Today was a great and blessed day. I was given the opportunity to experience watching a screening of the movie “Spirit Game: Pride of a nation”. This was very inspirational because it taught me the lesson of patience. The movie displayed patience by showing that the even though the native lacrosse players went through many losses, they were still never defeated within their spirit. This is a great lesson because it shows that no matter how hard the situation is, you should never give up on yourself and your spirit. Gale Ann Kelley is an amazing producer and did a great job on this documentary. I thank the creator for allowing me to see this wonderful movie.
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Spirit game pride of a nation movie by Isaac
the movie was good. i really liked it. i would like to learn more about the game. i want to play. it looks really fun. the movie was really good. they talked about how they played and how long they played. they have been playing for a while. they ancestors have been playing it since 1890. they used it for medicine, not to be a sport were they just played to hurt people. i would like to get the movie and watch it again.
Spirit Game Movie Review By Marissa.A
Today i watched the movie Spirit Game: Pride Of The Nation, and as soon as the movie started i could not stop watching. The movie was intense and overall interesting. The Producer of the movie (Gale), did an incredible job. I Cant imagine how much work and effort all of the cast crew put into this film. The over all review is that i can watch this film over and over until i’m blind.
- Marissa Aranda
Johanna – Day One of Knowledge
Hello, I would like to quickly introduce myself and let all of you get to know me just a bit. I am Johanna Osuna, an upcoming senior at Anahuacalmecac International University Preparatory of North America. Being in an indigenous school for the past thirteen years, I have always been taught the traditions, culture, and language from the Mexica People. I never really knew my own nation or people because both sides of my family are fully mexican and never considered themselves natives, but I recently discovered that in Sinaloa, Mexico there are three tribes; Yaqui, Pima, and Mayo Indian. So from now on, I considered myself those three tribes, but I will still continue to discover more and more about each tribe and get to receive information to understand more about my ancestors.
Today on July 11, 2017, was my first day attending the Native Youth to College Program at Pitzer College. I was so excited to attend this program for the past two years, because last year I was not able to attend. Being here today, in just one day I can say that this program is going to be such a helpful resource to get myself into a great university but also learn about everyone’s culture and possibly share a bit about my culture.
Today, we learned different exercises in the theatre room to get a bit more comfortable with each other even though some of us were still shy but others got really comfortable really quick. Our next workshop was with one of the elders from the program, Julia. During her workshop we created clapping sticks and got the chance to decorate our own. Next workshop was also with Julia, but in this workshop we got to present a bit about ourselves and share about one person in our life that we go to for love, support, and care.
I am glad I have received this opportunity to connect with so many different native youth leaders and have a head start in my road to a higher education. I am excited to see what the rest of the program has planned for us and to meet and connect with these native youth leaders.
always happy, Johanna Osuna
Christine’s First Day
Hey everyone I wanted to just quickly introduce myself and tell you all about my wonderful first day at pitzer college. My name is Christine Estudillo a student at Anahuacalmecac University of Preporatory of North America and a this is my first year at the Native 2 Youth College Pitzer College Program. I am very energetic and hope to use all of that energy during this 2 week program.
My First day at Pitzer I was amazed by how far away people came from just to be here and to participate in this program. I enjoyed seeing all these people share there indigenous backgrounds and seeing how we all are different yet we are still connected in many ways. I was very nervous in the beginning but throughout the day I gained confidence and I got to meet so many different people and find a connection with them in some way. We did activities from Theatre to a talking circle where we all shared who are rocks /role models are and even did a hand on activity by making clapping sticks. I would like to say that my favorite part of the day would have to be Theater because that was were I was able to loosen up a bit and finally get to meet so many people. Over the next few weeks I would love to learn more about my peers cultures and as well as learn to create something new every day.
Peace and Love Christine
Ansel’s 2nd first day
Today was my first day of my second year at Pitzer’s Native Youth 2 College program, Being back on campus brought back tons of amazing memories that I had last year. I choose to come back because last year i had such an amazing time with old and new friends; From learning about my culture to being given so many beneficial insights on pursuing a higher education. I am most excited about hearing from other critically thinking indigenous youth and elders. I don’t think I am too nervous about anything because everyone in the program is pretty welcoming and respectful. My mentor is one of my long time friends Tekpatl who was a former menti and is now a mentor, something I look forward to trying when I am eligible. My favorite part of today was reconvening with friends that I hadn’t seen since last year, catching up while making clapping sticks with elder Julia was my favorite part of the day. THE FOOD, I forgot how delicious pitzers dining hall was; the alfredo pasta was amazing. A couple of my mentors are vegan and they influenced e to start up with being vegan so I decided to join then so all my meals from here on out will be vegan. Back to the clapping sticks, the sticks to me mean the sharing of traditional knowledge that’s been stripped from our people for 525 years. Soooooooooo I’m pretty tired and I gotta be up at 6:45 with my buddy D-Money, Goodnight.
Huitzilin AGAIN?!?
Hello again! I am so happy and humbled that I received the chance to participate again at Pitzer Pipline, being able to see all the new faces as well as other peers that attended last year is so awesome. I did start my day late but thankfully I was just in time for the opening ceremony which was a really great way to start the program/day. Then I immediately connected and reconnected with other peers, then finally I was able to unpack all the unnecessary clothing and personal items that I brought and sadly said my goodbyes to my mother. Overall the activities were so much fun and did push me out of my comfort zone as well as to meet even more students and also the whole day was just another great day and I am ready to continue and be open minded as well as a risk taker through out the program.
Day 1 -ALYSSA
Hello,
My name is Alyssa Saige Flores. I am Tohono O Odham and pima. I am continuing on my 3rd time attending the program. I am most excited to go to Wishtoyo and participating in surfing. I am looking forward to learning about the common app, and all things I can grasp about college as I will be a senior next year. My mentor is Neeka she is super cool and I’ve learned that she is always happy. My favorite part of today was meeting my cousin for the first time today and bounding together as we made out clapper sticks. today has started off good and ended amazing I hope the rest of the trip will be the same.
Tyvon’s First Day
It’s my very first time in California and my time here so far has been very exciting and it is quite a pleasure to visit this beautiful city and the land ,also this campus which is also known as Pitzer College; the campus is very unique it’s unlike any other campus I’ve been to this campus expresses so much in its murals, plants, and buildings. It is also my greatest pleasure to meet so many people they are very welcoming and so diverse, many of their traditions, tribes and the cultures that have gathered here are very beautiful, peaceful, and exquisite.
By: Tyvon
Day 1! – Sylena
07/11/17
Day 1 at the Native Youth 2 College Program went great! We started off with an orientation and I really enjoyed learning to dance to the cultural music. Seeing only a small portion of what is to come makes me feel grateful I have been given the opportunity to participate in such a culturally rounded program. Even though I do not know much about my own Indigenous heritage and ancestry, I look forward to becoming more culturally aware of the people around me and taking a step out of my comfort zone. I only wish I knew more about my own culture (“teachings”) and ways of the nation I belong to (Tla’amin Nation- Powell River, British Columbia). Going forward, I hope to become more engaged in my culture and get to know the small Indigenous community to which I belong! I did not know I was of Indigenous decent until recently, therefore I have not grown up with the different cultural aspects of life like my ancestors have. I am proud to say that I am the first person from my nation to participate in this program and will be sure to share this amazing opportunity with the youth of Tla’amin Nation. I want to challenge them to step out of their comfort zone just as I have.
After lunch, we went to the theater for for about an hour and (for me at least) stepped out of our comfort zone a lot. The instructor, Joyce Lu, helped us to trust each other and really get to know one another. For me, this helped build my confidence and got me to push that much further out of my comfort zone. I was impressed with how fun this experience turned out to be and how accepting, open, and trusting the whole group was. At first I was a bit skeptical of the theater and talking in front of everyone, but it really helped me be comfortable and just be me! Pushing myself out of my comfort zone has always been one of my main struggles and taking this opportunity to grow and meet new people at this program has already started to help me grow as a person .
Later in the day, we shared with the group who our rock was and for me, that is my sister. She has always been there for me and has helped build my confidence. She gives me brutally honest advice when no one else will and is not afraid to speak her mind. She has been an amazing role model throughout my life and I know she will always be there for me no matter what.
I also enjoyed learning a cultural song called “The Whale Song”. It made me think of what kinds of songs my Nation back home sings and what they mean. In the future, I look forward to making myself more knowledgable about the singing and dancing aspect of my culture and really reflecting of what “knowing my roots” means to me.
-Sylena
nativeyouth2college.org 