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When I was at Wishtoyo I made a anklet bracelet and a necklace but sadly I left it there. I really enjoy making the necklace even though it was hard and long process. The teaching or lessons that relate more to me was learning about someone else culture and the respect for someone else.My favorite cultural experience was the entire trip over there learning new songs.

1) At Wishtoyo I made an abalone necklace. It took almost 3 hours to finally get it finished, but it was totally worth it because its beautiful and it will be a souvenir of the village forever. I loved the time making it, from peeling the bark from the branch, to sanding down the abalone shell. I’m looking forward to keeping it for a very long time and remembering the Chumash People and the time I spent at the village. ❤

2) What stuck with me the most is when all of the elders had referred us to the future generation, the future leaders. Its true, it made me think of how much we can change the future. With our youth and determination, we can change how things are today, for the better. Like bringing the artifacts in the museums home to where they belong. We will grow up to make a difference because we are the future generation and the future leaders of the Indigenous People.

3) I loved the whole entire time at WIshtoyo. I loved making the necklace, seeing the beautiful view from the beach, swimming, sitting around the fire and telling stories, singing, dancing, bonding, and even though the aps had a lot of ants, its still cool and a great experience sleeping in them. My absolutely favorite cultural experience of the trip would have to be making the necklace. Learning the new skill and how their people strip bark compared to how we do up north was amazing. ❤ ❤

1) I made a clapper? I don’t think that is what they’re called. I also made an abalone necklace. The dogbane rope I made I used it to make an anklet. The experience was great because I was doing very well at the start. I’m able to learn quickly. Bingo also told us how he used the clapper sticks in Canada, about how important events like a wedding day or big events. 

2) The teaching I have learned is mostly from the elders how they told their creation story different from other tribes. I also learned how important ceremony is that we don’t always need a phone. 

3) The entire trip I liked how I learned more about how long it took to create Wishtoyo Village. My favorite experience was being around other people learning how to make crafts everyone seemed to have a great time. \

I am looking forward to the rest of the week. I’m waiting on the return of our college essay class papers to be returned. I didn’t try my hardest on the assignment but it was an important story to me. I am also looking forward to graduation I bought a white dress(probably going to get dirty). The only thing I’m not looking forward to is saying goodbye but goodbyes are never ment to say goodbye forever more like see you in the future. I am excited to see what the future brings to me because I want to be in business and maybe one day own my own business here in California.

Picture by me :]

Another great experience in the books! From Pitzer College to Wishtoyo, Malibu. I feel so grateful for the elders who shared their wisdom, the teachers who encouraged me to further my education to college, and the people who provided for me. I got to create my own clapper which i burned and painted myself. That were used for ceremonial songs and dances. I was able to go and enjoy the beach and touch the cold water. Got hit with a couple waves. At the end of the day we sat by a fire with elders and shared each others voices, songs, dances, stories & together we shared memories. By the end of midnight we slept in aps and feel asleep to the warmth of the fire. The next morning we woke up to the sunrise and had their traditional ceremony. I loved it. I felt so much love from the Chumash people. Being able to enjoy our day with them, opened my eyes to be grateful and love each other and take risks. Wish I could’ve stayed longer. Represented my tribe Standing Rock Sioux and also my school Sherman Indian as Royalty. Hopefully next year I’ll recruit others to attend! I know I had a great memories in such short time. But we had to say our “Seen you Soon” because we never say goodbye. Thank You.

1) At Wishtoyo, I made a clapper stick, It was fun stripping the bark off of the stick and hollowing the stick out. I also enjoyed getting to know some of the mentors and students.

2) Some teachings that I related to the most was serving you elders first, or serving your elders, also before you enter the floor of a longhouse, or a dance floor, you would take your ancestors with you. It is shown that you are doing this when you lift your hand and turning in a circle before entering.

3) My favorite cultural experience was seeing how Mati gave tobacco to the four directions as an offering. I liked this experience because it really related to how when our tribe catches a salmon. After we would catch and eat the salmon, we would place the bones in the water, because that fish gave itself to us for nourishment so we place it back in the water, so the fish will keep coming back, or so I heard from a family member.

4) This is a really self explanatory picture of myself lol I had a really great time at the beach and I hope I get accepted back next year 🙂

1) I did my best to make the dog bane rope, but I just don’t have the patience for it. It was too little and too fragile for me. Instead I made a hummingbird pendant out of abalone. It was hard because I didn’t know what to make before I made it into a hummingbird. That was pretty fun because the abalone has to speak to you with what it wants to become. In my case, a hummingbird. I also made a wansak which is a clapper stick made of elderberry. I thoroughly enjoy making those because because they’re not fragile and they’re quite simple to make. The only hard part about making them is what designs you want to put on it.
2) Everything resonated with me because they’re the teachings of my people. I love my uncles, aunties, and elders that are able to teach me these things. I’m very grateful these traditions are able to be passed down. So very grateful. I was home where I can learn everything best.

3) My favorite cultural experience was seeing my culture flourishing within other natives. I’m ecstatic and so grateful that we’re able to share these traditions. There aren’t words in the entire dictionary that could describe how grateful and happy I am about Humliwu (Hoo-mali-woo). The village of Malibu. I was able to spend time with my mom and my sister which I haven’t been able to do for more than a week. It was a most excellent and bodacious time. I love Wishtoyo, my family, my culture, Uncle Mati, Auntie Luhui, and all the elders. Thank you so much for all you’ve done.

1) I made two crafts during my time at Wishtoyo. First, I made an abalone necklace with string from dog-bane bark. Some may see the process as very time consuming but I found it very relaxing and fun in a subtle way. Secondly, I made a clapper-stick. That was much funner for me because I really enjoy wood crafting. I also really enjoy musical instruments, and to make my own cultural instrument was very appealing to me.

2) What resonated to me most of the teachings of the elders on Wishtoyo was the guidance that the elders gave us on creating the crafts that we worked on. This is important because usually most people think of wisdom and such things when it comes to elders, but for me what stood out was the knowledge on how to live and survive in a spiritual and cultural way.

3) My favorite cultural experience of the trip was our time around the fire at night when the elders and some students sang and danced and shared stories and wisdom. Those moments where special and there was a very special vibe to the entire experience.

1. I decided to make clapper sticks. Making clapper sticks was super easy but also super fun. Mati was kind enough to help me split my stick and from there on I finished the rest. I shaved it down and sanded it to make it smooth. I also hallowed it to give it a great clapping noise. The most difficult part was adding design to the clapper stick. The way Mati does his design was by burning it with a magnifying glass. That takes a stupendous amount of patience. Patience that I truly do not have, so I just decided to paint on the clapper stick.

2. I resonated with mati’s teachings the most. His teachings pertained more toward us becoming the future. The future that we must embrace and use to protect those lands and to give back to the community. I can relate to this because I really hope to give back to my community using all my information gained from these sorts of teachings.

3. My favorite cultural experience was definitely the crafting. I believe that 1 day at Wishtoyo made more than all the days here at Pitzer. Making the crafts allowed me to connect with the Chumash culture and be able to include a piece of my cultural into the craft, in this case the clapper stick.

1. When I was at Wishtoyo I made a clapper but I dropped it and it split all the way down the middle D: so it was good while it lasted. I had a great time making it I sat next to bingo while I made it and he made his so I had a great time. 2. The teachings I related to most is that are cultures are kind of similar but different and our things we make our different we have 2 clappers and theirs is just one stick so I really enjoyed that. I love the songs. I think it’s weird I can easily catch on to a new song but I have a hard time singing our own cultural songs. 3. My favorite part about the village was getting to talk to Mati and Luhui and little more than I did I could not quit laughing when Luhui told me that Mati crochet! 😀 It’s like you can’t imagine a big scary looking guy like him crocheting 😀 Oh my god my stomach was cramping so bad from laughing and I thought I was gonna have an asthma attack from laughing so hard !! :,D Sorry Mati you said not to tell anyone but oh my god! When Luhui told me I just could not quit laughing I was almost crying :D… 4. One thing I don’t like is when I get so close to people I suddenly have to leave and I cry and I’m just a big cry baby but I felt like crying so hard after I left Wishtoyo today. I got a to take a selfie with Mati and Luhui and Alyssa so we all got a picture together and I will cherish it forever and I miss them so much already!! I hope they get to make it Sunday before we leave because I really want to see them off before I have to go back home. I’m kind of excited to go back home and I don’t know why? Probably just because I haven’t been away from my little sister Kadejah for 2 weeks and she’s only 2 an half years old and I’m going crazy without her!!