Healing with songs and stories

: Let me tell you a story

Jesse Whiteman-Trujillo

Dolors Trujillo 6/24/25 Winter Buffalo

The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes | Homepage. (n.d.). Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. https://www.cheyenneandarapaho-nsn.gov/

Ohkay Owingeh – The place of the Strong People. (n.d.). https://ohkay.org/

Whiteman, Jesse SHP Video.webm

Identity

"How Place Names impact the way we see landscape."

B. Toastie

This article discusses how names influence our perception of the land. The land names carry personal memories, teachings, mythic events, and colonial trauma. The people are trying to keep the traditional name alive.

The article we read was bout how the names of places impact the way we see the landscape. The article talks about how places are called by their traditional names and how they have changed over time due to the Spanish and the Anglos. It affects how people see a place. Many times, traditional names describe the beauty of the landscape; however, Spanish or Anglo names describe an ugly event or suppression, or suppressor that happened on the land.

Oaster, B. ‘., & Oaster, B. ‘. (2024, January 24). How place names impact the way we see landscape. High Country News. https://www.hcn.org/issues/54-5/people-places-how-place-names-impact-the-way-we-see-landscape/

Jesse Whiteman-Trujillo 10/31/2026 Ohkay Owingeh

Jesse Whiteman- Trujillo 7/26/2025 Picuris

Sharing One Skin

Jeanette Armstrong

The article “Sharing One Skin” by Jeannette Armstrong talks about how nature and community are all connected. She says that “sharing one skin” means everyone is like one family and should care for each other and the earth. Armstrong compares this to modern society, where people are more focused on themselves and feel disconnected. She believes this separation causes problems for both people and the environment. Overall, the article shows that staying connected brings balance and helps everyone live better.

Sharing one skin. (2010, June 9). Cultural Survival. https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/sharing-one-skin

And then I went to school

J. Suina

This article, and then I went to school by Joe Suina. tells a story of his life at home. He describes his home life at Cochiti as simple and traditional. When he goes to school, he describes how he has trouble talking about his anxiety and embarrassment, including getting lice and not being able to speak his language. In the end, his family wanted him to get a better future.

Rethinking Schools. (2021, June 22). “And then I went to school” - Rethinking schools. https://rethinkingschools.org/articles/and-then-i-went-to-school/

Dogmo Studios, Eliza Wee, @ewee. (2018, June 28). Indian Boarding Schools - Gold Chains: The Hidden History of slavery in California | ACLU NorCal. ACLU of Northern CA. https://www.aclunc.org/sites/goldchains/explore/indian-boarding-schools.html

History

Esther Martinez Biography. (n.d.). The Administration for Children and Families. https://acf.gov/ana/esther-martinez-bio

The Woman Who Saved Native Songs

This article is about a girl named Frances Densmore who was a music teacher from Red Wing, Minnesota. Fianes Densmore recorded with a wax-coated cardboard cylinder and a cutting style. She spent years traveling to different tribes, recording songs for the future. Frances met with the mountain chief of the Blackfoot confederacy in 1916 and recorded a song.

Popova, M. (2022, November 3). The Woman Who Saved Native Song. The Marginalian. https://www.themarginalian.org/2022/11/03/frances-densmore/

Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, New Mexico – Legends of America. (n.d.). https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ohkay-owingeh-pueblo/

Echoes From The Past: Ancestral Pueblo

Ancient Traditions have been maintained for over a thousand years. Modern Pueblos have kept this tradition alive by passing on ceremonial songs and instruments. Bells, shells, and TRumpets have been found in various locations. These limits make noise when the dancer moves. Drum can be found in the great houses at Aztec Ruins. The music during ceremonial dances is still being performed.

Echoes from the Past - Aztec Ruins National Monument (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). https://www.nps.gov/azru/learn/historyculture/echoes-from-the-past.htm

Cultural Preservation – Ohkay owingeh. (n.d.). https://ohkay.org/cultural-preservation/

Teaching Appreciation and Understanding of Native American Music and Culture

This video is about a lady, and her name is LyeJaukola. She is from the Ojibwe-Anishinaabe tribe. She talks to the whole school, teaching the youth about Native American music and culture. She sings to the kids and tells them the song has a tune and melody in the music. She shows off what she wore to the powwow and her drum. She tells the kids that the drum has a spirit. She wants to teach the kids about the native culture.

YourClassical MPR. (2019, December 24). Class notes: Teaching Appreciation and Understanding for Native American Music and Culture [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRB7cqLcyuw

Current Issue of the State

kenshophotos - Cloud Dance. (n.d.). https://kenshophotos.com/cloud-dance

Native American Languages must be Saved from Extinction

This article, it talks about how, before Columbus arrived in the Americas, there were more than 2,000 indigenous languages. Today, about 175 of these languages remain. The number is rapidly declining. According to estimates, no more than 20 languages will serve the next 30 years. The indigenous tungun will go extinct if one does nothing about it

ThemeZaa. (n.d.). Saving Native American Languages from Extinction|Ohlone Language & Revitalization Efforts|Muwekma Ohlone Tribal Events & Celebrations. Muwekma. https://muwekma.org/blog/2023/july/native-american-languages-must-be-saved-from-extinction.html

Mexican, B. U. J. G. N. (2013, October 14). Santa Fe Indian School honors Po’Pay with all-day event. Santa Fe New Mexican. https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/santa-fe-indian-school-honors-popay-with-all-day-event/article_48f877b1-b4a2-558e-99a2-00fcbdaae940.html

Revitalization of the Native language

The article explains how the Yuchi language, once close to disappearing, is being brought back by the Yuchi people. They used school programs, arts, sports, and many activities to preserve their language and culture. They have three kids, ages 6, 4, and 2, and they are raising them to be first-language speakers.

The Yuchi language comes home | First Na tions Development Institute. (n.d.). https://www.firstnations.org/stories/the-yuchi-language-comes-home/

Global connection

Jesse Chinana 4/2/2026 Truchas Peak

The sounds of Thailand: How one social enterprise is keeping Indigenous Thai heritage alive

Thailand is rediscovering its culture, rituals, and songs through tourism and selling its sounds. Traditional community organic workshops promote their way. There is a big interest in promoting old traditions and the Tai Dam language.

Savers, Craig, and craig savers. "the sounds of Thailand: how one social enterprise is keeping indigenous thai heritage alive." Adventure.com,24oct2024, adventure.com/hear-and-found-thailand- sounds- indigenous- heritagee.

Jesse Whiteman-Trujillo 3/10/2026 El Reno

Songs, Land Rights, and Archives in Australia

Aboridinal A ustralians use songs to show proof of land ownership. many count cast have to be sung because it is there veision of a treaty. Aborigines have been trying to save their songs because if they don't know it, they will lose their land

"Songs, land rights, and Archives in Australia." Cultural Survival,25 Mar. 2018 www.culturalsurvuval.org/publications/cultural- survival- quarter/songs- land- right- and- archives- australia.

Marcia aguino 5/4/25 Ohkay Owingeh yellow corn

UNESCO Collection of Traditional Music of the World

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Collection of traditional music of the world is a large set of recordings that preserves music from many cultures around the globe. It includes over 100 audio recordings collected between 1961 and 2003, showing the diversity of traditional music from different countries; the project began in 1961 with help from Alian Danielou and the International Music Council. Later, in 2009, the Smithsonian Institution worked with UNESCO to make these recordings available to the public. Overall, the collection is from more than 70 nations.

UNESCO Collection of Traditional Music | Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. (n.d.). Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. https://folkways.si.edu/unesco

Research Log 5

Malvin Elgin Whiteman 3/12/2026 Oklahoma City

Attaching your Heart

How will I be remembered when I leave this world? What impact will I have in my community? My heart is in my culture and community. The person who inspired me is my mentor at home, Javen Garcia, who has helped me and guided me to learn my culture so I can have a better understanding, so I can teach the future generations. He is focused on the future of his culture and community. The heart of my community is the tradition and culture. The article, Attaching Your Heart by Carnell T. Chosa, he spoke about Martha Chosa, mother, and “how one needs to be present in family activities and serve. She would say in Towa, “I'm going to attach my heart”. I feel like I attach my heart every time I participate in cultural activities.

Brayboy, Bryan McKinley Jones, and Elizabeth Sumida Huaman. “Indigenous Innovations in Higher Education.” SensePublishers eBooks, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6351-014-1.

Personal Connection

Dominic Aguino 4/26/2026 Butterfly Dance Ohkay Owingeh

Hello, my name is Jesse Whiteman-Trujillo, and I am from Ohkay Owingeh and the Chennye and Arapaho tribes. Stories and songs are an important part of my life. I want to educate my community, especially the youth, about traditional songs and stories. This can promote healing and a sense of belonging to a community. This is why I chose this topic for my Senior Honor Project. We need to preserve our traditions and culture because we are the future of our community. My personal connection to this topic is that I want to learn more about my culture. I want to teach my family, relatives, and friends the knowledge I gain from this experience. I am passionate about preserving my traditional values and culture by passing it down to the next generation. I would like to teach them our traditional song and stories when it is the appropriate time of the season. I believe doing this, I am saving our traditional ways.

The problem of my topic is that elders are dying, and with that goes the culture. That is why we must learn and talk to our elders and learn the ways of our tradition and culture. Another problem is the use among the youth. They are more focused on their phone and other devices. This is an issue, the youth are the next generation that are going to lead the people in the future.

Action Plan

Victoria November 13th, 2025 Kai-T Bluesky classroom

Learning and Healing Through Traditional Music

For my first action plan I got together with Cameron Gutierrez and Devery Suina we both have similar topics about traditional songs and language. We thought of people getting together to destress from school. We shared songs to help people get out of their comfort. We wanted them to feel healed through their minds and hearts through our traditional songs. We did it in Kai-T Bluesky classroom and we had pretty good amount of people present. Afterwards,the feedback was good because the attendees said it made them feel like they were back home in their community and made them feel relaxed.

Howard A Humetewa 3/4/2026 Zimmerman Library UNM

Zimmerman Library

For my second Action Plan, I got together with Cameron Gutierrez. We went to UNM to the Zimmerman Library to go see and listen to archive. We took my friend Jesse Chinna and Malachei Martinez also the Lt. Governor of Ohkay Owingeh came, he helped us put it all together. We looked at old photos from different pueblo and listen to some songs from Ohkay Owingeh. We were all saying that all the songs sounded so different from then to now. We also went down to the place that is not open to the public where they have the archives.

Citation

Title:

Dolors Trujillo 6/24/25 Winter Buffalo

The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes | Homepage. (n.d.). Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. https://www.cheyenneandarapaho-nsn.gov/

Ohkay Owingeh – The place of the Strong People. (n.d.). https://ohkay.org/

Identity:

Jesse Whiteman-Trujillo 10/31/2026 Ohkay Owingeh

Sharing one skin. (2010, June 9). Cultural Survival. https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/sharing-one-skin

Jesse Whiteman- Trujillo 7/26/2025 Picuris

Rethinking Schools. (2021, June 22). “And then I went to school” - Rethinking schools. https://rethinkingschools.org/articles/and-then-i-went-to-school/

History:

Popova, M. (2022, November 3). The Woman Who Saved Native Song. The Marginalian. https://www.themarginalian.org/2022/11/03/frances-densmore/

Esther Martinez Biography. (n.d.). The Administration for Children and Families. https://acf.gov/ana/esther-martinez-bio

Echoes from the Past - Aztec Ruins National Monument (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). https://www.nps.gov/azru/learn/historyculture/echoes-from-the-past.htm

Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, New Mexico – Legends of America. (n.d.). https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ohkay-owingeh-pueblo/

YourClassical MPR. (2019, December 24). Class notes: Teaching Appreciation and Understanding for Native American Music and Culture [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRB7cqLcyuw

Cultural Preservation – Ohkay owingeh. (n.d.). https://ohkay.org/cultural-preservation/

Current issue of the state

kenshophotos - Cloud Dance. (n.d.). https://kenshophotos.com/cloud-dance

The Yuchi language comes home | First Na tions Development Institute. (n.d.). https://www.firstnations.org/stories/the-yuchi-language-comes-home/

Mexican, B. U. J. G. N. (2013, October 14). Santa Fe Indian School honors Po’Pay with all-day event. Santa Fe New Mexican. https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/santa-fe-indian-school-honors-popay-with-all-day-event/article_48f877b1-b4a2-558e-99a2-00fcbdaae940.html

Global Connention:

Jesse Chinana 4/2/2026 Truchas Peak

"Songs, land rights, and Archives in Australia." Cultural Survival,25 Mar. 2018 www.culturalsurvuval.org/publications/cultural- survival- quarter/songs- land- right- and- archives- australia.

Jesse Whiteman-Trujillo 3/10/2026 El Reno

UNESCO Collection of Traditional Music | Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. (n.d.). Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. https://folkways.si.edu/unesco

Marcia Aguino 5/4/25 Ohkay Owingeh yellow corn

Research Log 5:

Brayboy, Bryan McKinley Jones, and Elizabeth Sumida Huaman. “Indigenous Innovations in Higher Education.” SensePublishers eBooks, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6351-014-1.

Malvin Elgin Whiteman 3/12/2026 Oklahoma City

Personal Connection:

Dominic Aguino 4/26/2026 Butterfly Dance Ohkay Owingeh

Action Plan:

Victoria, 11/13/2025, Kai-T Bluesky classroom

Howard A Humetewa 3/4/2026 Zimmerman Library UNM

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