Author: Aolani

Hey, ya'll! It's good to be back in the program! I'm super excited to meet all of the arriving students and reconnecting with those I've met previously during my years as a student in this program! I wish you all well

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I just want to formally and respectfully say thank you. To everyone who I have come across in this program. All of the bonds I’ve created with others, the laughs, the stories I’ve heard, and the connections with people that I know will last a lifetime. Thank you for making me feel me again and for making these two weeks probably the best of my life. I will cherish and keep every single one of y’all in my heart forever. Best believe. Thank you for letting me express my stupidity and my craziness and everything. And for letting me rant because I love to talk and just thank you everyone in this program for existing and for choosing to be here because EVERY SINGLE one of y’all made such a huge, positive impact on my life and I want you guys to know that it does not go unnoticed. I love how I shared personal stories and got to express my spirit and not be judged. Thank you for being AMAZING spiritual beings stemming from one place having a human experience. Thank you for being strong, resilient, and indigenous. Thank you for the care and love that I received every single day here at this program because there was not one day where I wished that I were home. And finally, thank you for being you. I wish you all well.

-Aolani

Today was a blur until we had Joshua Hathaway’s lecture. It was so powerful and medicinal to hear. His views on colonialism and euro-centrism and religion got to me on such a high level. I really needed someone to help me decolonize my mind a little bit more. It was so needed. Some people had very different views on it and took the talk a little too personally but no matter what they think, I completely agree with Joshua’s views. 100%. We had writing with Katherine Watkins and we had these exercises where we would listen to a certain song and write according to how the song made us feel emotionally. A lot of the songs I knew and brought me back to some childhood memories, the ones that scarred me for life. But it was medicinal to reflect on my past and see where i am today. I’m proud.

-Aolani

Today is honestly such a blur. All I remember is the cadaver lab and leaving after tearing up… it was so hurtful to see people who have ,made impacts in the world whether they were small or large. The people they’ve met and all of their memories…them in front of me along with hundreds of others. I just couldn’t. Whoever does this for a living, PROPS TO YOU!!!! Sorry, tonight just isn’t something I want to brag about. But it was good, trust. (;

-Aolani

Okay, to be completely honest, I have no idea what I want to do with my life. Well, I do so I guess I’ll just share that. I want to move out of state (California) and move to Santa Fe, New Mexico and attend Institute of American Indian Arts and get a bachelor’s degree in American Indian Studies and teach indigenous youth about their culture somewhere in  Canada. Then I realized how messed up the schooling system is and I personally don’t want that in my life more than I already have to.  So realistically, I’ll go to community college for a year since my school district gives us a free whole year. Then, I will transfer into IAIA and get the same degree I strive to get. After that, I’ll move to Santa Barbara, California because my tribe is from there and I’ll do revolutionary stuff for the Chumash community because what we need right now to to show the world that we are strong, resilient and indigenous…Oh…AND STILL HERE!!!!!

-Aolani

Well, my spirit isn’t at Pitzer College…it’s at Wishtoyo. Those three days were the best. Anything involving my homeland is just so medicinal for my body, mind and spirit. The moment we got there, I was greeted by my grandma, aunts, uncles, cousins, my brother (He’s not really my brother. He’s my cousin’s fiancee who is one of my favorite people.) and MY MOM! I missed my home-girl so much. After greeting, we had ceremony filled with songs, stories and prayer. Then we went out to the cliff and did a prayer for our Mother ocean because she is hurting. Then we went down to the water and people got their feet wet but the tide came in and majority of the people were drenched. We then had a separate Woman talk about the importance of the Moon Time. The ,men had their talk too but i have no clue what they discussed. Then we ate food BROUGHT TO YOU BY NENAAAAAA!!!! Then we went to the beach and I sang some Chumash songs to Anna. Basically the whole entire trip was amazing. The funniest part for me was the way back. So, the night before, the men had a sweat and everyone was sleeping but somehow Cuauhtli managed to stay awake. On the way back to Pitzer, Zaryn, Marissa, Sylena, Violet, Jasson, Aleyah and Kyle were talking and Cuauhtli passed out on the floor of the van. So while he was sleeping, we were messing with his face and stuff like that. Then he started to snore…LOUD! And Kyle laughed so hard. It was hilarious. Anyway, it was dank.

-Aolani

Today was again, pretty amazing. Having a good day and doing stuff I love is inevitable here at this program. We did indigenous games and we ran which usually I hate pero it was with the rest of the female homies so it was more empowering instead of tiring. We did academic writing and Huitzilin and I were laughing over stuff that makes absolutely no sense…also inevitable. Aztec math was difficult but then it got easier and then it got difficult again…I swear that numbers hate me. After that, I went to the pool and was doing stupid stuff with Anna, Issac, Coyo and Jarrod. And something occurred to me that I never legitimately noticed until I was playing pool volleyball: all of us here are the future. And I know this sounds totally stupid and obvious. But I’ve connected with literally everyone here and it feels so nice. We’ve all gone through shit and yet here we are making a difference in the world for our communities. Then there was basket-making and I talked to Jarrod about what he wants to do in the future and Cuauhtli about his life. I’ve bonded with those two and they’re such amazing guys. I truly admire their existence in my life. We had dinner after that and I was told something that was so…different. Something I’ve never heard in my life. So I was at the dinner table and Zion tells me that I’d be a good mother because I care and constantly know whats going on with others. And Cuauhtli agreed with him and said it was my energy. and it might sound weird that that comment hasn’t left my mind since I heard that which was almost 2 hours ago but at the same time it was eyeopening and kind of flattering hearing teenage MALES say that to me. I’m so used to the typical, stereotypical boy attitude so that was very comforting and relieving to hear. I’m tired.

-Aolani

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times… ANYWAY, these past two days have been magical obviously because well it’s camp. My favorite time has to be when a lot of us go to the hammock and Cuauhtli plays his oldies and some homies and I just vibe to it. I got to learn a lot about a lot of the peeps here in the program this year and made stronger bonds quicker than I did last year which is super surprising to me considering that last year was one of the strongest bonds I’ve made with people ever in my life. This year is a tie with last. So good job @ whoever picked these students. Y’all did good. The mentors this year are pretty aight, haha. I really missed talking to Belly about everything. So now that I get to see him almost every day is just awesome because he’s the homie. I also really like chilling on the balcony area at night before we have to go to sleep. We just talk and laugh and chill and make stupid jokes. It really makes me wish that this program was longer so I could spend more time with everyone and hear their stories that they have to share. This year really made me notice that no matter who the person is, meaning if they’re always happy and being nice or they’re sad and depressed, they’ve gone through some shit. Everyone faces a battle and we have to learn to show respect to anyone and everyone to allow the the security of having someone in their life who cares about them as a spiritual being stemming from one place having a human experience and as an individual. I love talking to Huitzilin and Kat about everything. I also love talking to Jarrod and Tlaloc about stupid stuff. These next 11 days will be dope. Trust.

-Aolani