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Today we woke up painfully early to do our final indigenous games lesson with Hector. I was initially feeling groggy and not willing to run outside, but the lesson managed to immediately energize every cell in my body. As a reflection on these games, I can  say that I’m extremely grateful that there are people who are dedicating their time to keeping these ancient practices of indigenous games alive as an important component of our culture equal to language and ceremonies.

After breakfast we went to WesternU, due to a miscommunication ~kerfuffle~ on the specific leaving time, Maya and I got left behind. Thankfully, due to the company of a Nika led spontaneous guitar session and Belmont’s general awesomeness, what could’ve felt disastrous was actually quite beautiful.

At WesternU we learned about various emergency procedures for first aid/ fire safety. Even though this lesson was centered around a very serious topic about life threatening situations, our group still made this activity fun and memorable. Thanks to my overzealous shouting and running and then nearly killing of a mentor, Jade and I won a first aid obstacle course. My proof of this is the  WesternU yoyo that I will now covet forever like some type of magical artifact in an old Indiana Jones movie.

Bonus fact: I didn’t actually know how to yoyo before today and this new skill feels like something I definitely would need to put on my official resume.

We concluded the day with a hectic theatre class rehearsing this group dance thing that I barely stumbled through, as well as the speeches everyone will make. We got to become different animals and interact through screeches and growls while channeling our inner make-believe spirit. Its something I haven’t done in a while so it was definitely very interesting to try to once again capture that wild, imaginative, childhood side of me who could so easily transform into these jaguars and dolphins and snakes.

Welllll

That’s all for today, but in conclusion I would like to reiterate that I’m incredibly grateful. I feel like the air I’m breathing is lucky and I’m just thanking every possible sacred material in the universe for the company that I’m in. The strong connection’s I’ve made, thanking these stars for these amazing people and the memories I have with them that are now indelibly written on the insides of my heart.

I feel so lucky.

Thank you Pitzer

Traveling to Wishtoyo was very exciting for me because I had never been there before but was very excited to go. I couldn’t wait to see the ocean and the beautiful views that I’d see for the first time. But I really didn’t know what to expect once I got there. Anyway once we arrived at Wishtoyo I immediately felt the love and positive energy in that place as our caretakers sang as we all got off the cars. They gave us hugs like we were family and that we knew each other for a lifetime. They were all so loving and caring for us and it made me feel welcomed by these people I didn’t know. They made me feel like I was apart of there family which made my love grow for them even more. These people really made a huge impact on my life and I’ll always remember and cherish them in my heart. Because these people are good people, the kind of people you want in your life and the kind of people that’ll make you feel welcomed into their family. Also the food was AMAZING!!!!!!

By the way it’s Sabrina 🙂

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Hello everyone I hope you had  an amazing day dude. In these past few days its been great but everyday I felt it was a different emotion vibe and experience for me. I was given the opportunity to go to Wishtoyo and I was able to go on a sacred island with my peers and it was AWESOME. Wishtoyo was so much fun I really enjoyed myself and I was able to leave with knowledge and great vibes. We did activities and we did presentations and they gave us certain topics and we had to present it to the group and it was cool. But I think my favorite part about my trip was the food and the ceremonies that we had I really loved that. When I was in Wishtoyo we gathered all the ladies and we had a woman’s ceremony and OH MY GOSHHH that was really cool I felt all of us ladies we were all connecting spiritually and mentally and I felt it was a safe circle to express myself and to let out my emotions even if it was positive or negative. But everyone there was so kind and beautiful and `they were so supportive. It wasn’t my first time going but it was my first time going with Pitzer but I hope that I get to go again. And when I was on the island we did snorkeling and canoeing and that was cool but the water was sooooooo cold at first but I liked the canoeing better because it was so relaxing and the view was great and floating on the beautiful water was HOLOGRAPHIC POTATOES man. Also we were able to hike on sacred land and it was cool and being able to do that I was  very lucky and it was one heck of an experience and its something that I will never forget. Anyways that was my box knox and Im just very thankful that I got to experience this and to participate THANK YOU PITZER oh yeah and HAPPY BDAY SABRINA.

SALAD DAYS ARENT OVER.

 

During my time at Wishtoyo, I learned about all these issues that impact the native communities and nations.We were working on a declaration to change the future of the native people. Unfortunately, we were not able to complete it, but we have decided to continue our research. This was a great experience in terms of working with other people who are in my generation. My biggest take away from Wishtoyo was the men ceremony. It was really good hearing other men talking about their experience, opinions, and advice. My biggest take away from Limuw Island was the run through. I ran with a mentor and a peer. It was a really great experience seeing everything through my eyes and so close up. I believe the run was about 3 miles. Limuw and Wishtoyo are really similar because they have indigenous history and memories. The only thing that was different was the type of environment. The air felt much fresher in Limuw than in Wishtoyo. Overall, this was a great experience.

At Wishtoyo i learned so much about the Chumash people. The first night was amazing as we were greeted in with a traditional song and that alone was an honor to me. the next day we left to Limu Island. we walked about three miles just to get to where we were staying, after some of us bonded over some games of pool. The next day we went down to the beach. On our last day on the island we went kayaking and snorkeling, I personally liked kayaking more because it was more easier and fun than snorkeling.As we were on our way back to where the boat leaves us we saw a lot of dolphins and saw a wale, it was really amazing because i never seen a wale. On our second to last day at Wishtoyo we had an all men’s ceremony and it was really encouraging to hear what the elders had to give us as advise. overall my time at both Wishtoyo and Limu island was really amazing and id like to thank them all for having there with them

A first time experience for me was not feeling important as a woman, I felt put down and it’s the first time I’ve ever cried in a situation like that. It’s the first situation I’ve ever had like that. When we came back from the Island we had a woman’s meeting and it was really emotional for me. I felt powerful being surrounded by strong women. I cried for my spirit. I cried for what I’ve been through in this body of mine and I cried for the future. I have a deep respect and compassion for everyone in that prayer ceremony and I will always think of that day and how good it made me feel.

My biggest take-away from Wishtoyo is a necklace that my original mentor, from 3 years ago, gave to me. She is the first person to ever bring me out of my shell. If she wasn’t my mentor then I think I wouldn’t have grown into the person I am today.

My biggest take-away from Limwu island is walking through the cave. I felt like I was in the goonies and it also was the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen. I appreciate the experience.

I cried a lot and I hate the feelings and situations that caused me to cry but this trip has been all about finding myself, and I’m still in the process of that. It was a great experience and I had a ton of fun. I will take these memories with me as I start my adult life.

It feels like I haven’t blogged in a while. And just to catch you up we all went to Wishtoyo which is a Chumash village in Malibu, California. I have been there before for previous ceremonies. Each time I visit I feel so welcomed and loved. This time wasn’t different, as soon as we arrived we were welcomed with elders singing a song. This filled my heart. I began to bottle up mounts of excitement. As soon as we stepped out of the car we were given hugs left and right and meeting new faces and reconnecting with the news we knew. Then we went into the round house and Mati gave a really powerful and encouraging talk to us, youth. He discussed that life has challenges, lessons and blessings. All of this really stood out to me and made me feel powerful. We all sang a song and gave hugs to each other. Then we had a little lesson with Ray and Sue which was over ocean life and issues. Afterwards we went down to the water which was so refreshing and so surreal. At that moment I knew I was in the right place with the right people. Everything just felt balances. As the day went on at Wistoyo it kept building up happiness. Later that night I went down to the round house just to settle my sleeping bag down and I saw some girls in a circle singing each and every voice was so unique and different from the next. I followed my heart and jumped in. Which is something I would never do, and something I would never feel comfortable doing. But this was just living in the moment.

Overall I feel incredible honored to be at Wishtoyo.

Thank you.

I enjoyed my stay at Wishtoyo. I loved being around such wise and experienced and understanding elders. The highlight of my stay at Wishtoyo was having a men’s circle. I am going to be very honest and say that I thought that it was going to be very boring and uninteresting. But when it all finished I walked out of the circle a new person and many of my perspectives were changed about a variety of different things. It brought a lot of joy to stay at Wishtoyo and I hope to visit again soon.

I really enjoyed the trip to Wishtoyo, it made a really big impact on my emotions and my perspectives. I felt like I was in a really bad mood before I came but as soon as I got there, it felt okay to be want to be alone, and it also felt okay to be with other people which made my mood improved so much. I feel like I learned a lot about myself on the trip. I really loved the way that we grew closer as a group and I loved the comfort I felt there. The hike that we took was amazing, even though it was really hot; the trees were different than home and that was something that I loved to observe. It was my first time experiencing the woman’s ceremony, and I took a lot from it. Hearing everyone’s words and prayers were so empowering and inspiring and it was just an amazing experience.

My biggest take-away from the experience was that I need to find strength, passion, love, and myself to be a better person and that’s something I will constantly work on for as long as I need to. I felt a lot better on Limuw Island than anywhere else because there I wasn’t worried about my phone, I wasn’t worried about my personal  issues…. I wasn’t worried about anything other than the moment I was in. I felt so amazing. I learned a lot but I can’t put it into words, sorry. bye.

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.