Jacob Pratt [windspeaker confidential]

Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?
Jacob Pratt: I just appreciate friends that you, even if you don’t need them, they would be there if you ever needed them. Somebody who is trustworthy and loyal. A real friend is more like a sister or a brother, not just a friend.

W: What is it that really makes you mad?
J.P.: Many things can make people mad but like other First Nation/Native American people racism and blind ignorance really bothers me.

W: When are you at your happiest?
J.P.: I am most happy when I know I’ve done something good. For example, I recently finished a weekend tour to youth events doing motivational speaking and performing. After seeing the reactions to what I had to say I knew I had a positive effect on many of them. I went home feeling very accomplished and happy. Also, just hanging out with my family.

W: What one word best describes you when you are at your worst?
J.P.: When I’m at my worst I’m lazy, not motivated, and stagnant. The times I’m least pleased with myself is when I know I’ve done nothing productive.

W: What one person do you most admire and why?
J.P.: I most admire my mother. She came from a childhood that was really hard. Then she broke the destructive cycles to raise her children in a healthy loving environment. She has never stopped being a positive role model to me and my siblings. She showed me how to strive for a better life. I also always look back on our strong leaders in the past, those that gave selflessly and not for their own benefit. They fought for the benefit of their people.

W: What is the most difficult thing you’ve ever had to do?
J.P.: I’ve had many difficulties throughout my life. I’ve lost loved ones, struggled with peer pressure, fought against stereotypes and racism and many other things. Although none of these things were easy, each one of my struggles help in making me a stronger person.

W: What is your greatest accomplishment?
J.P.: I am proud of a lot of the things I’ve done in my life but I’m still striving and working toward reaching my greatest accomplishment....whatever that may be.

W: What one goal remains out of reach?
J.P.: I don’t think any goal is out of reach anymore. If I keep working hard I’ll get it. I do want to finish school, grow my business, and keep working toward success. The one long term goal is to one day buy my mother a house and car. Of course, this my mother never lets me forget and is difficult when I haven’t done all that for myself yet.

W: If you couldn’t do what you’re doing today, what would you be doing?
J.P.: If I wasn’t doing what I’m doing now I would still try to do something that would allow me to live while also trying to help improve the lives of my people. I’m not sure what that would be, but that’s what drives me.

W: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
J.P.: My grandmother said “if you want to be a healthy person you need to be balanced. You need to balance your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual self.”

W: Did you take it?
J.P.: As a child I didn’t think much about what my grandmother taught us but it did manage to stick with me and to this day I try to stay healthy by balancing those areas. That goes for many of the things I was taught by my elders growing up.

W: How do you hope to be remembered?

I would like to be remembered as somebody who led by example, and maybe, long after I’m gone, that generations down the road somebody will say “that was my great grandfather and he fought for his people.” I hope that generations down the road my grandchildren will still be strong and proud First Nations/Native American people.

Jacob Pratt, Dakota/Saulteaux and registered member of the Cote First Nation of Saskatchewan, was a nominee in the Aboriginal People’s Choice Awards. In 2011 Pratt was nominated and won in the Best Flute CD category for his CD ‘Eagle Calls.’ At the age of 14 Pratt started playing the traditional Native American flute as well as dancing men’s traditional in powwows. His dance repertoire has expanded to include the Hoop Dance using 15 hoops to tell stories depicting animals like the eagle, bear and butterfly. Pratt also teaches powwow dance. Pratt is working as a professional model doing runway as well as photographic work. Native Entertainment Magazine named him “Sexiest Native Man 2011.” Pratt hopes to spread out into acting and has already completed a pizza commercial. If that isn’t enough to keep him busy, Pratt is also an experienced motivational speaker who focuses on cultural preservation, empowerment and language revitalization to First Nations and Native American youth.