(Photo 1, Personal Photo, September 14, 2022)

Indigenous Women Empowerment Rising

Kaylee Rose Martinez

Ohkay Owingeh

Rising Up Sisters Share Hope Vision Solidarity

Sharing One Skin Okanagan Community

The author explains the definition of what Okanagan means: “the ones who dream and land together”. When a person or thing is born into a family and community you’re automatically part of something bigger than yourself. She explains how humans interact with the Earth and how we connect with our physical self, emotional self, intellectual self, and spiritual self. Our emotional and spiritual connections with the environment are what make up the world we live in.

(Armstrong, Jeanette. “Sharing One Skin: The Okanagan Community,” in Jerry Mander and Edward Goldsmith (eds), The Case Against the Global Economy. San Francisco, CA, Sierra Club Books, 1996. Pp 460-470.) (Photo 2, Google search)

How place names impact the way we see landscape

The author talks about landscape monuments and the definitions of the names they were given. The names of most monuments are after local colonizers, with a simple meaning. Native Americans feel this impacts their stories because they tell us about ourselves and the past. They say water has spirit and so does a mountain peak, when you introduce yourself and respect it, it will help you in return. They believe that their ancestors' lives echo across the creational realm. Sacred landscapes are overlaid with mystical events that occurred during creation. Colonial names lack deep connections to the landscapes. These names bring trauma and loss of homelands and hunting grounds and most important sacred sites.

(Toastie, B. “How place names impact the way we see landscape.” High Country News: Know the West, 1 May 2022, https://www.hcn.org/issues/54.5/people-places-how-place-names-impact-the-way-we-see-landscape. Accessed 27 August 2022.) (Photo 2, Personal Photo, July 23, 2018.

Senate passes Esther Martinez Native Languages Preservation Act

The National Indian Education Association grants Native communities the to establish education programs that are successfully strengthening Native languages starting in 2018. The Ester Martinez Native Language Preservation Act of language survival schools and language restoration programs was signed into law in 2006 but requires authorization by Congress every six years. The Senate passed the bill unanimously on Nov. 29 and sent it to the House of Representatives for a vote. Once both houses of Congress approve it, the Act will be in place until 2023. Ester felt that real fluency depends on using the language at home. Parents are required to participate in the program and attend a language class, use words and commands at home, and take their child to see an older speaker. Briggs-Cloud strongly agrees with this act as it quotes in the article "We all learned to be fluent because we were immersed in the language.”.

My connection with this article is when I took Tewa classes in my Sophomore and Junior year. Taking Tewa classes helped me understand my language better. I feel like hearing your language being spoken daily is often helpful for a better understanding of the language. Ester Martinez fought hard for the native language to be educationally taught.

(ProQuest | Better Research, Better Learning, Better Insights. https://www.proquest.com/.)

(Photo 4, “People+around+The+Earth Images – Browse 1,655 Stock Photos, Vectors, and Video.” Adobe Stock, https://stock.adobe.com/search/images?)

Tewa Women United Statement on Congresswoman Deb Haaland’s Nomination as Secretary of the Interior Department

This article is about Congresswomen Deb Haaland, a member of Laguna Pueblo and the first Native American member of the Cabinet as President Biden’s Secretary in the Department of the Interior, since March 15, 2021. Tewa Women United believes it is imperative that the Senate act quickly to approve Congresswoman Haaland’s historic nomination to ensure the Department has a permanent leader. A leader to fulfill its mission to implement the Biden-Harris plan, and protect our public lands for future generations. As Secretary of the Interior, someone who looks like us, shares our values, our perspective, our voice, and our connection to the land, understanding the importance of what the Earth means to us as far as our cultural and spiritual existence as Native people.

I find this important because Haaland’s nomination to this position is extraordinary, particularly for us as Indigenous women and girls from the Pueblo communities within New Mexico. In her power she is in charge of the government departments that oversee 500 million acres of public land, as well as manage national parks, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

“Tewa Women United Statement on Congresswoman Deb Haaland's Nomination as Secretary of the Interior Department.” Tewa Women United, Tewa Women United, 19 May 2021, https://tewawomenunited.org/2021/03/tewa-women-uniteds-statement-on-congresswoman-deb-haalands-nomination-as-secretary-of-the-interior-department.

(Photo 5, Ict. “The Wrap: Deb Haaland's First Year as Madam Secretary.” ICT, ICT, 16 Mar. 2022, https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/the-wrap-deb-haalands-first-year-as-madam-secretary.)

Wilhelmina Yazzie on the Yazzie/Martinez Lawsuit

Yazzie felt that her daughter wasn’t getting the proper education while attending elementary school. Quality education is all she wanted for her children. Her main goal was to keep that opportunity for her kids and for the lives of future generations going to school as Native Americans. All of New Mexico came together to file a lawsuit against the state. The Yazzie/Martinez Lawsuit challenged the state’s violation of students’ constitutional right to a sufficient education.

My way of connecting with this video is how I attend the Santa Fe Indian School. SFIS is a school made for Native American students run by the 19 pueblos in New Mexico, along with Nations and Apaches. A school maintains proper education, allowing them to stay in touch with their traditions and languages. Having this school available to me, I feel I'm getting the proper education and when I graduate my school does its best for students to get into colleges through scholarships.

( “Wilhelmina Yazzie on the Yazzie/Martinez Lawsuit.” YouTube, YouTube, 9 July 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10XWhpB3Bww. )

(“News.” Transform Education NM, 6 Oct. 2022, https://transformeducationnm.org/news/.)

Native Hawaiian Hula Teacher Among Five Women Who Appear on Quarters

Edith Kanaka’ole Native Hawaiian hula teacher and the flip side of the quarter - the coin since 1932, that includes the country’s first president George Washington. The teacher is Edith Kanaka’ole a Native Hawaiian teacher who celebrated ancient traditions and languages. Ms. Kanaka'ole died in 1979 at age 63. She was a composer, and chanter, helping to preserve Hawaiian history and culture, which were disappearing due to the cultural bigotry of the time. She is among five women whose faces will be pressed on the quarter next year as part of a four-year program that began in 2021 to honor a series of women with diverse backgrounds in fields like abolition, government, women’s suffrage, civil rights, science, and the arts. This year’s quarters feature Sally Ride, the first American woman in space; Wilma Mankiller, a Native American activist; Ninna OteroWarren, a leader in New Mexico’s suffrage movement; Anna May Wong, the first Chinese American film star in Hollywood; and Maya Angelou, the poet, and author. The Mint’s American Women Quarters Program represents a more wide-ranging effort to celebrate pioneering women and their accomplishments.

I think this is a good way to represent women who have accomplished great achievements. For these women to be selected to be printed on a coin is a huge honor. For a Native American hula teacher to make this accomplishment with the Mint program is absolutely one of the best achievements any woman can accomplish.

(Chung, Christine. “Native Hawaiian Hula Teacher among Five Women Who Will Appear on Quarters.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 1 Apr. 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/01/us/us-quarter-women-edith-kanakaole.html?searchResultPosition=3.)

(No. 2603: Correlation, https://www.uh.edu/engines/epi2603.htm.)

Sharice Davids Could Become First Lesbian Native American Congressman

Sharice Davids is the first lesbian Native American women congressman representative from Kansas. She would be one of the first Native American women in Congress, who was once a professional mixed martial arts fighter. Ms. Davids became the Democratic nominee in the Third Congressional District in Kansas on Wednesday, August 8, 2018. Sharice Davids ran against Representative Kevin Yonder, a Republican who served since 2011. She defeated five other Democratic candidates including Brent Welder. Kevin Yonder is an extremist who has tried time and time again to undermine healthcare access and give tax breaks to the largest corporations. Ben Ray Lujan called Ms. Davids “a strong voice for working families” who is “ready to bring that fight to Congress.” “After this hard-fought primary win, Sharice emerged even stronger in her historic bid to flip this competitive seat.”.

Anyone can do anything they want to, as long as they do it with passion. Not a lot of women have the courage to put themselves in these positions, but Sharice Davids and many women prove this to be true. I like to believe that women will make healthy decisions for the people and make a change for future generations. For women to have these high positions is very powerful for future generations.

(Victor, Daniel. “Sharice Davids Could Become First Lesbian Native American Congresswoman.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 Aug. 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/08/us/politics/sharice-davids-native-american-kansas.html?searchResultPosition=13)

(Medina, David. “Rep. Sharice Davids Fends off Amanda Adkins Again in Kansas' 3rd District.” KSHB 41 Kansas City News, KSHB 41 Kansas City News, 9 Nov. 2022, https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/rep-sharice-davids-fends-off-amanda-adkins-again-in-kansas-3rd-district.)

A 21st Century Indigenous Women Experience

Carmen Yupe gave a presentation about her being abused at the age of 4-11. She struggled to deal with trauma. She wants to share her story with the world to give every Indigenous woman, so they have a chance to speak up about their own experiences. She felt as if she was carrying a fragile item and suddenly dropped it. Shattering a concept of who she thought she was and being transformed. Not only was Charmen abused as a child but as a teen mom. Charmen Yupe was once a missing child. Just one of the many women who have spoken up about being a part of the MMIW. Carmen does not want to be romanticized, she wants to be noticed for her brilliance, and ingenuity, a vessel of hope and change.

The main reason for this presentation was for the people to take away some of the pain she feels. Proving that telling your stories of trauma and mental issues is encouraged to be told. In my own experience, I know to tell another soul your struggles. Letting out your struggles is relieving the negativity your soul carries. Having the courage to tell the world about your trauma is genuinely amazing.

(TEDxTalks. “A 21st Century Indigenous Woman's Experience | Carmen Yupe | TEDx Bozeman.” YouTube, YouTube, 3 June 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugcsITP2SBo.)

(Colonial Traffic in Native American Women - Jstor Daily. https://daily.jstor.org/colonial-traffic-in-native-american-women/.)

No More Stolen Sisters

On Thursday, November 17, 2022, I asked the girls in my pod (9th-12th grade) to join my action plan that took place within Pod C. I want the girls to know how important it is for Native American women to spread awareness for those who have been taken from us. To spread awareness I asked the girls to create posters to represent MMIW. We also made a total of 120 red ribbons that were handed out on Friday, November 18, 2022, to staff and students on campus. Each of the staff and students proudly wore their ribbons as it spreads awareness for the MMIW.

(Personal Photo, November 18, 2022)

NIWRC Award Thriving Women Grant from Seventh Generation Fund for NativeLove

The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center received a $30,000 grant from the Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples, Inc. for staffing and general operating funds to support NativeLove. This project aims to end dating violence and encourage healthy relationships by empowering Native youth. In February 2015, NIWRC launched the NativeLove project, offering toolkits for youth and educators, along with a website to offer resources and inspirational videos. This included a Social Media Challenge and Youth Ambassador program, encouraging youth to express what Native love means to them and advocate against dating violence.

NIWRC is a place for anyone who is seeking help against violence. Knowing that not everyone can get to this location they have created multiple social accounts where you can contact a member. They are found on social media on Instagram and Facebook and have an online website along with magazines that provide information about teen dating violence. I want to share with my peers that NIWRC is available to anyone and they are always here to help wherever you may be. Like a community whenever you need them they are there.

(“NIWRC Awarded Thriving Women Grant from Seventh Generation Fund for NativeLove.” NIWRC, https://www.niwrc.org/restoration-magazine/october-2021/niwrc-awarded-thriving-women-grant-seventh-generation-fund.)

(“Thriving Women.” Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples, 9 Feb. 2022, https://7genfund.org/our-work/thriving-women/.)

Celebrating Indigenous People’s Self-Determination

Founded in 1977, Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples emerged from Indigenous communities during the cultural, social, and political renaissance era of the 60s and 70s. Leaders of the time, such as the primary founder Daniel Bomberry included chiefs, clan mothers, youth, and community activists. These leaders established the organization to respond to the needs of grassroots Indigenous communities and initiatives. Seventh Generation Fund focuses on cultural revitalization, leadership development, tribal sovereignty, and culturally appropriate economic development.

The Thriving Women's Program provides support for grassroots projects that empower indigenous women-led work to prevent violence against women and girls and nurture healthy and thriving native people and families. In my community we look up to our mothers and never disrespect them. Seeing Native Americans speaking up and coming together as once is how we can create more programs like the Seventh Generation Funds. Knowing that there is support out there encourages me to do more for the women in my community by giving back.

(“Who We Are.” Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples, 12 Nov. 2020, https://7genfund.org/who-we-are/#top.)

(“Indigenous Peoples' Day.” Amplifier, 17 Oct. 2022, https://amplifier.org/campaigns/thrivingpeoples/.)

‘Not an object to be bartered,’ the Rio Grande is lifeblood for the land

As New Mexico’s largest river dries, pueblos establish their rights to preserve it. Phoebe Suina from the Pueblo of Cochiti is one of the nine board members of the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission. The construction of the Cochiti and Galisteo Dams in 1960 to control sediment in the river and flooding in the Middle Rio Grande Valley was authorized by Congress. Four years later, Congress gave the go-ahead for a recreation pool at Cochiti, supplied by the San Juan-Chama Project, which wound up selling 4,000 acres of farmland to the federal government. In 1976 the water held behind the dam raised groundwater in the region directly around it. Seepage from the dam flooded Cochiti farms and grazing land in the bosque, threatening almost all of Pueblo’s existing farmlands. The Corps built several underground drainage systems. While some systems temporarily alleviated portions of farmlands from flooding, the seepage expanded, according to Cochiti reports. After years of failed negotiations, Pueblo sued the federal government in 1980. In 1992, Congress passed a bill allowing for a $12 million settlement to pay for seepage damages from the dam on Cochiti farmlands and use of the funding to construct and operate an underground drainage system to reduce the flooding, which was completed in 1994. 20 years after the start of seepage issues. In 1928, the U.S. passed a law that recognized the six middle Rio Grande pueblos — Cochiti, Santo Domingo, San Felipe, Santa Ana, Sandia, and Isleta ’ “prior and paramount” rights to water on 8,346 acres. Those rights were expanded to include reclaimed lands, totaling about 20,000 acres of land across the six pueblos. Rio Grande compact commissioners plan to address it during 2023’s annual meeting.

Phoebe Suina inspired me because she never gave up. She’s been focused on this project her whole life not knowing what could happen. Growing up in the shadows of Cochiti Dam and working for an engineering degree, she can make a change in her pueblo by fusing her academic understanding with knowledge shaped by Cochiti's religious practices in growing crops and keeping the balance between humans and nature. Suina’s hard work tried to repair the health of the bosque at best to regrow cottonwoods. Our voices are being heard.

(Danielle Prokop, Source New Mexico February 13. “'Not an Object to Be Bartered,' The Rio Grande Is Lifeblood for the Land.” Source New Mexico, 13 Feb. 2023, https://sourcenm.com/2023/02/13/not-an-object-to-be-bartered-the-rio-grande-is-lifeblood-for-the-land/?mibextid=kdkkhi.)

Making Connections

Brave Girls is a leadership program with a selective amount of girls residing in the dorms. I and my mentor Dalene Coriz agreed with bringing in a guest speaker for my second action plan. I felt that this individual could share wisdom and experience to make a positive impact on the girls' lives. On Wednesday, March 1, 2023, CarlyJo Chavarria was able to attend the brave girls' program, she came in hopes she can influence the girls in the program by speaking about her accomplishments of her journey so far. CharlyJo is 24 years old and has a partner and a mother to her son. She’s from the Pueblo of Santa Clara and works at the tribal administration office within Santa Clara. CarlyJo runs many programs for example the Department of Youth and Learning, The Rez Riders, and the language committee in Santa Clara. She graduated in 2017 from SFIS and is an alumnus of the Brave Girls program. Carly takes care of her staff and students with the community. Her model is “Choose fun over money!”.

(Personal Photo, March 1 2022)

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