I have a very unique, intersectional path of learning, combining Anthropology, Indigenous Studies, and Creative Writing. This would not be possible in the same way anywhere else!
I wish to bring good medicine to the world, utilizing values from ancient peoples, including my own native heritage, and to do so through writing. Studying at Evergreen allows me to combine all of these with both depth and breadth. I have had the opportunity to learn from living elders, and to travel to my ancient ancestor's homeland in Brazil. I’ve been fortunate enough to learn from and interview native elders there!
I have won the award to travel abroad for the second time in a row this year and will participate in breathing life into an endangered native language of my ancestors/relatives: the Mbya Guarani.
Anthropology is one of my passions, and I am a living masterwork, born of each of the ancestors who have converged here, in me. Evergreen is a bastion of diverse thinking, as well as diversity. I celebrate the myriad ways all of us, teachers, students, and sponsors have come to be here.
I am now studying my 13th great grandfather, who was the first Native South American taken on a boat to what is now France. Many generations later, descendants of his returned to the Americas.
I applied as a storyteller to travel to his homeland and conduct research on identity, belonging, indigeneity, intergenerational healing, and the irreplaceable landscape. Evergreen helped me to return him symbolically to his home island of Sao Francisco do Sul, where I met with welcoming relatives in the current native community. That was life changing. I hope to step forward with good medicine for the people.
I utilize the unique ability of Evergreen to weave a crossroads of those subjects I feel I can do really good with! Anthropology, Native Life Ways, and Authorship (poetry and fiction) have been my mainstays.
I have been immeasurably grateful for the hands-on, community-based learning opportunities.
When I was in junior high, I heard of a place... it was a magical sounding place... and the linchpin for me? No required math class. I’m someone who struggles with mathematical subjects which provide no geometric visual by which to fact check the strings of numbers and letters. I was mortified that one subject might keep me from graduating from higher education. Taking math off the table felt that I could fearlessly open my wings and become an expert in the subjects that I knew I would excel in.
I had no idea the brilliance that would unfold at Evergreen... While I enjoyed my time at my original college, my end goal was always Evergreen... and I have since published, performed, won contests and scholarships, become a global traveler, an educator, and so much more, through this incredible community... Evergreen drew me in with individuality and retained me with the immense care of the underlying mindset. People are unique, and when we allow them to pursue their passions, they rise...
I particularly enjoy a number of things at Evergreen:
First, my instructors. Each seems to be as passionate as the students are! I have instructors here who encourage me to dream big, in stark comparison to my previous college, where often, big dreams were met with cautionary tales.
Here I have traveled across the equator, have been invited to teach as a culture keeper, have built manuscripts, self-published, taken thousands of photos, and so much more. I have harvested cedar, made baskets, made leather clothing, jewelry, I have taken skills I already adored and through ample space and time, unfurled them in myriad directions.
I, perhaps most of all, have come to see myself differently. I was accepted as if I were family. I am family. And when we have family spirit, in 'doing the good work' as my now deceased teacher Gary said, we are not afraid.
Receiving the Study Abroad scholarship helped make traveling across the equator to meet my ancestors possible!
Going so far, and on an ILC, cost a lot! The scholarship helped cover my flights to the remote island. I was lucky to be able to raise more money for food, and to go towards materials such as a rental car. As I look at returning to help with linguist work on an endangered language, I am again seeking additional funds for a translator. The scholarship, again, will make my trip possible!
Study Abroad might be number one activity I am proud of! I was honored to receive the study abroad scholarship twice, to do my healing work in Brazil. And to, upon my return, win the Global Photo Contest, in the 'Engaged' category. I cannot tell you the degree to which this has and will impact my life and others. I am now preparing to travel again for several weeks, and will be helping with the Mbya language, which is endangered, after being invited by the Mbya people to come to their school on the island.
After Evergreen, I want to help make the world a more beautiful place, through being a successful storyteller.
While I have applied to several highly competitive fellowships in master's for Creative Writing, I am also looking into alternatives as either a Linguist, or an Archeologist. I have written nearly twenty books! My goal at Evergreen was to uncover the mystery of publishing. I have self-published and am still pursuing a doorway to publishing with larger companies. Whether I go to school for writing, or do good work for cultures and ancestors, and write along the way, I know my ultimate goal is to use my voice to help spread and burgeon beauty for all people, and the planet.
