Collegiate Congrats: Four Winds grad shares message

Steven Redfox, of Tokio, N.D., graduated from Four Winds High School in 2017 and is now upping his game.

At Four Winds, Redfox was a point guard for the Indians, helping to bring home the state championship. Now in his second year at United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, he checks in as guard for the Thunderbirds.

The 5-foot-9 Redfox says he’s likely to be the tiniest one on the court. Looking to other players in the game for motivation helps Redfox to know anything is possible. Two of his favorite small guys in the NBA are the 5-foot-10 Tyler Ullis of the Chicago Bulls and 5-foot 9 Isaiah Thomas of the Denver Nuggets.

For some, basketball is life, but for Redfox it’s something more. Basketball didn’t just change his life. Redfox says, “It saved my life, like getting off the rez.”

Redfox was recently interviewed and featured in a video by Tiwahe Clothing, an indigenous apparel line based out of St. Michael. The video promotion isn’t just about Redfox or the clothing line; it’s about promoting positivity and seeks to help Native American youth fulfill their dreams. The video has since gone viral, with more than 10,000 views in just two weeks.

Tiwahe says, “Too many times has there been negatives on that reservation and also many other places in the world… We want to share a positive light for not only our youth but anyone who may feel left out. We don’t discriminate on race, gender, religion or any other traits.”

For Redfox, endless support comes from friends and relatives, but he also often receives messages from younger kids saying “I want to be like you.” Both help to keep him positive and make him want to be a good role model for his siblings and cousins.

Tiwahe is a word in the Dakota language meaning family, and in Redfox’s video, he ends by saying, “Family means a lot… we’re always there for one another.”

Redfox knows the painful reality of the alcohol and drug use that is so prevalent on the Spirit Lake Nation. He understands how much it hurts when people lose a loved one. In fact, one of Redfox’s closest friends passed away due to a car accident just a few months ago. But amid the sadness, he tries his best to go as far as he can in the game, and encourages others to do the same.

Tiwahe Clothing was founded in 2018 by Stuart Lohnes and continues in partnership with James Culbertson and Farin Ligget. The vision is to create a community for everyone to feel a sense of family anytime they wear the brand. Currently, Tiwahe apparel can be purchased through their page on Facebook. The company is working to establish a website for online purchasing this year.

Read more news from our area college students on page A2, in the second installment of our “Collegiate Congratulations” feature.