For our second Native Student-Athlete spotlight, we are excited to feature Leon Dave, a Senior at Burns High School in Burns, Oregon, and a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla. Leon has been playing Lacrosse for 12 years and was introduced to us by his coach, Rick Roy, who runs Nadzitsaga Lacrosse.
Q&A with Leon Dave:
PNWNL: How did you first get involved in Lacrosse, and what drew you to the sport?
LEON: All the love for Lacrosse comes from my older brother putting a stick in my hand and going one-on-one across our patio at the age of seven. What draws me closer is understanding the privilege of playing the same sport my ancestors did many moons ago.
PNWNL: As a Native high school Lacrosse player in the Pacific Northwest, how do you feel your cultural identity influences your experience in the sport?
LEON: Playing Lacrosse as a Native American makes the experience of Lacrosse as if I am a warrior myself, AHO!
PNWNL: Being a high school athlete can be challenging. How do you balance your academic responsibilities with your commitment to Lacrosse?
LEON: School always comes first. In order to see the grass, you need to pass the class. Study the books, then study the field.
PNWNL: Can you share how the cultural and historical aspects of Lacrosse, known as the Medicine Game, resonate with you personally?
LEON: The Medicine Game is a prayer; everyone plays for their own prayer of medicine. I lost my mother due to suicide, so I play for our creator and bring good mental states to my peers around me.
PNWNL: Are there any Native lacrosse players or coaches who have been role models or inspirations for you? How have they influenced your journey?
LEON: Another person besides my brother Ty Enlestadter, who planted Lacrosse in my heart, is a fellow by the name of Lane Hawley. I am very lucky to have these people as lacrosse role models, pushing me to play better without even knowing it.
PNWNL: Looking ahead, what are your goals for both Lacrosse and your personal development? Do you have plans to continue playing after high school?
LEON: I am looking for colleges to attend after high school. I plan to be the best, always.
PNWNL: What advice would you give to younger Native students who might be interested in taking up Lacrosse?
LEON: "To become spring, means accepting the risk of winter." To become presence means accepting the risk of absence." "You can't understand a win until you've truly lost."
PNWNL: Finally, what does Lacrosse mean to you, and how do you think it has shaped you as a person and as a member of the Native community?
LEON: Lacrosse is the best happy place I could ever have: no need to think and no time to complain. Lacrosse is my personality. It's given me the characteristics to adapt to anything, anywhere. I am thankful for Lacrosse.
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