By Sean McDevitt
FightingIllini.com

Family represents who we are and plays a huge part in forming our identities.

Aaliyah Nye, a member of this year's freshman class of University of Illinois Women's Basketball recruits, is proud of her family and identity. Nye is a tribal citizen of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan and has spent much of her life enjoying both her family tribal community and being a part of a basketball family from rec ball all the way to the Big Ten.

On this Indigenous Peoples' Day, we highlight the importance of Native American culture and recognize the vital part it plays in the lives of millions of Americans.

"I'm so grateful to have the tribe in my life"

In high school, Nye was named the AP Division 1 State Player of the Year and was the runner-up for Michigan Miss Basketball 2020. However, when she was younger, she had a variety of interests.

"I did other sports like soccer," said Nye. "I did dance. But I think basketball really spoke to me. My mom played basketball, so I guess it came naturally. I think it really took off when I moved to Michigan and started playing with my high school team and AAU program."

Nye grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, and moved to Michigan with her mother, LaQueena Douglas, and her two sisters, Aazhenii and Aashawnti, for her freshman year of high school. Over the years, her family emphasized their Native American heritage.

At a young age, she started learning about her culture. She would attend camps that taught her the tribe's history with demonstrations, such as building tents.

"We always participated in tribal activities growing up," said Nye. "We would be in Indian Ed classes, and we went to our tribe's reservation, our pow wow. And we would participate in the Michigan Indian Family Olympics. That's when all tribes come together, and they bring their families and compete in track and field, basketball, archery, and all those types of events."

Her tribal affiliation played a significant part in Nye developing her identity and embracing her culture.

"I'm so grateful to have the tribe in my life," said Nye. "They're just like a second family. I'm not afraid to say I'm Native American. We're just like one big family, even if we aren't related by bloodline, but it's just like the connection."

"… it's important for everybody to know about our history"

'Indigenous Peoples' Day is a relatively recent holiday designed to celebrate and honor Native American people, history, and culture. Started in 1989 in South Dakota, the holiday is an official city and state holiday across the country.

For Nye, she believes Indigenous Peoples' Day is a good reminder for everyone. "I think it's very important to recognize. Native Americans were one of the first people on the continent, so I think it's important for everybody to know about our history and what we bring to the United States."

As for celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day, most of the time, Nye was in the middle of the basketball season with full focus on getting better, preparing for games, and spending time with her teammates.

However, this year Nye has a plan. "I'm going to teach my teammates how to say thank you in the Pottawatomi language, which is migwéch.

"It honestly feels like home."

Nye is an excellent student with plans on becoming an engineer. According to U.S. News and World Report, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is one of the top-10 engineering schools in the country, which Nye considered when choosing Illinois.

"I am very excited to be here," said Nye. "I want to be an engineer, and this is the best school to be an engineering major, so I'm just so glad to be here."

Nye believes the sense of community she experienced with her Native American roots have been extended to what she has at Illinois.

"It honestly feels like home. I love my teammates. We get along so well. Because of COVID, we've gotten so close because we can only hang out with each other."

Having a single day recognizing Native American culture and history is an essential first step in broadening education. Additionally, Nye believes it's equally important to set an example every day.

"I'm grateful to be one of those people and to stand out for my ancestors like my grandma and my grandfathers. I try to take more pride in that, not just one day out of the year, but all of the days."