Háu, my name is Nickolas Runsabove, I’m 24 years old, and I’m a proud member of the Ihanktonwan Dakota Oyate, also known as the Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.

NICKOLAS Runsabove
Age: 24 (born June 14, 1996)
Birthplace: Wagner, South Dakota
Current residence: Wagner, South Dakota
Occupation: Academic Support Coach
Marital Status: Dating
Species: Coyote
Height: 6’ 1” (186 cm)
Weight: 193 lbs. (88 kg)

The casting call said “American” Canine Alpha, so I guess I’m quite overqualified on that part, ain’t I? Heh.

But seriously, being a full-blooded Native American puts a lot of things in perspective. I consider it the biggest part of who I am, and it’s given me such unique experiences that I feel put me leaps and bounds above these other dogs regarding resilience, competition, and overall fortitude.

I’m a reservation pup. I was born in Wagner, a small town near South Dakota’s southern border. It’s tiny, tiny, tiny tiny. Like, ‘good luck finding it in a GPS and driving there without getting lost’ tiny. The closest hint of any big civilization we have is Sioux Falls, and that’s what? Two hours away if you have a car that won’t break down somewhere down the road? Not everyone’s that lucky!

Growing up in a rez is not the swankiest experience. Sure, you have phones and TVs and some Internet and shit, but it is still a pretty... humble upbringing.

I grew up in a two-room house together with my parents and three older brothers, Max, Zach and Toby, and we've been a tight, resilient bunch since, bearing... highs and lows, but bearing nonetheless. Listen, the other option was wither and perish, and that has never been on the table. It’s never even been on the same area code!

My older brother Max was the one to truly take charge at first, looking over Mom and keeping the rest of the group straight. That's how we all ended up following his path and enrolling in lacrosse. We were already a bunch of athletic ‘yotes; I was running track ever since middle school, but it was lacrosse where I found something that clicked. Lacrosse completely changed the game… That game changed the game, sure. Words, Nickolas...

But it was fast, it was exciting, and, importantly, it was traditional. It helped us connect with something that tribes have done for centuries. Playing it, celebrating it, and talking to my teammates, I felt a joy that went way deeper than just prowess.

It wasn't long until the Great Sioux Nation came to know how well I played, and so did colleges. I tell ya, moving from the reservation to a college in Maryland on a scholarship was a cultural shock I wasn’t fully prepared for!

However, I chose to return to Wagner instead of becoming a pro, because I felt my calling was to help uplift others. At 23, I was elected as representative on the tribal council, the youngest fur to take this position in over six decades. And it ain't easy! Fixing extreme weather damage, calling corruption out, it's a lot of pressure. But when I see the pups from the poorest families smile in appreciation... it just makes it all worth it.

Coming into American Canine Alpha, I feel the responsibility of putting my Dakota brothers and sisters on the map, and should I conquer the main prize, I know a good chunk of it is going to them, no questions asked. I’m not gonna let them down, I’m going to prove that I’m a proud Yankton Sioux coyote, and these other guys are getting no compromise on any challenge I'll face. I know my outdoors, I know my strength challenges, I know my athletics, I’m a full package they don’t know is arriving expedited right at them.

America, they say he who runs with ‘yotes learns to howl like one… but are you up to the challenge? Are you really?

***

Nick, or Wahíŋkpe Wiyákpa (Bright Arrow), is a proud, resilient, and fiercely driven Native American coyote from Wagner, South Dakota, a small border town inhabited by fewer than 1,500 furs. Raised in hardship, Nickolas fought tooth and claws to find his way out of poverty, eventually earning a scholarship to play college lacrosse for the Maryland Terrapins. He is also an activist and an aspiring leader who stood on the front lines of the Keystone XL pipeline protests, refusing to stay silent in the face of environmental and cultural injustice. Will his strength and conviction carry him to the top — or will this test break even the Bright Arrow?

American Canine Alpha is a high-stakes, reality competition show featuring thirteen fierce, driven canines from across the United States. These contenders go muzzle-to-muzzle in a wide variety of physical and mental challenges, all for the title of American Canine Alpha and a $250,000 cash prize. Here you can check the main hub of the project and stay up-to-date on all episodes, art and whatnot!

We'll be posting each upcoming episode in two parts for easier reading - first part coming out on Fridays, second part on Mondays. Episode 2, "Throw Him To The Wolves", will be out soon!

Art drawn by the amazing  Crocdragon

American Canine Alpha is the brainchild of HeadQuarters (the joint project of qovapryi and Harlow). Nickolas Runsabove and all mentioned characters belong to them both.