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Hey, ya'll! It's good to be back in the program! I'm super excited to meet all of the arriving students and reconnecting with those I've met previously during my years as a student in this program! I wish you all well

 

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Welcome mentees 😀 We are so happy to welcome you all to Pitzer College. It will be a day filled with lots of activities, so it is crucial that we all stay hydrated! Throughout the campus, you will find hydration stations where you can fill up water bottles.

As mentors, we are here to support you, guide you, and go through this experience with you. If you have any questions, concerns, feedback, you’d like to share, please reach out to us 🙂

Let’s get started! What’s your favorite food and/or hobby?

I look forward to getting to know you all!

-M

 

Hi everyone! Super excited for the program to start & ready to get things going. Can’t wait to meet all of you. 

 

Hello Students!

This is Alejan, one of this year’s youth mentors. We are all very excited and looking forward to your arrival. Travel safely, and see you all tomorrow!   

 

 

today was kind of sad walking out of the computer lab for the last time i was the last person out of the room me and Belmont went to lunch after. the last math class was good tata Vicente told us a creation it was great i will try to remember it. we had lunch it was pretty good better than yesterday. the class with gena the producer was gret she was very open with us and i appreciate it

    Mmmmmmm so many thank you’s to say and recognitions. I first want to start with my second year experience here at the program, I had so much fun being away from home I definitely felt very independent while being here. Whoever accepted these students you made such a good choice the students here are so damn cool and free spirited they will always be running through my thoughts like little perritos.  Next I want to thank the beautiful luscious mentors for always laughing at my fuchi yokes and for being so damn awesome and so relaxed especially with me and that also includes Ana, Jenna. Elizabeth. other Elizabeth. Then I want to thank my dude Scott for always checking in with me and having such great trust and hope in me, I also want to thank you for helping to organize such a beautiful program for native yoth and creating that safe space for us to share and be open about our identities and pushing us to be proud of who we are.

  Now for the awesome teachers who came out to take part in this program!. Vicente you  are so amazing and so well educated about everything really I definitely look up to you as my maestro and always will. There were so many good lectures here at the program and the professors and visitors really made sure to make that connection with each and everyone of us and I really appreciate that.

Todays been pretty weird for me, I woke up in a bad mood feeling pretty grumpy. That negative energy has been following for the most part of the day. Since dinner I have been feeling a lot happier and not grouchy. My favorite part of the day was hearing Tata Vicente speak about my peoples philosophies and breaking down the different images of our creators. I also found that the stories Gayle shared with us were influential especially when there are different indigenous youth that want to pursue careers in media studies. The fact that we have our people trying to tell our stories rather then the white people telling our stories like they have been is one of the most powerful things that is uprising.

MANY HYSH”QES (thank yous) TO THE PEOPLE THAT WERE A PART OF THE NATIVE YOUTH TO COLLEGE PROGRAM THIS YEAR AND TOOK THE TIME TO TEACH US.

KANDONOCHE, JULIA, JOSIE, GAYLE, KATHERINE, JOSHUA, SHELVA, ETC.

Vincente, from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much. For sharing your knowledge and stories. Danza was absolutely amazing, it was a good reminder of the traditional dancing I do at home. I know those teachings are very sacred and I thank you for trusting us with that information. The Nepohualtzintzin is the universe and I look forward to learning more about this historical way of doing math. Your wisdom fills the room, thank you my peaceful elder.

Julia, you are beautiful and you’re a star in my life. You shine so bright for an elder and I respect you so much. Elders like you are truly role models to every youth that they meet and I know you will continue to guide young native people. I’m so grateful for the times i got to be with you from my first year to my last year at Pitzer. From the bracelets to the soap stones to the motivation and to the lessons– I’m glad I got to spend one of your birthdays with you. I am truly grateful that I got a chance to sing for you and I hope to see you again.

Josie, your voice is absolutely amazing. You empower me and really showed me how to project my voice, especially for prayer. Traditional songs can be difficult to share but it was a blessing to receive the songs that you shared. I love how you started an all woman singing group and people like you really push me to want to be a stronger person when I’m older. Thank you.

Gayle, your documentary is beautiful. I could tell that you worked very hard to finish it and that you faced a lot of obstacles that plague you and still to this day. Like everyone else you are someone I look up and you’re another native woman that I can use to motivate me throughout my life.

Katherine, I wish you the best on your memoir. I love your name and I loved the way that you taught us. I’m excited to use these different writing techniques throughout my life and I will really take into account that you are a colored person that fought hard for what you believe in and I strive to be like that some day.

Joshua, thank you for the songs and teachings it’s very important for our youth to hear the truth especially coming from another native person so thank you again.

Shelva, you have played a huge role in who I have become as a writer. I want to thank you for everything that you have done. My confidence has been really built up because of you and especially this past time I was here. You’re a beautiful human being and I great professor and I hope I find teachers like you throughout my educational career. I love you, Shelva!

Hysh’qe

Panamea

Thank you,

Katherine Jefferson (Kat)