Real Teens DIFFERENT Meet teens whose unique experiences might make them seem as if they’re from another world—when in Shanice is a reality they’re just like you. Native —Shanice Britton American Today, roughly 30 percent of I’m a Native American, and I’m from a reservation in Covelo, the 5.2 million Native Americans California, where seven tribes in the U.S. live on reservations. live—including the two that I’m part of, Wailaki and Yuki. A What’s it like to grow up on one? reservation is a place that’s reserved Shanice, 18, shares her story. for Native American tribes by the federal government. About 56 By SHANICE BRITTON, as told to JANE BIANCHI million acres in the country are held for Native American tribes. Some reservations (like the 16 million- The summer before my senior acre Navajo Nation in Arizona, New year of high school, during a four-week Mexico, and Utah) are huge, while science program at the University of others are just over one acre in size. California, Davis, I was eating in a Mine is on the smaller side. People often have cafeteria with some other high school misconceptions about what living students, and this one girl asks me: “Do on a reservation means. Some you live in a teepee?” It was such a silly think, for instance, that I wear a question that, at first, I thought she headdress and moccasins every day. In reality, though, my life was joking! I said, “Are you serious?” probably looks a lot like yours. She said, “Oh, wait, I’m sorry. Is that There are paved roads and something I shouldn’t ask?” She wasn’t restaurants. I watch Finding trying to be rude, so it didn’t bother Carter and wear jeans. Oh, and I’m obsessed with basketball! I When I go me. I just said, “No, I have a house with My younger fishing, I use a was named MVP of my league sister Shayleena electricity and running water. I’m not traditional tool senior year, and now that I’m a and I singing called a “gig” to disconnected from the world!” But the in church. freshman in college, I play spear salmon as intramural hoops. they swim by. truth is, I did grow up differently. RAMIN RAHIMIAN/GETTY IMAGES FOR SCHOLASTIC INC. (ALL PHOTOS)
20 CHOICES APRIL 2015 APRIL 2015 CHOICES 21 Shanice’s Favorite Things
CELEB MUSIC I really like Jennifer Lawrence I really like as an actress. When you see her country songs, in the media, she’s always acting Hanging in my because they like herself and doing funny backyard with tell stories. My BOOK things. A lot of celebs talk about my dogs, Angel favorite singers I love books by the dieting, but she talks about (the white one) and Kiara, and at school, I wear my beadwork I’m studying to become a are Luke Bryan author Ellen Hopkins , how she eats as much as she my horse, Scout around campus. A lot of kids will veterinarian—there aren’t any on and Carrie like Burned and Impulse, wants and just makes sure that ask, “Where did you get those my reservation. If an animal gets Underwood . because they’re about she’s active. Keeping earrings?” When I say I made sick, you have to drive an hour to real-life problems that Tradition Alive them, they can’t believe it! It get them help. My goal is to open everyone goes through. Even though I consider myself a makes me feel special. a veterinary clinic that will help typical teen, there are definitely my reservation prosper. MOVIE I liked ways that my life has been A Stronger Future It’s actually pretty rare for teens The Hunger Games: Mockingjay different. The reservation is an Going to college has been a big from where I grew up to go to (Part 1) a lot. There’s so much action hour from town, so not only is change for me. There were only college. We’ve been plagued by and suspense. I’m really looking there a strong community feel, 25 people in my graduating class, poverty—and that’s pushed many forward to the next one, because I but there’s also a big connection and now I go to school with toward drug and alcohol abuse. think it’ll also be action-packed. to the land. Our house is thousands. On my reservation, I But I’m determined to become a LIGHTS); KATHY HUTCHINS/HUTCHINS PHOTO/CORBIS (JENNIFER LAWRENCE); surrounded by a mountain, a was surrounded mostly by positive role model for my river, and a farm. We have 23 Natives, and at college, the Native reservation. It’s important to me animals: 10 chickens, 4 goats, 4 population is only 0.07%. It’s to eventually return to the rez and dogs, 3 cats, a guinea pig, and a intimidating but also exciting. invest in my tribe’s future. horse. It’s not just for show! We PLACE THAT collect eggs from the chickens, SHE WANTS TO VISIT 3 THINGS SHANICE WANTS YOU TO KNOW I want to go to Alaska and see the use manure from the animals to PHOEBE fertilize soil, and pick fruits and 1 2 3 Northern Lights. You see them in movies and in cartoons—they’re just so pretty. vegetables from our garden. Don’t make Listen Be I’ve also learned how to hunt assumptions. to others. thankful. FOOD You and fish. When hunting for deer, It’s not fair to Everyone comes Even if you have can never go wrong TV I love my tribe has two rules: 1) Never generalize and put from different hard times in life, with deer meat! My Friends . The people in boxes. backgrounds there are always shoot a doe, because she might family loves to make character Phoebe is Get to know a and has different other people who be pregnant, and 2) If you kill a person for who he stories—listen are less fortunate. deer-meat stew the best, because deer, find a way to use all of it. or she actually is. and learn! I like to Every night, I make and deer-meat jerky , she’s so funny. Even My tribe is also known for its Think about it: How live by the saying: a mental list of which is delicious. if the episode is about weaving and beadwork. I love would you feel if “Step up, step things that I’m I’m also a fan of something serious, making all sorts of fun accessories, someone judged down.” In other grateful for, like chocolate-covered she’ll say something you before talking words, if you’re the family, or even just like earrings, barrettes, and almonds and that makes no sense to you? one always talking, making it home safe necklaces—it’s my way of relaxing step down. each day. cashews. Yum! and crack me up.
at the end of a long day. When I’m RAMIN RAHIMIAN/GETTY IMAGES FOR SCHOLASTIC INC. (ALL PHOTOS) HARRISON MCCLARY/REUTERS/CORBIS (CARRIE UNDERWOOD, LUKE BRYAN); NOPPAWAT TOM CHAROENSINPHON/MOMENT OPEN/GETTY IMAGES (NORTHERN E+/GETTY IMAGES (DEER JERKEY); NBC VIA GETTY IMAGES (FRIENDS)
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