ITRC Newsletter Spring 2022

News from the Intertribal Resource Center at UC San Diego

Issue #51 Spring 2022 - April

UC San Diego Intertribal Resource Center

Greetings from the Intertribal Resource Center. We hope you and your loved ones are happy, healthy and well. As we begin to head into Spring we look forward to some welcome changes. Soon we will be reopening the Center and returning to in-person programs. We're excited to host the annual powwow and Native graduation in person again - and hope to see you soon.

As always, we invite you to follow us on social media to stay up to date.

Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions, concerns, or just to say hi!

itrc@ucsd.edu | itrc.ucsd.edu

Native Triton, Melanie Estrella, repping the ITRC at the Campo Environmental Fair!

In This Issue...

April Celebrations

Ask a Native Triton

What We've Been Up to

Upcoming Events

Native American Student Organizations

Campus News

Community News

We want to celebrate with you!

Share your birthday, tell us about a special accomplishment, or recognize another Native Triton! Click below to share the love!

Native Triton Celebrations

Ask a Native Triton...

Each month we like to profile one of our amazing Native American students at UC San Diego. If you would like to nominate a Native American student at UC San Diego for us to feature you can email us at itrc@ucsd.edu.

This month the ITRC is featuring Perse Lewis

as our April Native Triton!

Name: Persephone Hooper Lewis

Tribe: Shoshone

What’s some of the best advice you’ve ever been given?

I have have amazing Native women mentors. The best advice that I have been given during my 20+ year career in Native education is to always do my best to leave relationships in the best way possible because connections in Indian Country are vast. Sometimes, because of the effects of colonization, taking the high road can be difficult, but it should always be the paramount concern.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love to spend time with my family and on the Land. People and the earth are always changing. It takes dedication to be in relationship with both, but the rewards are beyond words. I have been spending time with my grandmas and aunties of my valley in Nevada just listening to them speak our language and share stories from the area. It's been a blessing that has built my understanding across time and generations.

What do you like best about UC San Diego?

I graduated from UCSD in 04 with a BA and am now in my fourth year of a PhD program. My relationship with UCSD has been long and complicated. I think the Land that UCSD sits on is my favorite thing about the campus. I wish more of the UCSD community knew the history and appreciated the gifts they receive from UCSD's geographic location.

What We've Been Up To

The ITRC is excited to welcome visitors back to campus. Center staff and Native Tritons, Ivan Rajen, Lauren Smith and Brenna Deasy shared lunch with students from the Viejas and Sycuan Education Centers (pictured above), opened the Center for a "tour" and discussed resources for Native students at UC San Diego.

In celebration of the Out & Proud: Beyond Coming Out series hosted by the LGBT Resource Center, the Center hosted a small panel from the Avellaka - Rainbow of Truth program who shared their documentary, Decolonize Love and discussed ways to re-establish our 2Spirit/LGBTQ+ relatives place in the circle.

This was our first in-person, on-campus event in over two years. It was wonderful to see students and community coming together.

Upcoming Events

Invitations for graduates and guests will be emailed directly to those registered for this event. If you have questions, please contact itrc@uscd.edu.