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katherinejefferson Chumash, Uncategorized, Wishtoyo Village

Wishtoyo- Kat’s reflections

First, words can not explain how closely related I feel to my Chumash people. Mati, Luhui, Auntie Georgie, Auntie Mena, Uncle Johnny, Nana, Uncle Ray, Leah (and Mateo), Sergio, Sarah, Kotes, Joe, Shoshoy, Sumo, and Ashk’a. Coming from another Coast Salish area and visiting with the Chumash who are also from the coast is absolutely amazing and such a blessing. The last three years in this program, I made a family and a home at Wishtoyo. It truly is a Rainbow, and I could follow it forever. The Turtle and Dolphin clan, I feel are gonna be my forever family. So many stories and teachings are stuck in my mind and I hope I never forget them. Songs, stories, teachings, blessings, prayers, gifts, creations, laughs, FOOD, scenery, history, love, kindness, traditions, and so much more are given to you when you go to Wishtoyo. Humaliwu, also known as Malibu, is the original homelands of the Chumash and we are always welcomed with open arms.

Right after I typed this paragraph above, my computer shut off and I thought I lost all my writing just now. I couldn’t stop myself from crying because I put my heart into it. It was a paragraph I could have written again but it just meant so much too me. The effect that Wishtoyo has had on me, its like I can’t even handle losing just a little piece of it. The memories and people that are now part of my life mean the world too me. I know there are going to be more journeys to Lemu, Wishtoyo, and Humaliwu. Thank you too my family, and friends from the rainbow.

You’re forever my family,

I love you all

Hysh’qe

Panamea

Thank you,

Kat

 

jadeayala 2017

WHEYAHH HUITZILIN

Today was a whoop of fun and randomness for some reason. This morning we started with Indigenous games and we played the flower wars and that was a lot of fun, the whole time I was laughing just because of how my peers were getting into the game so much and really participating. Then we had a woman’s drum circle which was an empowering, emotional, and the greatest moment of my day. We sang various traditional and sacred songs for example: the hummingbird song (which was everyone’s favorite), the bear song touched me to the heart and after leaving the circle I feel positive and ready to continue the program and end it in a good weyaa  hay weyaah hay ho.

zionra7 2017, writing

8 days of NYTC 2017 ZION R A

Well were back from Wishtoyo i feel kind of sad but im happy with the time we had there. todays native games with tata Hector and tata john were great i had a fun time playing flower wars relating to it. was great to sing the womyns song with my brothers and tata caldonache teachings are so beautiful. good to work on common app with Shelva and our statments thank you so much

MeDiego 2017, applications, Wishtoyo Village

Diego’s back at Pitzer

Waking up back in a comfy bed raised up three feet from the ground feels a bit disconnected. Especially after waking up by crawling out of a sleeping bag, watching the sunset while standing around the siliyc and with the Wumalibu ocean view. However, there were moments that made it cheerful to be back at pitzer, such as indigenous games. Today we got to play flower wars against each other, testing our strategies and teamwork.  Afterwards we got to speak with admissions about what they look for in an application. I feel more confident on how my application will be summited this Fall/Winter.

johannawinss 2017

Johanna – Back to Reality

Arriving back from a place that I never wanted to leave was a downer, but I make the best out of everyday. We had a workshop with Ben Florio, who taught us the different ways composers edit music into movies, televisions shows, and video games. I was mostly excited to have the opportunity to play the game of Flower Wars, taught to us by Hector and John Pacheco. This game is very similar to capture the flag, the way we had to organize ourselves and strategize to win the game. In order to have a successful round of Flower Wars there has to be so much communication with each other and know how to play respectfully instead of just playing to win. 

The most exciting portion of the day was when the youth of the Native Youth to College Program separate into two different circles; male and female. In our women circle we were introduced to Aunty Josie, you shared so many songs with us from the Chumash nation, Apachi nation, and Navajo nation. The way every single young lady, raised there voice and sang with so much pride was so powerful and inspiring. So powerful that we even came into one of our classrooms where all the men were and demonstrated how much powerful each one of us had inside of us. What was so amazing and meaningful to me was when I heard that Aunty Josie was from the Yaqui nation as I am. She taught what was so sacred to our people and their medicine, as for other nations it might be sage, but in my nation it is flowers, specifically roses. She shared with me that she was not fluent in our language, but did teach me how to say hello everyone and how I can search online or in books about my culture. I could not stop smiling after meeting this inspiring and beautiful human being.

always happy, Johanna Osuna 

 

coyo135 2017, Native Youth

Average Day – Coyotl

Being back was a bit of a relief. My charger and phone were reunited and everything was good again. The next morning was Indigenous games with Hector and John. It was very fun playing the flower game and corroborating with my team. Then was writing a lot of boring stuff. Then we had aztec math with vicente outside. We had sleep time from 2:15 to 5:45 to catch up and rest from Wishtoyo. The talking circle was very interesting and then i am here blogging. Thats pretty much it.

aleyaht 2017

today- aleyah

today was a pretty chill day i no i woke up late but it was all really worth it. My road to recovery from wishtoya wil be so heartbreaking, i miss it already. Today we did more of that kung fu stuff we ben doing and we did like a game today. After we had breakfast then we had some nipple math with veesenthay. Then we had some downtime and i did laundrey then we had dinner. Then we had the talking circle then we came into the computer lab and started going over our introductions that techbot recorded us doing. And now im blogging

jarrodchap 2017

Back at Pizter – Jarrod

When we came back to Pitzer, we all went to a class where Ben Florio was. Ben taught us about how music can make a scene in a video game or movie can really affect the moment. We had a little exercise, where we would watch a video and try to imagine what type of music would be there to make the moment better. We watched some movie clips and listened to the music. The movie scene that i was confused about was the death of Doby, because everyone started laughing which confused me so much.

The next morning, i woke up pretty late and jogged down to the indigenous games so i can get to the blessing in time. We then played an actual game against each other, which taught me strategy and teamwork. Some parts of the games rules were confusing at first but i got it eventually. Some strategies were working and some failed but it taught me that strategy is the best weapon.

Way later, we had a talking circle where Vicente told us so many things that i have never really heard of. I don’t get taught much about culture, so i am glad to learn from someone that knows his culture and can teach me some of it. Then the men sang a song together to honor all the women. Again i am just glad to be here, without this program i don’t think i would ever learned anything about any culture.

vichacon 2017, Dine/Navajo, Media Studies, Native Culture, Southern Paiute

Violet’s back from Wishtoyo day

Coming back from the Wishtoyo village was sad because we had to leave the beautiful village and amazing ocean but we got to come back to Ben Florio. Where we learned about films and the background music which was really chill to come back to and really uplifted my spirit. To start off the eighth day of the summer program we got to do the Indigenous games and play against each other. I thought this was so fun because we got to work with each other in a groups and use strategies. This helped to wake me up and energize my spirit for the whole day. To finish off our day, we got to have a talking circle with Auntie Josie, whom taught us a bunch of native songs. Screen Shot 2017-07-19 at 9.46.16 PM.pngScreen Shot 2017-07-19 at 9.46.38 PM.png

alyssasaige 2017, applications, Native Culture, Pima, pipeline program, Tohono O'Odham

Back at Pitzer

Today i woke up very tired. After I had indigenous games I was very much pumped up and ready for the day. Today was a very chill and relaxed day. The rising senior ME went to Pomona college and we where with the people from the admissions office. They talked about the common app and gave me very valuable information and hope to contacting them soon to help me build my common app. We ended our day well besides this with a drumming circle. Held by Josie Montes it was a memory to remember. We learned so many songs and learned about there meanings. The best part was when we sang the humming bird song and just s few seconds later a hummingbird was buzzing around us. Such a wonderful day we had now its time to end because i’m really tired.