IWI: Ngāi Tahu

MARAE:

BIRTHPLACE: Christchurch, 1960

NFL FOOTBALL

Riki Ellison was born in Christchurch in 1960 to Raniera Marshall Ellison (Ngai Tahu, Ngati Mutunga, Ngati Porou) and Judith Morgan Ellison.

He attended St Andrews College in Christchurch before moving to the United States at age eight with his mom and sister.

His mother re-married Dennis Gray – formerly of Westport and also of Ngāi Tahu – and the family lived for several years in the cowboy – and Indian - country of Northern Arizona.

After completing High School in Tucson, Arizona, Riki’s world further expanded when he left for college in California on the next stage of his remarkable journey.

Riki is married to Heather Ellison. They have four children - Wesley Ellison Stewart, Brooke Ellison Carney, Rhett Marshall Ellison and Troy Richard Ellison – and eight grandchildren.

Riki’s Great Great Grandfather was Chief Matenga Taiaroa of Ngai Tahu, his Great Grandfather Raneria Ellison, notable for discovering gold on the Shotover River and a staunch convert and supporter of  Erueti Te Whiti-o-Rongomai 111.

His Grandfather, Edward Pohau Ellison was appointed an Order of the British Empire in 1938 by King George VI for his long and dedicated services to the Polynesian people.

Grand Uncle Thomas Ellison captained the first New Zealand Rugby touring team 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team on their epic 107-match tour,  he also led the first New Zealand representative rugby team organized by the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) on their 1893 tour of Australia. It was his foresight to wear a black jersey with a silver fern, and move it to become the New Zealand playing uniform that has translated across all sport codes ever since.

As the first Māori to play in American College Football and later the NFL Riki earned a reputation as a fearless player with an intense, intimidating “Māori look”!

Some highlights of his distinguished career:

• Played for the Amphitheater High School Panthers in Tucson, Arizona, winning a State Championship in 1975, and, along with All City, All State and All American awards in 1977, was named the Arizona Player of the Year.
• Had a dream come true when he received a Football Scholarship to the University of Southern California in Los Angeles where, as a starting Linebacker, he was on teams that won a College Football National Championship as well as 2 Rose Bowls.
• Drafted into the NFL in 1983 by the San Francisco 49ers, he played Middle Linebacker (1983–89) followed by three years with the Los Angeles Raiders.
• In 9 of those 10 years he played in the NFL playoffs; 5 times in Championship games, and in Three Super Bowl Championships (XIX, XXIII, XXIV) for the San Francisco 49ers
• In 2017 Riki was the first Māori inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame

Mr. Ellison earned a degree in International Relations with an emphasis on Defense and Strategic Studies from the University of Southern California in 1983.

He completed further study at the Army War College, the Air War College and the University of Notre Dame. During off seasons while playing in the NFL he worked on the first generation of ICBM Interceptors. With this background, and inspired by President Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defence Initiative.

In 2002 he founded the Missile Defence Advocacy Alliance and has since become an internationally recognized, leading advocate, for missile defence systems world-wide.

In 2006, Mr. Ellison founded the Youth Impact Program for social change for disadvantaged and at-risk youth in America’s major cities. 48 Programs in 15 cities, all in partnership with major universities, have been held.

The Program has been recognized twice by the United States Congress - in Senate and House Congressional Resolutions - for its overall achievements, innovation, and impact.

Riki’s engagement in support of wounded warriors of the United States military, and others with traumatic brain injury, brought together the National Football League and the United States Army in a 2012 partnership to address TBI.

“Live your Dreams to Give your Dreams”.

– Riki Ellison