9/1/01

Gallup Newspaper

Wrestlers rumble at high school

Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer

GALLUP — The world's only major Native American wrestling tandem, and tagteam champions to boot, told Gallup High School student at a Friday football pep rally to respect yourself first. Respect for others will follow.

That means treating your body as a temple, so stay off drugs, was the message from Navajo Warrior, real name Steve Greyeyes Islas, and his young tagteam partner, Ghostwalker, real name Robert Redfeather. Together they form a team called "Native Blood."

As Ghostwalker, Redfeather, only 22, has been Navajo Warrior's partner for about a year, about the time theyouthful newcomer began pro wrestling. Islas, 29, spent his early childhood in Kayenta, Ariz., and has been a professional wrestler since he was 18. He took his young partner under his wing and the rest is history. They are champions of the American Wrestling Association, Western States Wrestling and Florida Championship Wrestling.

Native Blood will be one of the featured attractions at today's Red Rock Rampage, a wrestling extravaganza set for 7 p.m. at Red Rock State Park with a 5:30 p.m. kickoff autographing session. The main attraction will by Chyna, who may be the greatest women's wrestler of all time.

But before there were the accolades of wrestling, Redfeather told Gallup high students in the school gym, there was heartache and regret.

"I've lost about everyone I cared about as child, all because of heavy drug use," Redfeather said.

Born a Cherokee in Oklahoma, he said his earliest years are fuzzy. Redfeather grew up in Prescott, Ariz.

Students hear plenty of anti-drug messages in their teen years, but Redfeather told them to consider that his hits home just a little bit harder and deeper. In his high school years, he acknowledged being a major drug user.

"My drug of choice was crystal methamphetamine," Redfeather said. "Not only did I do it, I also sold it and I made it."

What made Redfather eventually get off drugs was seeing the despair it causes, particularly the impact on ones who so often stand around helpless family members and friends caught in the middle.

When Redfeather was 16, tragedy struck when one of his best friends died in his arms of an overdose. His lungs had filled with blood.

"There was nothing we could do," he said.

Tragedy unfolded once again, about a year later, when another friend lost control of his car and hit a rock. A 14-year-old girl flew out of the car, struck a tree and died.

Then it got even more personal for Redfeather.

"The biggest shock came about a year ago, when me and my brother came home, and found my sister in the bathroom, who had died from an overdose of heroin, with a needle sticking out of her arm," he said.

The impact of drugs on loved ones is the best reason never to try crank, crack, coke, crystal meth or any other harmful drug, Redfather said.

Navajo Warrior's message delved into issues different than his partner's, but no less poignant. Teens should know there's no shame in resisting peer pressure, difficult as that is. Schools are intended to provide teachers, counselors and others who will listen, Islas said.

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about because like I said, everywhere we go, we see it, people go through it," he said.

Most of the message from Islas, who's Navajo on his mom's side of the family and Hispanic on his father's side, concerned being proud of one's heritage. That means refusal to accept insult and injury based on race, creed, color, religion and even "the length of your hair." Islas and Redfeather sport ponytails.

"Without its diversity, the United States would not be the way it is. Be proud of who you are, and be proud of what you are," Islas said.

As Native Blood, Navajo Warrior and Ghostwalker have demonstrated pride in their Native American heritage. Coming off a midwest states tour, and AWA tagteam champs the past three months, they are currently "hot" in the eastern states. They have also completed a European tour, visiting England, Spain, Germany, Italy, and even Bosnia to entertain U.S. military personnel.

"We're in demand right now throughout the country because there has not been a Native American tagteam in our profession since the Strongbow brothers back in the early '70s," Islas said.

Red Rock Rampage ring announcer Justin Roberts, 21 and himself just a few years past high school, also knows what students are feeling.

"If there's pressure, whatever. "It's cool to say no,'" Roberts said.