attend college, if so, what is your major?
I am still undecided on where I want to attend
college but all I know is that wherever I'm attending college I going to be
on the Rodeo Team. Major would probably do something with
coaching or taking care of animals.





If you could give advice to another Native youth on how to get started
doing what you are involved with, what advice would you
give them?
It's all about PRACTICE! Practice is every thing you
need to do before going to a rodeo. Another thing is you have to keep
you and your horse in really good shape to be one of those people
on top of their game. Never say never because you'll get to be one
of those >champions that you see when you go to rodeos.
"if you want fame", "rodeo is your game", "cowboy or cowgirl will be your name!"








If you were granted one wish, what would it be?
To make it into Professional rodeo and to be a
Barrel Racing and Breakaway Roping Champion.

What would you do to educate others about being a Native American
Youth from your tribe?
Learn about what it took to get our people to be
noticeable. They  went through a lot just to get us to be the people
we are today.