Ya’at’eeh (greetings, hope things are good), Let me start with my names. I’m known to family and friends as Erica, EEKAH, Bear, Shash, Chesterue, and Maah. I grew up near Dibe Ni’ st'aah (La Plata, NM) but my family roots come from Din’e Bito (Northern AZ) and the Chiricahua Mountains (What is presently known as Southeastern AZ, Southwestern NM and into Mexico) (Dinebitodee’ naasha nidi La Plata, NMdi shighan). Most importantly I’m Navajo and Chiricahua Apache (Chishi Din’e). Chishi ei nishli, Naakaii Dine’e bashischiin, Tachii’nii/Nat’oh Dine’e ei dashicheii, doo Tabaahi ei dashinali. Through my grandmothers and grandfathers I’m indigenous to the lands (AZ, NM and Mexico) that surround me and don’t plan to go anywhere. I’m evidence of strong ancestors (a family that survived racism, genocide, historical trauma, grief, imprisonment, depression, relocation, removal, assimilation, warfare, alcoholism, land lost, abuse (boarding schools), colonization, foreign diseases (small pox’s, etc.), Christianity, Catholicism, oppression and the list goes on…). I live in two worlds (mainstream America and Native America (Chishi Din’e)) and it can be very tough when both worlds are very different (at times both worlds have nothing in common). I’m learning of ways to decolonize myself and my family. In the process of colonization your ways living and thinking get flipped upside down and erased. My ancestors’ didn’t think and live individually and that's something I’d like to change about myself and the people that surround me. My ancestors thought of all things that surround them as living entities (air we breath, water we drink, earths surfaces that we walk on every day, ants, birds, rocks, mountains, ect.). I believe that your identity is what matters most and any anyone can get money and become rich. I’m a proud mother to a wonderful and smart little boy and couldn’t ask for more in life. I come from a big family (SMART&CUTE SON,CARING&LOVING FURTURE HUSBAND,LIKE NO OTHER MOTHER,LOVING FATHER,STRONG OLDER SISTERS,VERY SMART OLDER BROTHER,CREATIVE LITTLE BROTHERS,HANDSOME NEFEWS AND A VERY PRETTY NIECE) and love my family very much. Family is want matters most to me. Out of respect I can be a quiet person and only talk when appropriate. But if you’re my best friend or a close person I can be a chatter box. I don’t like bossy people and can become bossy if I need to. I’m a hard worker and do my best at everything I do. I treat people the way they treat me, I can be the nicest person you know or meanest bitch out there. If you treat me with respect you’ll receive it back in full. I’m in the process of receiving my Bachelors of Science in American Indian Studies. It took me four years to complete my degree and learned that anyone can get a college education. If your goals in life are to go to college or finish your education, i encourage you to do so (there’s a lot to learn). I now plan to find a job working for local Tribes (INTERESTED IN NATIVE AMERICAN ISSUES-LAND ISSUES, WATER RIGHTS, LAND RIGHTS, FISHING RIGHTS, NATURAL RESOURCES ISSUES, CULTURAL RIGHTS AND MANY OTHERS and helping other’s finish their education), applying for Law School (Indian Law) and travel with my family.

"Erica who has more harmony than a harmonica. Johns feel intoxicated by her karma. To my sister, my life, my friend. I am who I am, because of you. For that your my forever, I love you. Do you remember the rocks? Do you remember the mountains? Remember the clouds. I'm picturin' you an me there right now. A sunflower up in the sky, Is like the ultimate high, With you by my side. Remember the cheat you help me beat? Yeah, he wasn't very sweet. You don't know how much you got me back on my feet. In life, you'll make it, you'll break it. You'll show everyone you didn't fake it. Your a Native nirvana, Filled with good karma, And senational Stamina. Always" BY MY SISTER REBECCA....:) THANKS FOR THE KINDS WORDS SIS:)

PLACES I CALL HOME Dos Cabezas Mountains (Sacred mountain to the Chiricahua apache) Mount Hesperus (Sacred Mountain of the North to the DINE)

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