What I am taking from this program is so much more then just new relationships with different indigenous people (although extremely important), I am taking home a better understanding of my relationship with Earth, animals, and culture. I wish to see 3 necessary norms change in society: the treatment of women, the constant environmental harm the masses contribute too, and the treatment of indigenous peoples on our own territory. Some one who has inspired me in the program is my mentor tekpatl. All of the positive influence and empowering words he has shared with me and other mentees has driven me to change my style of living that goes directly against our peoples values. Especially since he is only 1 year older then me it really motivates me to reconnect with my future and traditions. The legacy I want to leave behind is one of an urban indigenous youth that is culturally invested and motivated to influence other indigenous youth to decolonize their style of living that isn’t healthy.
Blog
Sisquoc & Josie Inspiration
Hello everyone, my name is Marisa . Coming to the Native Youth to College Program has connected me with my high school teachers/elders from Sherman. During the program Lori Sisquoc shared the making of the traditional basket. During this activity I learn about of weaving and the creativity of designs. I also got in contact with Josie Montes, my high school women’s traditional drum group “White Rose.” I had the chance to play the hand drum and sing songs shared by Josie. It really created a bond with my other mentees because they got to experience the teachings of songs and basket weaving taught at my boarding school that I am surrounded by on a daily basis. These elders have inspire me to implement new ideas of being a young native american women by following these teachings of songs, languages, and cultural expressions. The legacy I hope to leave for the future generations is to inspire children to learn their culture through sacred songs and traditional basket weaving. Another thing is for the future generations to know who they come from and where they belong in the world. I would like to give the generation a knowledge of how their ancestors lived in harmony and creating.
Thursday July 20th -Marisa Sosa
Saving a Dying Language: by Destiny
” The Marines talked to me, interviewing me in English about my family and my education… There were no interviews in Navajo. Apparently the Marines assumed we all spoke Navajo.”- Chester Nez (1921-2014). This quote was said by a World War 2 Marine veteran. He was the last original Navajo Code Talker to serve in the Marines. So in this quote, Chester’s saying even though he has to suffer a lot in order to learn English at school, he reaps the rewards later when he can prove to the Marine recruiters that his grasp of English is strong as his grasp of Navajo. He’ll need both languages for his work as a code talker. The Code Talkers stories really inspires me to learn more about my language and culture. I realized that I took being able to speak Navajo as a little girl for granted because I’m eager to learn more and save my language for my people, before it dies out.
Jason Murgo: My Idol and my legacy
A person who inspires me a lot is Tata Vicente. Everyday I see him walking around just spreading knowledge like its nobodies business! He carries his Nepohualtzinzin around and teachers anybody. My mentor told me that a landscaping guys told him that Vicente gave the landscaping guy’s son a two hour class. Now a days, people won’t give two hours of their time to spread knowledge. Vicente is a person I highly respect for that and I want to be like him. I want to show up with a Nepo and show people my knowledge, just like him. In these past days, he has taught me so much I feel proud. The legacy I want to leave behind is one that will inspire others to learn. Vicente says that the good students are the ones who seek knowledge on their own. I want to inspire people to do that. I want to be the person they seek, just like I seek Vicente for knowledge. I see him a a very important elder because I can ask him anything and he’ll have an answer that will blow my mind! Today I asked him a question about my essay for college. My essay is about existing, what is it to exist how? he said he would have an answer by tomorrow so stay tuned!
Another Day – Coyotl
Today was packed with a lot of classes about change with our culture. The people in the program and the mentors are all connected in a way that has change my motive and my way of seeing my culture. I have shaped into trying to spread the culture of natives claiming that we still live and we are still a people. All the people have showed there culture and carried their knowledge about themselves. I believe that I can spread this statement through Social Media and through the community. This will eventually be the statement that the government will testify but then approve of since they cant kick people of their own land. They are going against their own rules. It will be totally awesome if this will be carried on through future generations of people.
My Idol and what I want to leave behind.
There were many people during this program who inspired me to keep hold and be pride of my culture and heritage. But if I had to pick, it would have to be Elder Mati. When I seen him at Wishtoyo, my face was full of excitement and happiness. while visiting, he taught so much as to what kind of path I want to take and how I’m going to improve my community. When I participated in the sweat ceremony, I felt so belonging and enabled to make a difference in the world. he gave this hope that I thought I never had. The hope to bring a nation together that will fight for a global impacting cause. I want to leave the same legacy that Elder Mati is leaving for his children, the children in the program and the ones he impacts everyday. I would be humbled and honor to leave a legacy so inspiring as his.
Violet’s day 10
As I have been at this program everyone here has had part in inspiring me especially the elders i have met. Many of the native people from the Wishtoyo village had an impacted me with how much they are involved with their culture. Seeing how involved they are made me want to learn more about my culture. Spending time with Auntie Julie and hearing her sing and teaching us native songs and how to make baskets inspired me as well to want to learn more of not just my culture but of everyones. As for the future generation I hope to leave the legacy of showing that it doesn’t matter what background or where you come from you can overcome anything if you put your mind to it.
Da Legacy of 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
Victor: 4 Days left?!?!
Felt pretty tired this morning… But I started the day with Indigenous Games which boosted me up for the day. I went to work on my common applications and fabricating the foundation of the essay, which i’m going to start writing tonight. After that I went to Aztec Math which was awesome as always but i’m a little sad that that’s going to end in a couple of days 😦 . Then we had a class on Social Movements which was AWESOME!!!! We talked about the Zapatistas and the Idle No More movements and I received lots of new information on those movements.
What I wish to change
If you were to ask me to announce what I desire to change, I would give you the succinct answer,”Everything that is wrong”. However I could elaborate and then distinguish those of which that are most behoving to me. Firstly it is my people, the Anishinaabe. I want aid in the elimination of mass poverty affecting my people and the preservation of our native culture. I also think it would be cool to help out Mother Earth, I think she deserves a little compensation for these past few hundred years.
-Zaryn Prussia
nativeyouth2college.org 