Chakotay

Early Life
Chakotay, son of Kolopak, was born on Trebus in 2339. By the age of 6, Chakotay wanted to go against his family traditions and be a paleontologist. (VGR novel: Pathways and episode: "One Small Step").

Young Chakotay also had an independent nature, and often went exploring on Trebus. In 2351, Chakotay raided a junkyard on the planet and began trapped in the wreckage of an old runabout, fortuntately he was later rescued. (VGR episode: "Equinox, Part I").

Despite his independent nature, in 2354 and 2355, Chakotay accompanied his father to Central America on Earth to visit the homelands of their ancestors. During his time their Chakotay learns of the Sky Spirits and begins to respect his cultural heritage. (VGR novel: Pathways and episode: "Tattoo").

In 2357, Chakotay was seriously considering entering Starfleet, and often spent time around the Starfleet personnel on the planet, led by Captain Demora Sulu. Sulu sponsored Chakotay's applications into the Academy, but Chakotay had to lie to his father and state that Captain Sulu was a man in order to protect his feelings. (VGR short story, Tales from the Captain's Table).


 * Note: The novel Pathways suggest that Chakotay's entrance into the Academy was sponsored by Hiromi Sulu, grandson of Hikaru Sulu. While other sources suggest that it was Hikaru himself that sponsored him.