Native Am. student INVITED to DC
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Dáanzho.
I am six and recently recieved a call from the Chief of Staff for the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education, Ron Lessard who personally invited me to come to Washington DC for a meeting with Secretary of Education on January 21, 2015. This past November, I gave testimony to the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education about "School Environment" and my own experience as a Native youth in the public education system. Among many things, I talked about what it is like to be in 1st grade and have the kids at school tease me because of my hair. I talked about how it made me feel when my school celebrated Columbus Day and disregarded the actual history of how his arrival forever impacted the experience of my ancestors. I talked about how I am sent to the school principal's office more than the other kids and how that not only embarrasses me but conditions the other kids think unfavorably about Native people.
William Mendoza, the Executive Director of the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education, took my story back to Washington DC and the powers that be asked me come to Washington to meet with US Secretary of Education, on January 21st. I would like to go Washington DC to speak with the White House about Native youth and why we need a more positive experience in school. I would like to learn to speak the language of my ancestors and want to ask the White House to recognize the sigificance of this and allow me to pick my own language instead of Spanish or French. When kids like me are encouraged to learn our language... well that I think that is a big deal because then we will be able to know what the elders are saying. My mom said that this would be a powerful example of something called tribal soverignty or healing or something like that.
Well I promised my mom that I am going to make it to DC for this meeting somehow even if we have to hitch hike across the country to get there. But then I saw pictures of the White House in January and it is snowing! It looks cold, so I would rather take an airplane.
This is a recent video message from OBAMA that explains in part why I was invited to DC! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/03/obama-generation-indigenous_n_6262148.html
Please help send the message of success for Native youth in education by helping me get to the White House to speak on my own experience for the Seventh Generation.
Iheedn. Hych'qu siem. Thank you for sending hope and brightening the future for Native students across Turtle Island.
PS. When I get to the White House, I am going to ask if I can meet President Obama's dogs. I hear that he has two of them. Their names are Bo and Sunny. I can't wait!
Love,
Benton "One Moc" Moonshine Covarrubias
Warrior of the Seventh Generation
I am the only of son of my mother, Laurie Covarrubias. The elders have taught me that my maternal ancestery is Jicarilla Apache, Ohkay Owingeh and Ute . Although I have never met him, my father's people are Maya. I was born a guest on the ancestral homelands of the Chumash people and am descended from the Tongva as my great grandfather, Daniel Dominguez, raised my grandmother in the San Gabriel Village from the time she was 3 months old. I have yet to relearn the complete intricacies of my lineages and humbly apologize for addressing you in the colonizer's language.
I am six and recently recieved a call from the Chief of Staff for the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education, Ron Lessard who personally invited me to come to Washington DC for a meeting with Secretary of Education on January 21, 2015. This past November, I gave testimony to the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education about "School Environment" and my own experience as a Native youth in the public education system. Among many things, I talked about what it is like to be in 1st grade and have the kids at school tease me because of my hair. I talked about how it made me feel when my school celebrated Columbus Day and disregarded the actual history of how his arrival forever impacted the experience of my ancestors. I talked about how I am sent to the school principal's office more than the other kids and how that not only embarrasses me but conditions the other kids think unfavorably about Native people.
William Mendoza, the Executive Director of the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education, took my story back to Washington DC and the powers that be asked me come to Washington to meet with US Secretary of Education, on January 21st. I would like to go Washington DC to speak with the White House about Native youth and why we need a more positive experience in school. I would like to learn to speak the language of my ancestors and want to ask the White House to recognize the sigificance of this and allow me to pick my own language instead of Spanish or French. When kids like me are encouraged to learn our language... well that I think that is a big deal because then we will be able to know what the elders are saying. My mom said that this would be a powerful example of something called tribal soverignty or healing or something like that.
Well I promised my mom that I am going to make it to DC for this meeting somehow even if we have to hitch hike across the country to get there. But then I saw pictures of the White House in January and it is snowing! It looks cold, so I would rather take an airplane.
This is a recent video message from OBAMA that explains in part why I was invited to DC! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/03/obama-generation-indigenous_n_6262148.html
Please help send the message of success for Native youth in education by helping me get to the White House to speak on my own experience for the Seventh Generation.
Iheedn. Hych'qu siem. Thank you for sending hope and brightening the future for Native students across Turtle Island.
PS. When I get to the White House, I am going to ask if I can meet President Obama's dogs. I hear that he has two of them. Their names are Bo and Sunny. I can't wait!
Love,
Benton "One Moc" Moonshine Covarrubias
Warrior of the Seventh Generation
I am the only of son of my mother, Laurie Covarrubias. The elders have taught me that my maternal ancestery is Jicarilla Apache, Ohkay Owingeh and Ute . Although I have never met him, my father's people are Maya. I was born a guest on the ancestral homelands of the Chumash people and am descended from the Tongva as my great grandfather, Daniel Dominguez, raised my grandmother in the San Gabriel Village from the time she was 3 months old. I have yet to relearn the complete intricacies of my lineages and humbly apologize for addressing you in the colonizer's language.
Organizer
Desiree Laurie Covarrubias
Organizer
Claremont, CA
