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I feel that as the days progress during the program the more I feel myself becoming closer to everyone. All the programing that we participate in has even become a lot more insightful. Last years program was centralized on northern natives but this year they have incorporated a lot of my peoples history, like today when we had Aztec math class we always here about the different precise calculations the aztec people made; this really  fills my heart with empowerment and sends inspiration all throughout my body. Another thing that I really related with today was the basket weaving. My ancestors weaved very intricate baskets that still stand strong till this day. While weaving the baskets I found myself thinking about all the time and effort that our people used to put into making massive baskets that served so much more than just as decoration, then for people to come and just destroy all four precious culture was infuriating.

I am disappointed in myself because when the program started I decided to have a vegan diet since I had done it a couple months before. Today I had a relapse and ate 3 delicious pieces of sausage for breakfast.

worth it…

Today, it was a slow easy day until right before dinner. We went to the talking circle with Elder Lori. It was very interesting at how the pattern was. We had the basket material soaked so it can bend but won’t break. It was a warm day so it was easy for the material to dry up. It took along time but it was fun weaving the basket back and forth back and forth back and forth. And Mom if you are reading this, I have made one for you. Every thing else was good and normal. It was chill. That is all I can say.

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Starting of the day with great exercise from Hector Pacheco and John. We practiced the strikes and blocks from the day before and implemented them into a game. We also practiced different formations and strategies that will be used tomorrow. I led half of the group on a four minute run and ran a few more times with the rest of the group. It was a very useful exercise because, I practiced along with my brothers, to form a single being/ entity.

Then, working on my common application essay was a very fun and idea following session. I was separated from the rest of my class with my peers who had attended the program a year before. I began to brainstorming my essay on my family ancestry and my identity. Once I finished brainstorming about that idea, I started to compare the loss of culture and identity of the native tribes of the entire continent. It really allowed me to express how I feel about the loss of identity and culture my family suffers.

Learning about Aztec Math and working with the Nepoatzintzin is always amazing. Elder Vicente taught the group and I to multiply and divide with 3-digit numbers with using just the Nepoatzintzin. It is such an amazing tool and I am humbled and honored to be able to use such a sacred device from my ancestors. Elder Vicente was very clear in his directions and made it fun for the whole group. He is such a great teacher and has so much knowledge that any one of us can benefit from. At the end of the day, I made baskets with Elder Lori Sisquoc. The basket weaving does require a a large amount of patience. Unfortunately, I was unable to finish a a large basket, but was still a good day.

This morning I took one of the most important steps towards fulfilling my college app. I began taking a look back at what I have done this year. During the middle of the school year I was thinking about the reality of colleges, coming from a low-income community. Staying up many nights, working till I cant stay awake, would be for noting if I cannot pay to further my education. I knew this is a reality because I have had family members and friends who ran into this problem. I knew I had to make a change in community to help my peers and myself avoid this. Today I started writing my college essay on the impact I have made in my community. This was the beginning of many hours I will spend writing it.

today was a great day woke up to a good run and practice indigenous tactics for flower wars game. the game tactics were also used when aztec warriors went to war thats how i related to that activity today through my ancestry. after that we had aztec math with the nepoualtitntin every minute a spend with tata Vicente my mind gets blowed. had a great times weaving my bird nest

Today was a very chill, relaxing day for myself. The weather was hot and stinky but very bright and I thank the creator for this beautiful day, I was able to do basket weaving with Lori Sisquoc  and It was just a great moment for me to dewine and have relaxing thoughts to myself and  have great conversations with some of the mentors and students. We also had another session early on the day with Shelva it was such a great session/ class to be apart of being able to learn more about writing and how to structure personal essays is definitely going to be useful when I return back to school, and when the time comes to start my personal essay to apply for university I know that I will be prepared so I really thank Shelva for taking the time out of her day to come out here and share her beautiful inspiring knowledge.

Indigenous games is a great game to start off my morning. It help me wake up to get me energize for the day. After a quick exercise everyone went to two separate groups for martial arts training. Its quite a workout, especially running. I would like to give thanks to hector for teaching us how to defend ourselves and having fun at the same time. I cant wait for the game that he was preparing us for. what the game is about is that you must move your arms quick enough from the opponent to not to touch your head. And if they do then the person who is blocking is out of the game. but the team must protect a person who is holding a staff and must reach to the goal, but if that person gets touch and the head then they have to return where he/she came from.

Saturday July 15th                                                                                                        – Marisa Sosa

Today was a great day. I had the opportunity to work with an elder and make indigenous baskets. Even though it was very time consuming it was amazing. I enjoyed how even though it was my first time making a basket, it was pretty easy. It all started when I had left my dorm and I was walking on the concrete pathway to the talking circle. I passed by these luscious green trees and I saw a squirrel climbing up it. It reminded me of all the times when I was a young boy climbing trees all the time. The experience of weaving the baskets compares to my life because it felt like i was in ceramics class again because i made a vase. Today was a great day.

For my fifth day at Pitzer college was an amazing experience. To start off the day we did martial arts and learned to strategize formations for the flower wars. This was really interesting to me because I never knew that natives did martial arts and it was fun to learn how the native people defended themselves and used it to be one with themselves as well. Later during the day we did some basket weaving which was just amazing. I really enjoyed learning how to make a different tribes basket and the kind of tools they use I thought it was very interesting because, I don’t really have experiences with making baskets so to learn this was nice.