A week or so back the Whiteaker Native Classroom visited the UO Longhouse; this is a heartwarming message from Miss Indigenous U of O, Angela Noah to us about that day…
“Things have been personally tough lately working as a Residential Advisor, grieving the passing of loved ones, and approaching the final week of winter term. Today, however, I was reminded of strength and community.
Today, working with students from the Native Classroom of Lane County, I met this little girl. She was curious of my jewelry and so I explained where I got the turquoise and shells on my necklace from. She touched the dentalium in my earrings and the ones beaded into my crown. “You look like a princess!”, I got told. I told her about why I wear a crown and how I get to wear my dress to meet people in the community. Then she asked if I was a Disney princess and if I hang out with Snow White 🥺😭
In the last photo, we were given beads to make necklaces but she asked me to help her bead a few things;
#1. A necklace
#2. Matching earrings
#3. A beaded crown for her 😭
“The youth humble and inspire me everyday. Representation of Native people in higher education is so important. They see us, they hear us, they watch us. Today this little girl reminded me of why I decided to hold this platform. To showing up in my Apache campdresses to events, wearing the crown and sharing my cultural roots about turquoise jewelry or moccasins has been healing and a gift I am grateful I share with so many wonderful people I have met throughout my reign. 💞
Thank you again to the students and staff from both the Native Headstart Classroom and my community on campus at UO. ✨ Today was healing in so many ways for me, ashoog ❤️ “