|
|
 |
 Amber Anne DeLuca (Omaha/Shoshone/Bannock) was born and raised in Peninsula, Ohio, near the Cuyahoga River. She is the granddaughter of Levi Levering, an inspirational leader of the Omaha people during the early 1900's. The Omaha nation recognizes
Amber as “Ponca-sa”. The Ponca, Quapaw, Osage, Kansa, and Omaha peoples
are believed to be closely related. However, over time, they diverged and
formed their own separate nations. The work “Omaha” literally means “against
the current” or “upstream”. Omahas moved upward the Missouri River, and
settled in Macy, Nebraska. The name “Ponca-sa” means White Ponca.
The Omaha language is derived from the Siouan linguistic stock. “Sa”, or
white, symbolizes pure or good. Old names and traditions are preserved
through the “Turning of the Child” ceremony, or commonly, naming
ceremonies. Amber belongs to the Tapa (Deer) clan, one of seven clans within
the Omaha nation.  Amber has always excelled athletically. She earned an athletic scholarship in volleyball at Gannon University, Erie, Pennsylvania, and helped lead the team to their first national appearance. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications/English in 1990. Amber also served in the United States Air Force. She led the Armed Forces volleyball team to the World Military Championships in 1991. She received the prestigious “Air Combat Command Athlete of the Year” award in 1992. She is also a Desert Storm veteran. Amber states: “I have always felt the need to express myself physically. I believe there is a warrior spirit within me that has guided me throughout my life. Therefore, I enjoy creating strong, bold, traditional and contemporary plains style articles that represent warrior societies”. Amber is also an active member
of the Native American Sports Council, an official member of the United
States Olympic Committee. Amber comments: “As members of the NASC, we
(Native Americans) can interface with Olympic coaches, assuming the role
of a coach or athlete, through training and development camps. With this
knowledge, we can train, recruit and recognize elite potential not only
within our youths, but ourselves. Games are a tradition, a way of life
for native peoples. Our elders envisioned our strength as unified people
through these traditions. It feels good to pave the way for our youth while
preserving our cultural identities.”
|
|
|
 |
|||
|
