Category: Uncategorized

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

I feel like the highlight of my day was the theater activities we did earlier.  The first activity we did was pretend like we are passing around a cat, fish and a match. the students and staff are suppose to act it out and pretend like they are carrying the item depending on what everyone says it is. Everybody was being very creative with their gestures and that only added to the realistic feel and atmosphere of the whole activity. We also met a woman who had a small icebreaker where we all share who “our rock” is meaning a supportive figure or role model in your life and a lot of people share information about their tribe and tribal affiliations and to me its personally interesting getting to know everyone and who they come from. and one last thing, food was another favorite part of today. the food is good.

So today was interesting and entertaining. I got to Pitzer  for opening ceremony ON TIME (unlike last year). Ceremony was very medicinal and the energy in the room was super calm and relaxed which I think is amazing considering it was the first day for all of us. After catching up with old friends from last year, I went to my room and immediately unpacked everything and got settled. As you can tell, I’m pretty excited to be here again this year. Last year really changed me a lot as an Indigenous person, womyn and as an individual so to have the privilege to be back here and experience it all over again is just heavenly to me. Pure bliss. After packing my many, many things that I don’t need, I headed over to lunch and…well…ATE! Then I headed over to the theater room with my earphones blasting Electric PowWow Drum by A Tribe Called Red on, hands on hips, and looking at the murals painted across the campus. They all have such a true meaning to them. We did a lot of exercises and ice breakers in theater and i LOVE icebreakers because the feelings of awkwardness isn’t an individual thing. Everyone feels weird and cringe so yeah. Then we talked with our mentors and learned about eachother a lot. Tons of personal stories and amazing words of wisdom. We then went to make clapper-sticks with Auntie Julia Bogany and I had the privilege of talking with Sara about our lives and people we’ve come across with whom we both know so I’m happy I made a new friend. Then, was dinner and again, I ATE!! We met with Julia again and had a circle and talked about who our rocks in our life is. I chose my mom. I have never met someone who loves me so much in the world. She is my best friend and my everything. I love her. Then Alejandro sang the whale hunting song that he shared with me and it was awesome. I felt… empowered! And now, we’re blogging. I missed writing about my days. After this, me, Neeka, Huitzilin and Sylena are going to burn some incense outside and just chill and reflect on our day. So stoked!!

-Aolani

Today was very interesting, meeting new people and reconnecting with friends from last year.  It feels awesome to be with people from different backgrounds. I am eager to  learn more about their culture and traditions. Over the next few weeks I hope to learn things that I can take back with me and implement them into my life. Today we had a theater. During the theater class, I fell I made a connection with the people that I worked with. I feel that we need to enjoy our rest because we might not have lot of time to sleep, especially waking up early.

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.

Why I came back to the Pitzer- Native youth 2 college program:

The past two years that I attended Pitzer have been so inspiring, and it has made such a huge impact on my life. I met new people that I am sure I will be friends with forever. I learned new about new cultures and heard a different perspective on why education is so vital. The mentors and staff tried very hard to keep everyone so comfortable, and caused a change in my way of thinking. They made me want to research more college, plan it out early, and get used to dorm life earlier. Shelva was definitely a huge role model, in the beginning I was so afraid to write essays and express myself, now I am passing essays with 100% at my high school! Mati and Luhui became family and Wishtoyo became another home for me and I cant explain how important they are to me because it is so large. I am so blessed to be here for my senior year, this amazing program will continue to guide youth to their future filled with education. Lasting relationships were created, lessons and traditional teachings were learned, experience was widened, and my maturity level has increased. I grew as a human with this program, and I couldn’t be more ready for my future and college.

Thanks again to Gina, Scott, Mentors I have now and in the past, elders that taught me life lessons that I will cherish forever, and Pitzer college for giving me this opportunity to express my culture, spirit, self, and making education a priority for Native youth.

Hy’shqe (Thank you in Lummi Language)

Panamea (Thank you in Assiniboine Language)

Thank you

-Kat-

Today was a great day. I experience so much in one day. I was able to express myself through a group activity with the theater teach Mrs. Lu. Then we were able to make our own clapper sticks with the elder Julia. Then we had dinner. After dinner we gathered around the talking circle and shared who our rock in our life is. Then I was able to enjoy having some fun by playing a game of soccer with my peers. My most favorite thing that I did today was make my clapper stick. Today was a great day

Today was my first day of Pitzer’s Native Youth to College Camp. This camp is unlike any camp I have hitherto attended. All my fellow campers are indigenous like me and so I am now surrounded by a myriad of people congenial to me; all representing one of Turtle Islands various cultures. These are people whom I’m very glad to have camping with me are all interested in learning and sustaining their culture like. It comforts me knowing that I am not alone in my efforts to preserve the immemorial ways of my ancestors.

Today we campers participated in making the traditional craft “clappers”, an instrument that creates a clapping noise, we also participated in an ancient dance, that’s name I have sadly disremembered. Although slightly mortifying it improved my confidence and ultimately I was just thankful to be participating in this dance.

Not even an entire day has elapsed and I can already foresee myself growing into a far changed individual. I’m excited to see where this camp leads me.

-Zaryn Prussia

So today I got to meet a lot of different kinds of Native Americans. We got to do fun activities with one another to get a little more comfortable; which I thought was a really great way to break the ice. During this program I look forward to learning about everyones tribes whom I don’t really know of.

Today was my first day attending the native youth to college program for the first time. I made a clapper stick, was in a talking circle, and met my roommate. I was very nervous at first, but when i started meeting a few people the more fun i had. It was very exciting and very scary, because i knew no one. I met new friends and learned a couple of new things about different types of cultures. I can’t wait for the rest of camp if today was as fun as it was.

-Marissa.A