by Dan Ninham, Contributing Writer
Sandra St. Claire is an enrolled member of the Eastern Shoshone tribe and also is Navajo, Cherokee, and Pawnee. Her Indian name is Naat’ahazbah and means “the one who brings intelligence to the war.”
St. Claire recently competed her freshman year at Haskell Indian Nations University.
“I initially signed to play volleyball, then after the season I decided to walk on to the track team,” said Sandra St. Claire. “It wasn’t a hard decision because I have been participating in track since middle school so I was glad that I could continue my track career.”
“My major college athletic accomplishment would be the conference track meet when our 4×400 team won,” said St. Claire. “What made the win a little sweeter were these guys from another school saying that we were going to get ‘rolled.’ So, we brushed it off, finished warming up, and our captain and last leg, Aysa, prayed for us.”
St. Claire shared how the race happened. She said, “First was Bailey, she started off strong and watching her run got me excited because I was next. I don’t know how but the tiredness I was feeling from my races earlier in the day subsided and I was overcome with the eagerness to win. Everything about the race felt so smooth. Our third leg was Neena, and she did exactly what she was supposed to do and stayed right there with the team in front of us. Lastly was Aysa and she chased that girl in front down.”
“It was thrilling to watch. Once she crossed the finish line, I couldn’t have been prouder of us because we all ran our hearts out for each other and the team. Overall, what I’m most proud of is that I get to be on a team with all Native American women, volleyball and track,” added St. Claire.
“Parts of my indigenous core values is to pray to the Creator, Mother Earth and to constantly have balance in what I do,” said St. Claire. “I learned this when I was young. My dad would take us to pick cedar, and he would have us pray to the Creator and Mother Earth, then we would leave offering for them before we the picked the cedar.”
“This influences my way of living, practice, and how I compete is that I thank the creator for guiding me and providing me with a healthy mind, body, and spirit. I thank mother earth for providing this earth we walk on, for the food we eat. Then I make sure I take care of myself, that I have balance in all that I do, from making sure I don’t over train, to making sure I fuel my body for the day I have ahead. Everything you do comes with balance,” added St. Claire.
St. Claire is studying to get her bachelor’s degree in business management. “Once I have finished at Haskell, I hope to continue my education and get my master’s degree hopefully at Northern Arizona University,” said St. Claire. “I’ve always wanted to be a Lumberjack.”
