When Ryan turned 21, he could finally afford his first pair of skis and a ski pass. But he discovered a cultural connection and a renewed sense of purpose and direction through skiing. Growing up in Boulder, Colorado, Ryan had few coping mechanisms to deal with the challenges he faced. The snow-covered peaks provided the solace he had previously sought through drugs and alcohol.
While skiing in the mountains, Ryan finally found the comfort and solitude he sought. Looking back on that time, he remembers feeling adrift and lacking a sense of purpose, direction, and self-identity. Drugs and alcohol became his escape from the monotony of everyday life and the world’s problems. Like many young Indigenous people, Ryan felt lost and uncertain about his future. At the time, he was grappling with drugs, alcohol, and the weight of generational trauma. In his early 20s, Ryan discovered a passion for skiing that would change his life. It’s not just about great skiing, but also meaningful threads in the story.” “Skiing in a rainforest is a whole opposite world than skiing in Colorado, but it’s been a pretty neat trip, culturally and community-wise. “She’s been working with the Lingít Aaní tribal government and the Native Corporations to start a ski program specifically for Native youth in the Juneau area,” Ryan said.
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