Happy Holidays! -Justin Henson

Gianna and I made this Happy Holiday poster for all of Muwekma community to see and enjoy! This was particularly fun to make, as Gianna and I got to see these peoples' Facebook profile, print em out, and have all of everyone enjoy! (There kinda wasn't room for Olivia, Caelin, and Gavin on the tree, and we forgot Kevin Begay, but thats okay!) Happy Holidays! 

TOASTY TOES DAY!! - Justin Henson

TOASTY TOES DAYS!!!!

After years of waiting, Toasty Toes Days came to the MUWEKMA COMMUNITY!!! With the help of Dahkota Brown, we helped bring warm tootsies, laughs, and joy around for the community, on a particularly chilly Tuesday. It was an experience I'll never forget, and will definitely want to bring back, as we wanna BRING WARM TOOTSIES TO THE WORLD ONE DAY!!!! 

Gourd Dancing & Me - Justin Henson (FINAL)

FINAL               

Yá’át’ééh PT II

There’s always a distinct smell, a distinct feeling that I get when I’m around Pow-wows. I’m not sure if it’s the grease-filled air being exerted out by food booths, or if it’s the beat of the drums and loud singing by the drum groups. Nonetheless, there’s always been a sort of aesthetic that I’ve grown fond over; a comfort that’s most likely the result of being around Pow-wows and Native American culture for so long. And because of that, it should come to no surprise that my family has ingrained my culture’s values into me, inspiring me to become a Gourd Dancer and continue my traditions. I suppose I’m rushing into this though, sometimes I forget that some don’t even know about their existence.

Growing up, my father raised me to both value and practice the beauty of traditional Gourd Dancing. To briefly explain, Gourd Dancing is an exclusive men’s traditional dance meant to honor those who one considers to be a warrior, or, and honorable person by today’s standards. These dancers are carefully selected and inducted by a Gourd Society, with hopes that they are able to represent the Native American community honorably. I am extremely honored and thankful for my family and friends who made and gave me my regalia, gourd rattle, and traditional eagle fan; all integral parts of the Gourd Dance. I profoundly value these teachings, and the generosity my family and friends have shown me. They guided me as I became a person who is selfless, determined, and firmly established in my culture. I don’t want their efforts to go to waste, and I feel that I should always be grateful for what I have. I’m proud of becoming a Gourd Dancer because it has reinforced and shown to me why my determination to strive in life is important.
To reiterate, the Gourd Dancing and Pow-wow communities’ traditions aren’t simply just for fun, or to act as a pastime. You see, people don’t become dancers or singers for the attention, or because of some random spur of the moment thing. Native Americans are committed to these communities because it is a part of their culture and a part of their identity as a Native American, myself included; and they want to make their rich beliefs and traditions an integral part of who they are. I’m especially proud, because for me, my Native American culture has built my fundamental morals, and ethics, driving me to strive for a higher education. But as invested as I am in my community, as I stand now, there isn’t much I can do to preserve my declining culture, other than try and pass it down myself.

Being Native, In a Place With No Other Natives - Justin Henson

Yá’át’ééh,

        My identity as a modern Native American has been one that I feel has come out more openly than ever while being at Stanford. I’ve learned here that I can express myself openly, without the criticism/judgment of others. Growing up, I never got the chance to express myself as a Native American, due to the fact that I was the only Native American in my entire elementary, middle, & high schools. Being around other Natives/people of indigeneity has helped me realize that my cultural roots & upbringing is important to carry forward, and it’s why I’m apart of clubs like Diné club, AISES, SAIO, NIM (Natives in Medicine), etc. I want to proudly show who I am and my values.
          Before I was able to make this realization though, back when I was in the 8th grade, there was a time when I felt that I alone in my school. I felt this way because to me it seemed to me as if everyone else had their own group of friends that they could relate to; and I felt that my friends could never understand my cultural background. I still appreciated my own culture, but I hated feeling different from everyone else; and I especially didn’t like how the “trail of tears” or “the slaughter of my people” was always joked around with me. I supposed I felt segregated and discriminated from others, but what was I to do about it? I didn’t have any other Native American friends or relatives close to my age that I could relate to. I suppose this is why I became introverted around this time, which lingered a bit into the 9th grade. Honestly, for a long time I didn’t know how to respond about feeling like an outcast, but eventually, I asked my father if he had ever been in a similar situation.
          Now, my father is a strong and independent man who joined the military straight after high school, because he felt that he had to support his economically deprived mother and younger brother. He’s the sort of person who wouldn’t take any back talk, and would start a fight if he had to (in his younger days of course). He told me stories about how when he was younger he would get picked on for his last name “Mouse” (which his father changed to “Henson” because of how many fights he was getting into), and about how even in the military he would face blatant racism (to which he reported to his commanding officer).




            But what ultimately stuck with me, was when my father told me to embrace my Native American heritage not because it makes me special or distinct, but because it’s beautiful lifestyle that’s rapidly being lost throughout the years. He told me that his own connection to his Cherokee culture is fulfilling, and that it makes him feel that he’s a part of something great.
            I don’t think I was fully able to understand what my father told me until I began to become an active member of my Native American community myself. I began to pay attention to what my elders taught me, and began to take interest in going to Pow-wows (Native American social events where tribes come and share their culture, songs, commodities, and foods).

How Cool Are We?

Posted on behalf  of Ashlynn Black

Growing up, I had the greatest pride about being Native American. I am a member of one of the smallest groups of people in the world. And, to be raised in an environment that promotes and fosters a positive mindset about being Native is something that I am very grateful for. Raised as a traditional Navajo woman, there were many perspectives, values and beliefs that I was taught. And, without really being told about the differences in mindsets and perspectives that Navajos have compared to other cultures, I went about living life differently from others. What do I mean by this? I will explain in the next few paragraphs.

There is a Native group in New Zealand that looks at the world from an entirely different perspective. They put a large emphasis on directions. Weird, right? By this, I mean that, when telling directions, they do it from a bird’s eye perspective. From their minds, it’s like they see the world from a bird’s eye view. And, like the Native group in New Zealand, I believe that many of the Native Americans who have incredibly beautiful perspectives of their environment and people. I’d like to focus on Navajo people a little bit more.

Navajo people look at health very holistically, where the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual parts of themselves are very connected. Lacking in one category can have a massive effect on the other components. While this is fine and dandy, what makes it even more interesting is when they incorporate the elements into it. They believe that praying to Mother Earth and Father Sky are crucial, because they hold it at the utmost importance.

And, when we look at our ancestors, we see how healthy they were at one point. They traveled miles to meet relatives, and they traveled even more miles to partake in ceremonies, dances and more. In addition to that, they had a strong foundation in their spiritual connection with the Earth. For example, it is something of the utmost importance to run in the morning and pray towards the East. One should take his or her tadidiin (corn pollen) and speak to the Holy People, Mother Earth, and Father Sky to ask for good blessings and for good health. When we look at this highly treasured practice, we see how beautifully connected the people are to the environment and to their health. The practice promotes physical, mental, and spiritual health, while also providing some benefits to emotional health.

Being Dineh is wonderful, because the perspective in life is something that many are not accustomed to. There’s a strong and beautiful tie that one can make between his or herself with the environment. Therefore, his or her health is connected to the environment. His or her soul is one with the environment.

Now, I’d like to end with a poem:

The clicks of the tongue

And the tonal flow of the words

Creates a strong and beautiful connection

With the beautiful Earth.

He who denies this relationship

Is on a long journey to self-empowerment.

Native Community Events - Ashlynn Black

For Thanksgiving break, I helped my grandparents butcher a sheep, and it was one of the most glorious things I have partaken in. My grandparents are very skilled in butchering, so it was great to learn how to butcher from them. I had seen people butcher, and I personally have participated in preparing the meat, but I've never helped cut it up into individual parts (sorry if that's really graphic).

The second community  event that I have partaken in is the Special Dinner for the house. It was a wonderful time, because everybody looked so great. Watching Jessica sing her heart out was something to remember, and the food was yummy. It was nice to be in a setting that is so different from what we are used to.

Final Art Piece // Pommern, Germany (Alema Fitisemanu)

Hello friends,

This is the art piece that I am submitting for my final assignment. I painted this piece this quarter in my ART 141 class, Plein Art Painting Now, and it was such a blast! It was so fun getting to learn from the art master, Yvette Deas, and to create something our personal value to me.

I named this piece Pommern, after the town from which my German ancestors are from. The painting is actually a birds eye view of the town and its surrounding farm land. I had so much painting this piece, and I hope you guys enjoy it! Please feel free to ask me about it. (P.S. There is also a puzzle within the painting.......muahahahaha).

Friends

Here are some of the great friends I made this quarter.

I think I stepped out of my comfort zone more than I did my freshman year and this means a lot.
My roommates Janet and Kelli, the sweetest people I know.
Then Aidan, a very cool person.

Thank you friends, for being you.
Looking forward to more adventures with you guys.

JANET GUYS. I can’t even begin to explain how beautiful of a person Janet is. I am truly blessed to be in possession of our friendship. I love you so much and I hope you have a beautiful time in Madrid. I love you!!!

The Sunrise Ceremony was one of my top events of 2017 because it gave me the ability to acknowledge that even though I’m off the reservation, I’m still surrounded by natives here in the Bay area. It also gave me an excuse to feel beautiful in the skirt my mom made me this last year.

505
Soooooooo my sister got mad at me and didn’t want to finish our poem so here is an art piece i actually made in my visual arts class in high school for my dorm room. This piece is title "505" (the area code for New Mexico) and is supposed to represent where I grew up. The background is traditional Navajo rug designs in neon to represent the past of my town and state as a big part of the route 66 time period. The Zia symbol (represents all the pueblos and tribes in NM) which is on the New Mexico state flag is made blue with black lines to represent turquoise and the center contains yucca, the state plant that is also a very sacred plant in Navajo society. My art teacher sold it on accident so I no longer have this piece anymore but it was still my favorite part of my collection.

-Tyra

Ode to Loretta - Olivia Final

Ode to Loretta I have already told some people here the little anecdote about my middle name: Loretta. My grandmother, whose name is Loretta, believes that my middle name comes from her. It is only known to my mother and I that my namesake is actually Loretta Lynn, the country singer. This is especially sad to me because when my grandma is feeling chipper, she’ll call me ‘‘Loretta’’ and flash a cute grin. Neither my mother nor I have the heart to tell her, and I suspect we never will. My grandma deserves so much better. Not just because of the name incident, but because she is not as respected and revered as she should be.

She is what Sherman Alexie would call an “Urban Indian”. For forty years she has lived in Spokane, Washington, and adapted to the city’s ways of life long ago. She lives alone in a small, third-story and one bedroom apartment on a corner that drivers never bother to slow down when they turn it. Once, she slipped on ice on that cemented sidewalk corner and broke her ankle. It was 30 minutes before my mom came to rescue her--she was too afraid of troubling anyone and refused to call for an ambulance. Only one of her eight children bothered answering her call. Granted, two are dead and one is missing, so that narrowed down the potential rescue party. The rest live all relatively closeby, but only visit her to drop off grandkids in need of babysitting.

When she is not babysitting, she walks over to her ex-husband’s house (my grandpa) and helps him cook and clean because he is older and less physically robust than she. She divorced my grandpa long ago because of his infidelity and abuse, but still helps him in any way she can without complaint--even when he still mistreats her to this day. My grandma is the most life-giving person I know, so it is infuriating to witness just how much of her life she gives without it being replenished. After all that she has gone through and continues to go though, why doesn’t she go back to her home and siblings in South Dakota? She visits most summers, so why doesn’t she stay? The way she is treated back home is in stark contrast to the way she is treated by her Spokane family. She is a respected elder in her Hot Springs family. People always listen to what she says, and never take advantage of her.

I have my own theories as to why she stays in Spokane. My grandma is the only person in my family that passes along history of our heritage. Others do not know, or do not want to tell. All that I know of my family and our ancestors, comes from her. Yet, there is a lot that she does not know and there are still many things that she will not discuss. For example, she was not permitted to learn our language; she doesn’t know how to bead or cook any traditional recipes. What she has acquired comes from books and oral history, but her willingness to share in full what she has learned is such a blessing in my life. Maybe she stays to share.

Regarding her journal entries:
For my final project, I wanted to share something genuine. I figured there was no more genuine story that I could share, than some from my grandma. Missing my grandma feels a lot like homesickness, so sharing parts of her life with everyone here makes this place feel a lot more like home. Attached below is one of her journals she started and gifted to me after her last trip (summer of 2017) to Hot Springs, South Dakota. Inside are brief personal anecdotes, glimpses into our family, and small tidbits of Lakota history. Enjoy. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Bnx9yOI00vy0qMmBzQmxlVX_59xwz0XO

Janet

Community post: Frosh Formal! Olivia invited Elen and me as her non-frosh +1's to Frosh Formal, and it was one of my favorite events of the quarter. I had the best time dancing with everyone! It was so much fun, and I'm unendingly thankful to the frosh for their energy and love. Upperclassmen often talk about being jaded, and even though I'm not quite at that point, Stanford does have a darker side that becomes more apparent the further along you get in the process. Frosh energy and spirit is so much fun to be around because it reminds me of the best parts of college. Love you Muwekma! <3

Final Project - "What We've Done" Poem - Janet

~content warning~ 
This poem was written to call out a white, middle/upper-class audience, and the language reflects that. I'm hesitant to post this on here because it might cause more pain in this space than anything else... but seeing as it's my final project here it is. I'm going to somehow transmit this to my family over Winter Break, whether that's reading this aloud at the dinner table and facilitating a real conversation about how our family has affected native and indigenous folks or posting this somewhere or something else. Here it is:

What We've Done

Hey middle and upper class White Western folks

I come at this from a place of love.

Please listen.

We’ve used science and test-tubes and pills and prescriptions

To compensate for the fact we’re breaking our souls

We discovered this new thing, pushed it till we bled

Scratched a scab we didn’t even know was trying to scar

When we stepped foot here we brought disease and we brought pain

We brought guns and syphilis and death

We claimed what our feet touched because our greed tells us we can

We would grab the air if we could hold it, but you can’t hold air

So we took the ground instead.

We brought a religion that we told people would save them

Took their kindness and repurposed it for ourselves

We took and we have taken and we continue to take

Hoping that what we take will fill our hollow souls.

We took language and we took colors

Made our color mean “good” and other colors mean “bad”

Made ourselves the normal and encouraged our kids to be colorblind.

But our kids can see and so can we

How dare we appropriate a different ability to make ourselves feel better

Especially when our actions still see color.

We celebrate a day that smooths over our past of genocide

Call it “Thanksgiving” because we’re apparently grateful

But our “thanks” is empty because what the hell have we done for the people who have given us so much.

They have land, you say, searching for an explanation because you feel a need to defend yourself and your color.

Because I'm entitled to this land, you think.

My ancestors earned this land, you think.

The only land we’ve given we keep pushing inwards.

We keep taking and taking

Relying on folks to explain to us that we have caused so much pain

It’s not my fault I’m White, you say.

True, and there’s no use feeling guilt about that.

But when our thoughts and our words and our actions

Keep slamming people who have given us so much,

We’ve got to fix ourselves and start working with other White folks to fix themselves, too.

Stop saying people are angry.

You’d be angry too if you and your family had been murdered and sterilized 

Because a Stanford professor published unsubstantiated lies and called them facts

And what's worse: people believed him

Now that our medicine

Is coming around

Becoming more “holistic” and using “alternative treatments”

Y’all, this knowledge isn’t new

We’re proving it with data and figures and graphs

Researchers bent over computers, pushing glasses up to the bridge of their noses

Shouting “Our hypothesis is correct!” and publishing the obvious in JAMA

Native and indigenous and POC folks have known this for thousands of years

Living as a whole person in harmony and balance with mind, body, heart, and spirit

With the Earth, not on it

People have been Walking in Beauty for centuries.

Where did the ideas come to White folks to start this new medical framework?

Acupuncture, deep-breathing, herbs, medicine men, massage, movement.

Even vegetarian diets. Self-care. Mindfulness.

I swear by it, you say.

Great! So when did you thank the people who saved you?

Because the person who came up with that wasn’t the white acupuncturist who stuck needles in your face

Or the shaman you saw because you had the money to pay

Taking culture for yourself and not doing anything to say thanks other than throwing a 15% tip at the individual.

We throw doctors at the IHS

Use incentives like “loan forgiveness”

Because that’ll help “give back”

But for some reason after swearing in a white coat to serve humanity

Some of those folks don’t give a shit

Just biding time before they can apply for money and leave

White people are good at throwing band-aids at oozing systemic gashes

Healing practices work

As has been clear to so many people for so long

And now us white folks who love data so much have the numbers to back it up.

I think we should listen to the people who have known this for thousands of years.

BUT.

We need to know

When we study, we take.

It’s more than just the bioethics and “working with human subjects” module for investigators

These are people we are talking about.

We, white folks who benefit from this research, are taking from native, indigenous and POC people.

If we don’t put in work

Back to beautiful people who have and continue to give us so much

Then we’re just as bad as the people who tell us that we are say we are.

They benefit from the research, you say.

Yeah? Not as much as you do.

Show me the numbers to back up that claim.

Show me that money and socioeconomic status isn’t tied into race.

Look at yourself in the mirror.

Look at your face that is White

And at your soul through your eyes that has shriveled from neglect and ignorance.

Of the people who have and continue to give to you.

You want to be a good person, I’m sure you do.

But in order to actually be good people, we’ve got to recognize how we personally have hurt people so we can do something about it.

I think we can work to heal ourselves,

But for that we have got to stop saying, This doesn’t apply to me.

I don’t want to think about this.

I’m forgetting.

I’ve forgotten.

Stop forgetting. Because the people we take from will never forget. 

Remember. Remember every time you go to the doctor and they do more than just write you something for medication. Remember every time someone in the medical profession treats you like a whole person. Remember every time you self-care.

And then fight like hell for the people who taught us that. It’s the least we can do.

Living Two Lives, and the emerging 5th World (Final) - Joe Manuel

To some indigenous people, the notion of the “two worlds” dilemma is not valid because “one is indigenous wherever they go.”  Although I agree with this sentiment, I also realize that I live in two distinct worlds that are vastly different from each other.  On one hand, I live in the world that ninety-nine percent of Americans live in.  One that is ruled by federal, state, and local laws.  One that defines success in terms of dollar amount earned.  One that old rich white men have created and rule over with absolute authority.  One that is slowly becoming more and more corrupt and immoral.  On the other hand, I live in a world that is free from the negative influences of Western civilization.  One where my culture is alive and thriving.   One that is the way humans were meant to live with each other and the earth and the cosmos.  One that is pure.

The difference between the two is such that the Western world feels blatantly fake whenever I return to it after ceremony.  After my return to the Western world, I feel my soul losing touch with the universe.  I feel emptiness.

I am making this distinction between the two because I feel that the pure world may no longer exist in my lifetime.  The only thing that makes the pure world exist is indigenous language and ceremony, and I can feel it dying.  I see it dying with my own two eyes.  It’s dying due to a number of factors, but in my opinion it is dying because not enough young people are learning the old ways.  Not enough young people realized the power it has.  They know the power it has, but they fail to realize it.  They do not see it as something valuable enough to save.  I must admit that I am also at fault for this.

This past summer I had the privilege of travelling to the Supai Rez in the Grand Canyon, and I remember watching their traditional dances.  As I was watching the dance, I noticed that all of the participants were older people, maybe 65+.  That is not to say that there were not young Supai people present.  There were many young Supai people in attendance, but they chose not to participate in their ceremony.  Not only were all of the participants older people, but there were only a five total.  Upon realizing this, I quickly came to another realization; this is the last time I am going to see this dance.  I felt a deep sadness and longing for a culture that was not yet dead, but dying.

Then, I related this particular experience to the Hopi prophecy of the emerging fifth world.  In Hopi lore (history) there were three world’s before the one we are living in now  (world can be translated to earth cycles).  Each perished because their respective societies became corrupt beyond repair, so, the earth destroyed them in violent catastrophes.  The most recent, the third world, was destroyed by a massive flood.  Each cycle leaves a few survivors of the catastrophes, whom are pure of heart, to start society again.

Before Europeans came, my Hopi ancestors prophesied nine events that would signal the end of the fourth world.  So far, eight have come to pass including a prophecy that foretold of the coming of the first Europeans and the atrocities that they would commit.  When the ninth prophecy comes to pass, that will signal the end of Hopi culture, and the end of the world as we know it.  This does not mean that the world will end in armageddon, it only means that the world is going to significantly change.

I feel that we are getting close to the time where the fourth world is going to end.  World events only confirm this.  Society all over the planet is becoming more corrupt, but especially here in the US.  

Nonetheless, there is hope.  After I watched the Supai dance, there was another dance group, but this one was different.  It was comprised of all females, they were all under seven years old, and there were about twenty of them!  I got reminded that life happens in cycles.  One ends, and another begins.  Personally, I have found peace in understanding my place in the fifth world prophecy.  I used to be scared, and I used to want to stop the fifth world from emerging.  However, I have found wisdom in hours of contemplation; maybe the point isn’t to stop the fifth world from emerging.  Maybe the point is to learn everything I can about my culture so that the next cycle starts strong and beautifully with or without me.

To achieve this, I have to make the conscious decision to walk more in the pure world.  The Western world is tantalizing with all of its glamour and its promises of riches, but there is no soul in it.  How do I get my indigenous siblings to realize this?  That answer lies in more contemplation and another blog post.

First Nations Fellows Opening Ceremony (Jasper Ridge) 10/29/17 - Joe Manuel

Land in the Stanford area as it would have been before the colonizers came.  No buildings, no electricity, no pipes.  Just nature as the Muwekma Ohlone would have seen it; nature as the Muwekma Ohlone would have preserved it, protected it, and respected it.  

Indigenous People’s Day Ceremony (Alcatraz) 10/9/17 - Joe Manuel

With old markers of colonialism above, many people of all creeds gathered to honor the indigenous struggle.  At least we got one moment to reclaim what is rightfully ours.  At least for one moment, we obtained peace.

Week 2 Make-up - Joe Manuel

Source: http://www.muwekma.org/photogallery.html

It is no secret that the first Europeans in the Bay Area sought to destroy the original inhabitants of the land we now call Stanford, California.  Through the Mission System, the Muwekma Ohlone (and other Bay Area tribes) were raped, enslaved, murdered, and had their culture stripped away from them.  Although these atrocities happened long ago, the effects are still heavily felt today, especially with the 2011 ruling that denied the Muwekma Ohlone recognition as a federally recognized tribe.  After evaluating the situation that the Muwekma Ohlone are faced with today, it is clear that the oppression of European colonialism is still present even though the current oppressors are no longer considered European.  The current oppressors (US government, Bay Area companies, et cetera) may not see themselves as having any relation more than a remote connection with colonialism, however, their frame of mind is the same frame of mind that allowed the first Europeans to commit the atrocities they chose to commit.  This frame of mind can be characterized as many things, such as superiority over the inferior ‘other’, but ultimately it boils down to selfishness.  Taking a look at most (I will even go as far as saying “any”) conflicts between indigenous people and their European oppressors (descendants too), I am willing to bet that selfishness on behalf of the oppressor is almost always at the heart of the conflict.  Manifest Destiny is all about selfishness, and the battles that are being waged today, e.g. Standing Rock, are because of selfishness on behalf of the oppressor.  What did we (indigenous people) do to deserve such disgrace?  Is it  possible to achieve the justice we deserve?  I believe that although we can achieve some justice, we will never get close to the amount of justice that we deserve because we live in the Western world.  As long as we live in the Western world and play by their rules, we can never achieve true justice.  Yet, it is nearly impossible to get away from the Western world because it has pervaded our lives from the very first time we came into the world; it is a part of us.  So, what do we do from here?  As indigenous people, we are survivors.  That is the only thing we can do for sure.  Some of us can thrive in the Western world, but most of us do not have that ability.  Each of us chooses to do what we want to do with our lives, but a vast majority of us do not have much of a choice.  As for me, I am a fighter.  I would rather die fighting until my last breath than do so on my hands and knees serving my oppressor.

The Fabric of Our Communities - Mia

My final project was an art project featuring photographs of 12 Native women loving themselves. I put it in the shape/form of a quilt, to talk about how Native women make up the vital fabric of the community, and are connected by similar experiences of resistance and sustenance. The colors reflect water, fire, air, and earth. The top of the quilt represents the sky, the middle represents tall things which grow from the ground, like mountains, trees, and buildings, and the bottom is the earth or water like the ocean.

The Insistence of Indigenous Resilience - Mia

This post is about something good happening in the world. In terms of this, I am inspired by this article: https://indigenousmotherhood.wordpress.com/2017/05/17/wasted-energy-on-the-battles-against-appropriation-and-racism-indigenous-systems-are-resistance/

It's an article written by an Indigenous mother and activist talking about the need for Native people to focus on Native traditions as resistance instead of colonialism and things that come from it, or trying to ask colonial places to accept us as Native people. She talks about focusing on our practices, which makes me think of things such as growing food or birthing practices. I am reminded of the work my aunty does, making regalia for the tribe. Or of people from back home my dad has learned from, people that teach the youth how to dig roots and find first foods. I am really inspired by a lot of people who are choosing to focus on our Indigenous practices instead of trying to appease colonialism. It reminds me of the abundance that we have as native peoples.

Mia's World

 Here are two of the things I've done this quarter I've done relating to my Native identity. The top is looking away from the  Thanksgiving sunrise ceremony (it's not respectful to take pictures of the ceremony itself). The second is me and some friends at Bioneers, where my auntie spoke along with my friend. I spent the day with Native women talking about life and looking at amazing Native art. Both events made me feel full and alive.