Litefoot Wows Ahfachkee Audience

By Judy Weeks

BIG CYPRESS — Award-winning Native American actor, rap artist and motivational speaker, Litefoot, has visited the Big Cypress community before, but each time he arrives it is like the first time. When he and his wife Carmen walked out of their motor home on Nov. 27, the children at Ahfachkee were waiting with anticipation.

Last year, this member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, visited 211 reservations in 40 states and traveled more than 54,000 miles in 12 months during his Reach The Rez Tour. He initiated his 2007 tour this past August and by December will have reached 50 reservations delivering a powerful message to Native Americans of all ages. The Seminole Tribe of Florida, The Pequot Tribe and The Cherokee Nation, are major sponsors of this unprecedented effort.

In addition to Litefoot’s Reach the Rez Tour, he has starred in ten films and television programs, released 10 albums and won seven Native American Music Awards, including Best Hip Hop/Rap Recording, Best Male Artist, and he was 2005’s Artist of the Year.

Litefoot’s new album, Relentless Pursuit, will be his first major label release and will hit the stores nationwide during the spring of 2008. His very successful businesses are making their mark in the music and fashion industry.

Dividing the school body into two groups, he began with the pre-kindergarten to fifth graders first thing in the morning. Litefoot is extremely adept at adjusting his message to reach the level of all age groups and has the unique ability to make his listeners believe that he is talking with them, not at them.

The younger crowd hung on his every word as he described his travels and accomplishments while instilling in them the desire to reach their potential and recognize their self-worth.

Reaching out to the sixth grade through high school he said: “I see the war on drugs, but I want to see better results on the battle field. Don’t smoke! Don’t Do Drugs! Become a direct example for the people around you and show them what is right. Strive to get the education that you deserve and reestablish the traditions of your culture.

“Pray, pray and pray some more! It is simple and will take you back to what makes a leader and give you the strength to care about yourself and your people.”

During the afternoon he returned to the school and visited individual classrooms. Whether standing in front of the class or sitting down in the middle of their desks, Litefoot has the ability to make each and every student feel important and talks directly to them on a one on one basis.

It didn’t matter if he was in the second grade classroom or high school; the students were listening, not talking.

“Listening is respect and I thank you for it because I, too, respect you,” he said, before turning the classrooms over to the students for a question and answer session. “Listen to your heart because it will guide you.”

Regardless of age group, the youngsters made some very insightful inquiries and got some very good advice. The conversations ranged from religion to education, acting, sports, travel, peer pressure and family relationships to self respect and the ability to make a difference.

Following his presence at the Ahfachkee School, Litefoot moved to the gym during the evening to meet with the members of the Big Cypress community.

“I encourage you to do what the Creator intended for you to do,” he said. “This is what is inside of you and this is what makes you Seminoles. We only have a short time to make a difference on Earth and we must not waste it. As Native Americans we are an incredible people with an inner strength and strong survival instincts. This is what makes us warriors!”

Litefoot concluded: “Don’t react to problems. Be pro-active. We all have a reason to live — not survive. Get an education and know yourself. We all learn something everyday of our lives. As I leave you, I won’t say goodbye, but rather, until we meet again. If it isn’t here, it will happen someplace else!”