Pocatello -- Motivational speaker Arnold Thomas will speak
on the topic “Resiliency: Learning from Life’s Challenges” at 7 p.m. Tuesday,
April 1, in the Idaho State University Pond Student Union Building Wood
River Room.
The event is free and open to the public, and is being held in conjunction with ISU’s Native American Awareness Week March 30-April 5. Thomas’s presentation is sponsored by the ISU Indian Clubs and Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Health and Human Services.
Thomas is a Shoshone-Paiute tribal member whose life story is one of hope and inspiration, according to Laverne Beech, event coordinator for ISU Native American Awareness Week.
As a teenager, Thomas dreamed of becoming a professional athlete. At the time, he was considered one of Nevada’s top athletes, excelling at both football and basketball. During his high school years, Thomas’s father committed suicide, and Thomas turned to alcohol and drugs to drown his sorrow. At age 18, he took a gun to his chin. The incident severely damaged his face, left him completely blind, and unable to speak for several years.
Through the support of his family, friends, community and Native American cultural ways, Thomas was able to rebound from this challenging time and go on to obtain his master’s degree in social work in 1999, to coach youth basketball and football, and to dance in the traditional Native American style. His story is about the ability to rebound from life’s challenges and to integrate the teachings that these experiences bring to us.
“My life has been greatly affected by generational patterns of poverty, alcoholism, stereotypes, myths, and the passing of loved ones. The death of my father along with the consumption of mind altering drugs contributed to my suicide attempt,” Thomas said.
“This path,” Thomas added, “destroyed my original dreams and goals. Since 1988, my journey has necessitated learning new life skills, which have gone beyond the daily demands for living. I have relied on ancient ceremonies to help me maintain balance in my life. Tribal history, dances, songs and craft work have helped me gain new insight and strength to achieve new dreams and goals.”
For more information on Thomas’s presentation, contact Beech at (208) 478-4227.
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