By Walter Ryce

“I am Diné, born to the Tódích’íi’nii and To’tsohnii clans,” said Nizhoni Chow-Garcia, director of inclusive excellence within the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Sustainability. Tódích’íi’nii are the Bitter Water People and To’tsohnii are Big Water People. 

She said she feels a deep responsibility to indigenous communities, and that her work broadly supports Natives in STEM and engages in critical Indigenous frameworks. 

A couple of ways that translates on the campus of CSUMB is that she actively supports the employee affinity group Native American Council and serves as a club advisor for Native American Students United. 

President Vanya Quiñones also recently appointed her Tribal Liaison. 

“[That role] carries with it the weight of responsibility to respectfully and reciprocally develop and maintain relations with neighboring tribes,” Chow-Garcia said. 

There are deep complexities and layered histories to navigate in that space. But Chow-Garcia has surmounted personal challenges to find reconciliation. 

“I’m an urban Indian who grew up off-reservation, and for that I used to feel a mixture of shame and liminal discomfort,” she said. “It took me earning my bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees to view my cultural integrity as a strength and, in particular, embrace the Diné concept of Hózhó, or beauty way of life.”

She said that everyone can participate in and honor Native American Heritage Month by learning more about the diversity of Native American tribes in books, courses and classes, films (such as “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Reservation Dogs”), and participating in campus events. 

Here is a list of such CSUMB events commemorating the month:

• Native Beading at the Makerspace: 4 - 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, at Library Makerspace, Room 3125
• Aztec Dancer Ceremony: 6 - 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, at Otter Student Union main plaza 
• Complications Between Latinidad and Indigeneity: 2 - 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, at Otter Cross Cultural Center, Otter Student Union, Room 301
• LiberATE your Plate: 1 - 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, at Otter Student Union, Room 310
• Drum group on campus:  6 - 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13, at Otter Student Union Ballroom 
• Elevating Native Voices: 6 - 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, at Alumni and Visitors Center
• Study Time with Hijos de Sol: 6 - 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, at Otter Student Union Rookery

Chow-Garcia also offers a personal invitation: “Please contact me if you are a Native student or employee. I would love to support and connect you with Native American Students United and the Native American Council.” 

For more information or to contact Chow-Garcia, go to the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Sustainability web page.