Volume 3 Number 3
May 1964

Mateo J. Cata

There is an old saying: "There is always a first time for everything." This is the first time that I have ever been asked to be the main speaker for such a large gathering of young Indian people.

I have always found it a pleasure to be among young people, and I am especially proud and honored to talk to you. I want to thank the Kiva Club for giving me this opportunity, and I hope I can measure up to this honored occasion.

I hope all of you realize the importance of this conference. I know that your principals and sponsors do, otherwise you would not be here. They have made it possible for you to attend this conference, and I hope you are making the best use of your time and energy here at this great university.

When I attended the United States Indian School in Santa Fe, I was very fortunate to serve as a member of our student council. Serving on the student council was like being a Senator. Every year there was always someone to challenge you for your position. If you didn’t do a good job of representing your class the year before, and since you could not buy votes, your classmates somehow managed to vote you out of office.

The point I am trying to make is that as a student council member I had the privilege of attending many conferences, each a worthwhile experience. It brought me new friends, gave me new ideas, and inspired me to better myself and to help people in any way that I can. I believe this conference can do the same things for you.

In 1959, when the Southwestern Indian Youth Conference was held at Brigham Young University, the delegates there voted to have the next conference at this university. At that time I was a member of the Kiva Club, and recalling my good old high school days I suggested that we should invite all Indian high school students to this conference. We felt that high school students could benefit from this program, just as well as college students. Since then, the Kiva Club has made this an annual affair for your benefit.

May I say this: I think you should value this opportunity to bring new ideas, to stand on your own two feet and express what you believe and what you think and feel.

This afternoon, I would like to ask you two questions. The first question is—DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE?

If you will permit me, let me tell you. I believe that you are very special. First of all, you are special to your parents. Yes! Special to them in spite of the fact that you cause heartaches, and worries; and if you have a family car, you are forever asking permission to drive it.

Secondly, you are the life of our villages. Without you, our communities would be dead, our schools would be barren. Yes! Your community is proud of you in spite of the fact that you like to twist and love the Beatles. Finally, you are the hope, not only of the Indian people, but of an mankind. You are the future leaders, and in you we place our hopes, and part of the challenge to keep America strong, to keep her moving, to bring a new world of peace, a new world of abundance, and a new world of brotherhood so that all men can live with decency and justice, and in love and not in hate. This is, indeed, a great challenge; and this is what we want you to help accomplish.

But you cannot achieve all of these things if you are afraid, unskilled, and blind to your own needs; to the needs of others and to the demands and expectations of this world.

Now! Let me ask you the second question. DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO BE?

I am sure you have thought of this question many times. Some of you are fairly certain of what you want to do when you graduate from high school, and I also know that there are some of you who are not sure of what lies ahead. You have not made up your mind as to what you want to be.

Whether you are sure of what you want to be or not, we do know this life is hard for almost everybody. We know that times are changing, our society has become highly complex and we live in all sorts of ages: The age of rockets, the age of atomic power, and the age of electronics.

It is almost impossible to find pick and shovel jobs. The value of a high school education has diminished to almost nothing in terms of qualifying for a job. However, a high school diploma is valuable in opening the doors to greater opportunities. It can help you enter college and other schools of higher learning.

It is obvious, in order to make progress, to succeed and obtain some measure of happiness in your life, you must have high ideals, you must search for the truth, and you must seek a higher level of education.

You may find this hard to believe, but the average education of Indians is at the fifth grade level. There are also many other problems facing the Indian people; and if we are going to solve our problems, we need to have educated people.

Through education, the Indian people will not take a back seat to anybody; we will not be pushed around; we will not be told what to do or be told what is good for us. Through education we will always remain free.

You have the opportunity to do something and to become somebody. There has been enough Indian talent squandered. Do not waste your talents by not taking advantage of the many opportunities that are open to Indian students.

In order to raise our standard of living we need more Indian doctors, nurses, engineers, lawyers, teachers, and businessmen.

It is you who must decide what you want to become. And, after you have made your decision, put your whole heart and soul into this effort; and, once you have reached your goal, do not be content in becoming merely an Indian doctor, teacher or lawyer. You must strive to be the best, and to reach this level you must train hard and continue this training to the best of your ability.

If you will pardon me, let me tell you of the dream I had—the dream of almost every American boy—to someday become a professional baseball player. I wanted my dream to come true. I trained hard. I felt mental and physical pain and I made many sacrifices. There were times when I got discouraged, but I picked myself up, cried, prayed and kept going. This is what the champions do, so I tried to do the same. No, I never made it to the top, but I have had the satisfaction of trying.

So, if you want to be the best in your profession, do as the champions, put in 10,000 hours in your training and you will be the best or, for that matter, become great.

In conclusion, let me say this: Be proud that you are an Indian, be very proud. Respect your elders and remember this, "nothing is impossible," if you have unwavering faith in yourself and in Almighty God.

Thank you.