P-Russ's recap:

Greetings, all,

Just sending along this wonderful story that broke today from Alx Lee of the Tri-City Record.

https://www.tricityrecordnm.com/articles/navajo-preps-speech-and-debate-bring-home-first-state-title-for-school-history/

It's really been a banner week for our team! What an amazing crew they are...

Best,

Russell

Full text of article:

Navajo Prep’s speech and debate bring home first state title for school history 

Gavelin’ Eagles is one of two teams to receive Speech School of Honor

By Alx Lee Tri-City Record Reporter

Thursday, Feb 29, 2024 6:00 PM Updated Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 6:00 PM

The students of the Gavelin’ Eagles are breaking down equity barriers in the speech and debate community while gaining state recognition for their Indigenous-centered topics, despite their newly established presence.

Natashia Anderson brought Navajo Preparatory School its first state championship for her performance in program oral interpretation at New Mexico State Speech and Debate Championship in Rio Rancho on Feb. 23.

During a two-day tournament while performing for six judges, Anderson was ranked first by every judge.

Describing the team as a family, Anderson said she had support during her speech that included her mother, Tashina Anderson.

“I was so scared I wasn’t going to break to finals,” she said. “It was truly an out-of-this-world experience. Nothing could compare.”

Speech and debate started in 2012 and was picked up in 2022 by coach John Russell after showing interest and experience coming from his previous position in Yarmouth, Maine.

Russell said he sees speech and debate as a moral imperative.

“Wherever I am I need to be providing speech and debate to the students because I know what it did to do to me, and I’ve seen what it’s done to my students back in Maine and I’ve seen what it’s done for these kids here,” he said.

The transition proved to be difficult because the rules and events are different in New Mexico and Maine.

Students Haylei Redhouse and Marcus Nahalea were up for the challenge when they participated in a public forum event at a previous tournament without knowing what it entailed.

“The fact that we were both there supporting each other gave us the strength to keep going and even though it’s a really hard event I found passion in it,” Redhouse said.

State rankings

Addyson Salazar and Tamarron Austin, sixth in duo interpretation.

Bradley Redhouse, tied for seventh in humorous interpretation.

Avery Himmelreich, 10th in program oral interpretation.

In an interview with Tri-City Record, students joked about the posters for speech and debate being the primary reason they joined. They were quick to give credit to Russell for his leadership and spoke to the sense of family they have come to know while being on the team.

The team also spoke highly of assistant coaches Jennifer Kaskalla and Malyssa Egge.

“Truly if we had to do this ourselves or with a sponsor that wasn’t fully invested, we wouldn’t have all of these achievements and that’s the reality of it,” said sophomore Aspyn Kaskalla.

Speech and debate, but make it Indigenous

Since their start, the Gavelin’ Eagles have used their experiences as Indigenous students to shed light on the issues and inequities they face.

The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and relatives movement, the Indian Child Welfare Act, and substance abuse were topics that have been covered at tournaments.

For state champion Anderson, her choice of event is debate. However, last season, she chose to pursue speech in dramatic interpretation, which involves a 10-minute interpretation of a script.

“For me, it was a lot more fun just because of how dramatic I could be and how loud I could yell and scream,” she said.

Speech allows students to share a topic that interests them, and Anderson used it to channel her passion and experiences as an Indigenous person.

“This event, speech and debate has existed in the United States for quite a while, and it really is dominated by Western colonial structures,” Egge said.

Egge served as a judge for the Gavelin’ Eagles before serving as assistant coach and recalls the emotion of introducing themselves by clan in their language at a tournament last year.

“They really are educating more people and in the right way,” Kaskalla said.

The perception of the topics covered by students come with interactions that reinforce the unawareness of Native issues.

On the other side of it, judges have questioned competitor Kaskalla on the brutal and dark topics covered in her informative speaking event, asking for a positive take on the topics.

For the 10-minute opportunity, Kaskalla used her time to bring light to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives.

“It really was kind of strange to realize that they wanted something so somber to be reported on with a happy note on the end,” she said. “I was so confused, I didn’t know how they could gather hope from my whole presentation.”

Anderson recalled having similar mixed interactions with competitors at the national tournament, last year. Students were intrigued about the traditional attire worn by the Navajo Prep students but some appeared to be unaware of the significance, asking where the bought their clothes.

Egge said she feels the future is bright after seeing the students of Navajo Prep taking up space in an Indigenous approach from topics they choose to the attire they wear at tournaments.

Taking the skills learned since beginning speech and debate, Kaskalla said she hopes to continue passing down those lessons for continued representation.

A bright future

After ranking fourth out of six at the New Mexico State Congressional Debate Championship and District National Qualifier, Nahalea will compete in nationals in Des Moines, Iowa.

Competing in the house event at this tournament and Nahalea said he did not think he would make it past the morning session.

Without preparation, he wrote a four-minute speech in the position of a representative attempting to pass a book banning legislation. This would be the fourth time competed going up against students with years of experience.

Since being involved in the team, Nahalea said the experience has been an expression of self and a journey to find who he is.

Kaskalla represents the state on the student leadership council through the National Speech and Debate Association and has recently been nominated for a second year.

The support of the community has not gone unnoticed as strangers will approach the team while on the road to acknowledge them, said assistant coach Kaskalla.

“Look at how amazing the Indigenous students are when they are given an equitable opportunity to voice and to have those voices heard,” she said. “They are making an impact.”