Culture. Community. Caring For Others. – Inter Tribal Sports x N7

When Isaiah Thompson was offered the chance to become the Executive Director of Inter Tribal Sports, he didn’t hesitate—not for one moment.

“I haven’t looked back since,” Thompson said. “I was granted the opportunity to lead this organization into the next chapter of its history.”

Inter Tribal Sports is a California-based group that seeks to unify native youth and communities through sports and other resources. Thompson, who is Kumeyaay (part of the San Pasqual Band of Dieguno Mission Indians) came up in the organization; he played for its travel team until a scholarship took him to the University of California, Irvine. After graduation, he went to work at Inter Tribal Sports, which he says was pivotal in his upbringing.

It’s his dream, he says, to give back to the community that raised him. “My community is very beautiful,” he said. “It’s filled with beautiful people, facilities, just beauty all around. Since I know my identity—and my customs and traditions and who I am—I know what my purpose is in life. I know what I’m supposed to achieve, and that’s giving back to my community. Because I would love to see it continue to flourish.”

If the kids at Inter Tribal Sports are any indication, the community is in good hands. One such young person is Malaya Pojas, a Luiseno native from the La Jolla Indian reservation and Inter Tribal Sports Youth Ambassador. Like Thompson, she grew up in ITS programs—and knows why they mean so much to the community.

“I started playing with ITS as young as possible, at age four,” Pojas said. “I played basketball, soccer, softball, pretty much all the sports that were offered. It’s an honor to now be a role model for younger generations of native athletes, and native youth in general. ITS helped me out so much with playing sports and getting active; now it’s about any way I can make my community a good place to live.”

Pojas, who is a student at Valley Center High School, has big dreams post-graduation. She plans to continue her education, perhaps pursuing a degree in mental health or in communications. There still aren’t a lot of Natives represented on TV or in sports, she says, so it would be a dream to become someone younger kids could look up to.

Thompson is proud that ITS can help foster young leaders like Pojas.

“My favorite part about working with kids is the opportunity to positively impact them, put them in a position to succeed and let them have fun,” he said.“Not every kid these days has the opportunity just to be a kid and play. ITS gives them the opportunity to be who they want to be.”

After all, that’s what sports did for him.

“Sports changed my life,” he said. “They have meant everything to me. Playing basketball, meeting new people in travel programs, getting a full ride scholarship and being a champion at the CIF and collegiate level. Inter Tribal Sports is an amazing organization that does so much for beautiful people. Together we look to unify; and when we do, great things can and will be achieved.”

Pojas says that unity is an integral part of what ITS stands for. It’s about more than just sports, she explains; it’s about representation and pride. “It’s important to represent my native roots because generations before me weren’t given that opportunity,” she said. “That loss of culture and language gives us as the younger generation the motivation to learn it all back, share it with others, and rebuild this community. It is an honor to be part of that.”

Culture. Community. Caring for others. That’s what makes Inter Tribal Sports—and its participants—so special.

“The most inspiring thing about the work that I do is the people that I serve,” he said. “They are so beautiful, so resilient, so strong. It means everything to have this responsibility and provide that foundation for the generation to come.”

After all, Thompson says, native kids deserve the world. And he won’t rest until they get it.