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Wishtoyo:

Wishtoyo is always an amazing experience. I learn so much about tradition and culture. Like always, the Wishtoyo village welcomed us with a song. I forgot how it went, but I remember it was pretty cool. During these three days, we cooperated with each other in every way, except the dishes. For some reason nobody wanted to the the dishes. I learned a few songs here and there, but I can’t take too much knowledge so I forgot some stuff. My favorite experience at Wishtoyo was the sweat. In the beginning, I didn’t think it would be too hard and I almost died (Not literally). I don’t know how hot it was in there, but I didn’t matter because the hotter the better. I got to bond with my brothers in a very special way. I can talk more about this, but I want to respect the experiences and events that happened in there, whatever happened at the sweat stays in the sweat. Still can’t believe I was at Wishtoyo’s first sweat! It a really huge honor to be there with such amazing people, especially Mati and Luhui for making all of the Wishtoyo experience possible. I wanted to thank all the elders that were there, they taught us many things. I like how they didn’t really repeat the thing we did last year, but instead they had new activities for us prepared. My favorite activity was surfing. It was my first time surfing and I don’t want to brag, but I’m kind of a pro (Besides the fact I fell like 5 times). I also want to thank the cooks for making such awesome food. My favorite was the little macaroni thing that was in the huge bowl. It was so amazing I wanted a third bowl! Anyways Wishtoyo has taught me so much in terms of traaditio  and the ways of our people. It also gave me a bad sunburn behind my neck and back, but it doesn’t matter because every once in a while now it reminds me of what happened at Wishtoyo.

After Wishtoyo:

Yesterday when we came back from Wishtoyo, there was a class of music scoring for films and video games. This was one of the best ones. The guy Ben Florio was really awesome. He really made me think more about the films and video games. I never really noticed the music behind these things, I just kind of thought they were thrown in there. In reality, there is a place for every string, drum, or flute. Its all about timing. He also used one of my favorite scenes from One Punch Man, an anime, as an example for his class. I also had a good laugh while he played the scene of Harry Potter when Dobby died. He’s such a funny elf! Then today, Indigenous games was really fun. I hardly ever want to wake up for indigenous games because I am not a morning person, but whenever I am there, he finds a way to wake me up and keep me energized. We played the game called Flower Wars where we had to capture the staff from the person holding it. There was a lot of running involved in that exercise and I love running. It is one of my greatest talents. After that, we did the common applications workshop with Shelva, but I don’t know what happened so the seniors were sent off to another activity to learn about college admissions through the common application. Then I ended the day with a good talk with my homie Vicente, the creator himself. He told us story and he showed us the medicine here at the college.

by: Tyvon Greyeyes

As we sadly approach the ending of the program the teaching of everything gets more exciting and interesting like for example the lessons of Aztec Math, Rehearsing and Learning new songs, etc. The amount of knowledge is so large and learning about it makes me think about most of it such as Aztec Math how we use the nepohualtzintzin abacus is so simple yet complex it is very amazing how it works, also how we sing songs that have so much meaning with every passing word I can almost feel the large amount of pride and determination also with every passing word which gives me hope for the future. This program makes me feel as if I am at a home away from home because my bond with everyone grow everyday and so for I am enjoying it, so that is all I have to say for today..

07/19/17

To start off our morning, yet again, we had another class of Indigenous Games with Hector and John! I will admit that I did not want to get up this morning but, today we did something different. Today we played a game similar the capture the flag and I really enjoyed it! It was a great way to start off the day and wake up. I can honestly say that by the end of the session, I was fully energized and ready for the rest of the day.

We had lots of free time today which I really needed to catch up on laundry and get organized. The activity that stood out the most for me today was the talking/drumming/singing circle with Josie Montes. I have never experienced something quite like this before so it was so touching to be apart of! My favorite song that we learnt was the humming bird song which made me feel so alive and dive deeper into my spirit. I could feel the power in all the women around me and knew that we were, yet again bonding! This was such an inspiring experience and I am so thankful Aunt Josie was there to share her wisdom and stories with us! She taught us so much within a short period of time and made the time pass like it was nothing. This is something I feel like I would like to experience again and learnt more about!

-Sylena

this morning was really fun. we go to play something like capture the flag, which was really fun. we all had dun and got us to wake up and feel really a wake. i want to learn more about the game. i hope i can play it again because it feels really good to learn about different cultures and games.

Well, my spirit isn’t at Pitzer College…it’s at Wishtoyo. Those three days were the best. Anything involving my homeland is just so medicinal for my body, mind and spirit. The moment we got there, I was greeted by my grandma, aunts, uncles, cousins, my brother (He’s not really my brother. He’s my cousin’s fiancee who is one of my favorite people.) and MY MOM! I missed my home-girl so much. After greeting, we had ceremony filled with songs, stories and prayer. Then we went out to the cliff and did a prayer for our Mother ocean because she is hurting. Then we went down to the water and people got their feet wet but the tide came in and majority of the people were drenched. We then had a separate Woman talk about the importance of the Moon Time. The ,men had their talk too but i have no clue what they discussed. Then we ate food BROUGHT TO YOU BY NENAAAAAA!!!! Then we went to the beach and I sang some Chumash songs to Anna. Basically the whole entire trip was amazing. The funniest part for me was the way back. So, the night before, the men had a sweat and everyone was sleeping but somehow Cuauhtli managed to stay awake. On the way back to Pitzer, Zaryn, Marissa, Sylena, Violet, Jasson, Aleyah and Kyle were talking and Cuauhtli passed out on the floor of the van. So while he was sleeping, we were messing with his face and stuff like that. Then he started to snore…LOUD! And Kyle laughed so hard. It was hilarious. Anyway, it was dank.

-Aolani

Wishtoyo was really fun. i have learned a lot from monty. all of the songs he shared with us was really cool. they was a lot of bonding that went on also. everyone got along. later time when we were at wishtoyo, all of the guys had a sweet. the sweet was really need and it was really good. we also got to learn how to surf, which was really fun. that was my first time surfing.

 

Wishtoyo! Today we started our 3 day journey at Wishtoyo in Malibu. It was a quick 2 hour drive and we were there! Seeing the blue, crystal clear water on the way there made me feel grateful to be in such a beautiful place and here at this program. I am so excited for the next chapter of this trip.

I felt honoured to be welcomed by all the elders, especially MATI WAIYA and LUHUI ISHA, as we pulled up to the village. Their singing was beautiful and I am happy to be here! The orientation was so inspiring. I loved listening to the stories that the elders told and felt like I have learned lots from them already! I feel so accepted by all the people here and feel like we are one big family! The beach here is amazing! The water is so shimmery and beautiful. I enjoyed swimming in the water (even though I was fully clothed). I felt so free. It really cleaned my sole and spirit. I felt like I could swim in the ocean all day!

At dinner ad lunch, we served the elders first. I felt this shows how much we respect ad love we have for them. This selfless act of putting the elders first made me feel humble inside. I think this is one of events that stuck out most throughout my day because I got to look all the elders in the eye and see how much joy was brought to their faces by act of kindness. I have not seen this before due to not being involved with my Nation yet but, I can already tell I will be doing this sort of thing more often; putting the elders first.

During this trip, we also learned about climate change and how erosion and rising temperatures are changing our world. This really opened my eyes to this issue. Knowing that it will happen either way makes me very upset but, also knowing that we can slow it down by doing simple daily tasks is a relief. It scares me that my people from my Nation may not have some of their land in the next 50 years because of this issue.

The food throughout the whole trip was amazing. Nana and Sergio provided delicious food three times a day every day which I was so grateful for. The hard work, dedication and love they put into the food did not go unnoticed!

On the last day, we went surfing at Zuma beach and it was amazing! Surfing is defiantly something I want to continue with and I am so thankful I was able to experience it here in Malibu!

In conclusion, Wishtoyo was an unforgettable experience that I will look back on for the rest of my life. During this trip, I have made so many friends that I am I will keep in touch with and Wishtoyo really helped to solidify the bonds of these friendships!

-Sylena

 

Today July 15,2017 we started our day off with Indigenous games with Hector and John and focused on strategies as well as unity. Towards the end of the games I looked at everyone around me and felt just right at home because home is where family is and here in this program it already feels like a family. I enjoy these games we play everyday because we involve martial arts into it and since I was in middle school I would do martial arts in my school and they would invite an instructor from Beijing,China. His name was Bing Shi Fu and he was such a wise and amazing instructor full of happiness in what he does and he always had such joy in showing us what he knows. Hector Pacheco reminds me so much of this instructor because just like Bing Shi Fu Hector has so much joy into showing us these indigenous games that were shown to him. I very much enjoy these games which help me learn such valuable skills just like when I did martial arts at my school.

Today we also had Aztec math with Vicente and I felt so much at home because in my school we use the Nepohualtzintzin and its such a wonderful tool that makes math so much simpler. Vicente loves to tell such amazing stories and these stories remind so much of when I was a little girl and my mother would tell me stories. Towards the end of the day we weaved baskets and that was my favorite part of my day. I enjoy doing arts and crafts so much it helps me relieve stress and it becomes very therapeutic for me. I feel like every time we do these hand on activities it reminds me of my humble home. So far in this program not only have we’ve done things that remind me of what I usually do in my regular life but this program has also taught me so many new things that have slowly been helping me grow. I am so thankful for everyone for being so together and so energetic during the day. I am so excited for what is to come tomorrow on our trip to Wishtoyo.

Peace and Love Christine