State's only Indian legislator inspires kids

A newspaper story about him had resonated with the class, and one by one the students began to write to Rep. John McCoy, the only Native American in the state Legislature.

They wrote about how he had given them hope, made them believe in themselves and proud of their history.

It has been nearly a year since their correspondence, but the students at Indian Heritage Middle College High School in Seattle finally met their inspiration yesterday after several schedule conflicts.

McCoy said he was touched by their words.

Located near North Seattle Community College, Indian Heritage is an alternative Seattle public high school with about 40 students, mostly Native Americans.

Some of the students have struggled at school or at home, and they saw a bit of themselves in McCoy, said teacher Mary Lee Colby. They wrote last year after the 60-year-old Democrat won his 38th District House seat, which stretches from Everett to the Tulalip reservation and western Marysville in Snohomish County.

The students shared how encouraged they were that he had made something of himself, even though he never went to college. They were comforted that he juggled several careers — in the military, as a commercial fisherman, a berry picker, a computer technician, a tribal lobbyist — before he made it to Olympia.

In the state House, he has been involved in commerce and labor, higher education, trade and economic-development issues.

Be proud "you are a Native American," he told students yesterday. "We have so much to offer."

Senior Jacob Encalada presented McCoy with a school T-shirt and later said his classmates can relate to McCoy because he knows what it's like growing up in a world where Indians are looked at differently and aren't given much chance of success.

A few graduates, such as Raven Millante, came back to school to hear McCoy's pep talk yesterday. Millante recalled writing to McCoy last year to thank him for showing that one man can make a difference.

"I am trying to do the same," he said.

Tan Vinh: 206-515-5656 or tvinh@seattletimes.com