w e i r d h o n e y: pine hill

this past summer was the third time the alterNATIVE program has run ever. I was returning as a facilitator/mentor to both familiar communities & new ones alike. alterNATIVE is a week long program ran by indigenous/ally facilitators in college who can have honest conversations about our experiences in higher education as natives. we talk about tough subjects: genocide, stereotypes, violence, systematic oppression and neglect. but the highlight of the program is shedding light on the accomplishments and empowerment of native america: positive media representation, native education expansion, the students' future roles as leaders. it's an emotionally taxing yet rewarding time.

the first week, my team & I were working with the pine hill navajo reservation. their leaders in education and the overall community were so gracious and accommodating I couldn't believe it. we were very blessed to be welcomed into their lives. the second week, we worked with the navajo to'hajiilee and laguna pueblo communities. though there was some confusion the first day, the new site was p successful ^_^

so, here's some photos I took while staying with the pine hill communities. shout out to the pine hill fam & the faculty housing.

pine hill

pine hill fam

charlie's butler

road to grandpa's

:)))

michelle

charlie!

sunset

new mexico is probably the most beautiful state in america

acoma pueblo

greatest coffee shop

ze facilitators

danielle y orly

we pulled over for this one

this summer I was blessed to have participated in the program alterNATIVE for two weeks of july. my fellow native american peers (&alumni) from columbia university facilitated a curriculum about indigenous history, identity, and resistance. we discussed colonization, genocide, decolonization, indian country, and of course education. we visited navajo communities to'hajiilee, pine hill, and pueblo communities isleta and zuni.

though a large portion of the students weren't the targeted demographic (high school students thinking about college) it was a pretty successful program. some days seemed incredibly long and hectic. a lot of the times we had to improvise because the younger kids couldn't sit still through a dry powerpoint about native policy. but getting everyone in the room to feel comfortable enough to share with us their ideas of stereotypes or ask us questions about sovereignty or andrew jackson was all we needed. hopefully they understand that there is a space for them and their communities in higher education as well. we just all have to make it together as indigenous youths.

alterNATIVE was definitely the highlight of my summer. shout out to danielle for letting us into her beautiful pueblo village house, isleta casino & resort, community, and of course her home. I fell in love with new mexico and cannot wait to go back.