Through the American Indian Education Program, Leah Y., a Sunset High School senior, brings her Comanche culture to life, sharing traditions and stories with her community.
Recently, she created a display board and presented at the district’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day Fair, deepening her knowledge of her tribe’s history and values. “I learned a lot through the program, like how we used to live before technology and outside influences affected our way of life. It’s important being in AIEP because we’re a really unique group. There aren’t a lot of us, so it means something to the community
to be a strong representative of Native culture,” she said.
From a young age, Leah immersed herself in Native traditions, attending powwows with her family and learning the hymns, dances, and crafts that connect her to her heritage.
“My grandma passed everything down to me, and I’m really grateful. If I didn’t have that, I’d be isolated because I wouldn’t know my native tribe,” Leah said. She taught us to be very proud of who we are and not to let anybody tell us otherwise.”
Those early hands-on lessons at home, learning how to make frybread, wear regalia, and participate in ceremonies with respect and pride, shaped Leah’s sense of self and her commitment to passing them on to her kids someday.
“Powwows are an experience; it’s a sense of family and community,” she said. “You might not know everybody, but you get to know everybody by the end of it. We eat, we dance, have fun, and connect on a deeper level. It’s like our home.”
Leah’s dedication to her Comanche heritage is matched by the support she receives from her tribe, which helped set her up for college success.
“I get a lot of benefits, like they’ve started my college fund early and are helping me throughout school,” she said. “They really helped send my sister to college, too.”
Following in her sister’s footsteps, Leah plans to attend the same college, Schreiner University, building on the path her older sibling forged through AIEP and Sunset.
“My sister set the tone for me that I have to go above and beyond,” Leah said. “She was super smart and talented in everything she did, and I want to continue her legacy while showing that you can be deeply connected to your culture and excel in other areas too.”
Leah hopes to leave a lasting legacy within AIEP by making future students feel confident and comfortable embracing their heritage, even when being a teenager can make showing it intimidating.
Inspired by the district’s recent showcase, she hopes it becomes an annual event, giving students a deeper understanding of their ancestry and a chance to explore the richness of their Native culture.
“I want people to come out and really feel like they can be who they are here,” she said. “I’ve never had to be scared that I’m going to be alone. I’m always going to have somebody with me, and that’s what I’m really grateful for.”
