I honestly can’t even begin on how this program helped me and changed me at the same time. I can’t express how grateful for everyone in this program. I don’t even know what to say except, I love and will miss everyone!
Agnes’ Trip to Wishtoyo and Limuw
It was the best feeling to be back at home. It was so hard to leave my favorite place in the world. However it was nice to be able to take a shower and get really clean after a nice long week away from everything. It was wonderful to see my Tia and Tio after not seeing them for like six months. Everything we did was so much fun and had sacredness at the same time. It helped me get a lot closer with some of the students, I’d never imagine being that close with. I am at loss for words when it comes to try to explain the wonderful experience with all the people. All in all I don’t think it could’ve been any better than it was.
Agnes’ Theatre Prompt
A tradition I would like to start is on Thanksgiving going to Alcatraz. We did it last year and it was absolutely amazing. Even though it was super cold it was still a lot fun and a great experience. It happens to show what the white people did/do to the indigenous people. Also to recognize that we are still here and we always will be.
A tradition that has a lot of meaning to me is when we go out to Limuw and the dolphins always show up and we get to sing to them. It is emotional and like there’s nothing that can quite describe what it’s like.
Agnes Day 5
Today we started off this morning with Makahiki games. Afterwards we looked at more scholarship options. Then my favorite part of today happened when we got to see and work on cadavers but with virtual reality. It was so interest and amazing at the same time. Today was a pretty simple day. Not a lot happened, but it was exciting!
Agnes Day 3
Hey! Today I think almost everyone was ready to go to bed at any moment. Besides the amount of tiredness most people were experiencing, today was pretty fun. We started the day off really well, by playing flower wars (tribal games). We got the privilege of having Saginaw Grant talk to us about good things to remember in life. One of the main points he made was that we need to grow slower and try not to just go through things super fast. If you do just speed right through it you won’t learn and see/experience important things in life. For me the two best parts of the day was swimming at Scott’s house and being able to hear some of the stuff Saginaw was saying. Like always though I like bonding with other students and the mentors that way we can all start to get comfortable with each other. Theatre today was really cool. We got to connect with each other without saying anything. Also getting to see how people feel about certain words and just in general.
Agnes Day 2
Hello! Today was a really good day! Going to Pomona Museum today was emotional for me. However I noticed the warrior in me came out today. I don’t like museums in general, so the area we were in didn’t help. As soon as you walk in the door you can just feel the injustice that has happened to the artifacts and the spirits that are there. I had a very serious talk with the director about when they are told to take down or cover something, they need too. We also talked about how they need to return the artifacts to the people or are where it belongs. Some things they said was a little offensive. It’s a very real problem that people are taking what isn’t theres. I did mention that to them because they did say how they were worried it would end up in the wrong hands. We responded with well they’re already in the wrong hands. I did see almost all of the artifacts that not everyone got to see. It was hard to see my own people’s stuff and us not even being offered our stuff back when it wasn’t theres in the first place. As soon as we left that building I immediately felt better and I know what needs to be done. I will be in contact with the director and they agreed to have a meeting with elders and us so the artifacts can be returned. Other than that very emotional and sicking part of the day. The rest was wonderful! It was really nice to talk to some mentors and them understand my frustration with the museum and of course our elder Rose and other students knew my exact feelings. I didn’t really have a favorite part of the day. However I liked being able to bond with some of the mentors and some students.
Agnes Day 1
Hello! My name is Agnes, I am 13 years young. I am Chumash and Pueblo on my mother’s side. I am Sicilian on my father’s side. I live in Atascadero, but some of my ancestors are from Malibu (Wishtoyo) and there are other places as well. That is just the one place I know we are for sure from. I don’t know pretty much anything about my Pueblo side. I also know very little about my Sicilian side. The one thing I do know is we were knights in Italy and that’s about it. I’m a very open minded person and I love to speak up to a lot of things I believe are wrong. It can get me in trouble at times but I do it anyway. I’m a very friendly person when you get to know me but on the outside I’m pretty shy. This is my first year attending the Pitzer College program. I’ve been involved with Wishtoyo and their programs for a while now. Today being my first day, I was nervous but knowing some people didn’t make it so hard. I did talk to new people that I’ve never meet and I am shy so it was kinda hard. Talking to each other in theatre made it not as nerve raking. All in all today being my first day was pretty good!
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