We started off the morning with Hector and John, once again they taught us their knowledge about self defense. Learning these new techniques are going to be very helpful in the future. Before lunch happened I actually got to play basketball with all my friends for a good 10 mins. Lunch was great and it filled me up. Shelva taught us how to write and it’s helping me go to the next level. Vincente taught us the Aztec math again. It was a great class, it’s wonderful to hear the knowledge he speaks. The history of math was a good class, I learned things that I never knew before. Social Movements was an inspiring class because it taught me how to stand up for my culture/religion. Today was another good day, can’t wait to see what the future holds.
Blog
Day 10: Change- Sylena
Day 10- DancingButterfly
My great-grandmother inspires me so much hands down. Ever since I started picking tuli and learning about the culture she introduced me to, I have not lost interest and have not given up on bringing the culture back. I would probably be sitting at home and doing nothing to learn or inspire other people., if it was not for my Nana. I have gotten other people interested in the culture as well. I would not even be in this program right now, but i am and i’m thankful for that. Today i was blogging and i looked up and saw a poster that made me smile and be emotional in a happy way. I had saw i a poster that said “Tongva Women Have Never Left Their Land, They Just Became Invisible- This Book Is About Making Us Visible”~Julia Bogany. I am truly luck to have a women like her in my life.
~ Marissa Aranda (DancingButterfly)
Kyle’s 10th day
The one person who has inspired me would be my mentor Tekpatl. He has been there for me and all of the other mentees. If we had a problem or we just wanted to just talk he would be there for us. I really enjoyed having him as a mentor because he was like a mentee himself. He could relate to the things that we were going through and thats whats made all of us bond so quickly. This mentor was full of knowledge. For such a young man, he had so much knowledge. He had told me that no one is perfect. No one will ever be. He reassured us that we all have some things in common and thats what makes us brothers. I personally would love to take the knowledge that I have learned from this program back home and back to school so that I can share it with my family and show that I am native and I am not being treated like crap anymore. I found that inner voice and I’m not going to let anyone treat me like that anymore. I have native pride now. It is a great honor to have a mentor like Tekpatl. Thank you so much. Love you bro.
Christine’s Trip to Rainbow Village
Wishtoyo… what an amazing village filed with such good energy and amazing people. On Sunday July 19, 2017 the students of the Native Youth 2 College Program went on a 2 Hour drive to visit the amazing village of the Chumash people in Malibu, CA. Since we entered the village I had already felt such good energy and I was already so happy to be there. We were all greeted with a song by the Chumash people in their language.
On day one of our trip at Wishtoyo I had already learned so much about the Chumash culture and even about myself. I learned that when women are on there moon time that they are so powerful and that they should not feel embarrassed of there moon but instead be happy of this amazing gift the creator has given us. I as well heard such a beautiful story about the Chumash people and how they are connected with dolphins. On that first day at Wishtoyo I felt so happy and already loved by the Chumash people including Mati and Luhui. I loved learning about myself there as a young indigenous women with Luihui to Learning to throw the Atl Atl with Mati. During the next couple of days in wishtoyo I got so connected with the other students in this program that they felt so much like my family at home. On the last night at Wishtoyo I was so sad to leave such a beautiful place. Wishtoyo is an unforgettable village filled with unforgettable people and I cant wait to go there again and hopefully next time as a mentor.
Who inspires me at this program?- Jarrod
At this program i have learned so much, and all that knowledge came from Vicente. Without Vicente i wouldn’t have learned much about any culture. Every day, when Vicente talks to us, i am dragged in by his stories and the way he uses his words. He tells us stories and some cool little tricks that i didn’t even know about. He is also technically a living calculator with that nepoalzintzin (i don’t know how to spell it). Vicente’s knowledge is endless, when we were in a circle, i think he did a hummingbird call and then some hummingbirds actually arrived. I look up to Vicente because he takes his own time out of his day to teach us and tell us stories.
My legacy will be me helping the people going through depression, i feel like i should be out there telling my story. I want to talk to the youth and tell the story of depression, and how no one should go through that. I don’t know why i want to do this but i feel like i have to. No, not have to, need to, i really want to try and end depression.
Another Fantastic Day
By: TyVon Greyeyes
Just as any other day at Pitzer it was fantastic because the lessons taught here are very well thought out and they may help with future problems like we have been learning how to write a proper essay for college, Blogging, and Math. I also learned how we can involve ourselves into social movements to better our lives for the long run and also for the ones that will come after us which has me thinking that when I am of age I want to do some of these movements to better many communities and regions. The experiences might have me come back again next so that I can experience this program again because it is just so fun here. Well I am thankful for the Elders, Mentors and the Staff are doing such a great job at keeping us entertained which I am thankful for and also blessed to be participating in this great program, So if the Elders, Mentors or the Staff reads this I want to personally thank you.
Isaac- Day 10
today was really fun and chill. we did the games this morning and that was really fun because we learned how to disarm a weapon from someone. we did some writing today and i felt like i did really good on the writing. the math we had today was really fun too. we learned about Roman numerals in the other math class we had today. i would have to say the mentors have been so much of an inspirational mentor. they have done so much for u and keeping us safe. they make sure we are learning and stay on task. so thank you to all of the mentors.
What will be your path to change? Thursday, July 20th
Hello wonderful students!
As you walked into the computer lab tonight you may have noticed the quotes from different Native American activists and artists posted around the room. Tonight we are writing about change. As you leave the program and move into the rest of your lives, what will you take with you? What changes do you wish to see in the world and for our mother earth and ocean, for the air and our communities? After Social Movements with Joe Parker and the books we have been talking about, we wanted to give you the opportunity to think about the changes you wish to see in this world.
What or who in the program has inspired you, and what legacy do you hope to leave for the future generations?
– Genna and Gina
P.S. If you would any photos you’ve taken added to flickr or you would like to add a quote to the wall, email it to me along with the author and I will get it printed. gkules@students.pitzer.edu
Ansel’s back at pitzer
One of the best parts about being back at Pitzer has to be being able to shower. I was a little mad that we didn’t get to go shower as soon as we got back to Pitzer but I am still grateful for being able to wash the dirt 3 day old dirt off my body. When I woke up this morning I was extremely tired but indigenous games woke me right up as it always does. We received a great presentation from Pomona admissions office about the common app and becoming familiar with the different parts of the application. My favorite part about today was when Tata Vicente was telling us a story and about mid way through he stopped an called for the humming birds and about a minute later 3 humming birds appeared, this blew my mind. Then when we sang a Women honoring song I really put my heart into it and prayed for all my sisters, mothers and tias that our struggling. So I really felt that song was necessary.
nativeyouth2college.org 