Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Keshshi! Ko’ don dewanan a:deyaye? (Hello! How are you doing today?)
Ho’ Kiana Etsate-Gashytewa leshina. Hom annodiwe mula bitchi:kwe deyan dona:kwe a:wan
cha’le. Ho’ kwili asdemlan yaldo debbikwikya. Hom a:lashina a:chi Whipple dap Eva Etsate
leshina. Hom tsitda Stephonie Etsate dap hom datchu Lyle Gashytewa leshina. Ho’ suhnhankwi
ky’achuba yalla ts’ina:weshe:a. Yam a:ho’i yam a:ts’emana, akkya ho’ tsina:weshe:a.
My name is Kiana Etsate-Gashytewa. I come from the Pueblo of Zuni and Hopi tribes.
My clans are a Parrot and child of a Turkey. I am currently 20 years of age. My grandparents are
the ones who have raised me and their names are Whipple and Eva Etsate. My mother’s name is
Stephonie Etsate and my father’s name is Lyle Gashytewa. I attend university at the base of the
San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff, Arizona at Northern Arizona University. The reason I pursue
higher education is to one day come back and share my skills and knowledge with our Tribal
dancer, dreamer and so much more. I hold myself to the highest standards of my Pueblo
teachings to where I can present myself before you today. I grew up under the care of my
grandparents, Whipple and Eva Etsate. They raised me underneath our sacred Corn mountain,
Dowa Yalanne and was taught our Zuni language and culture. Under their direction and care,
they instilled the ideology that “Education is Key” and always encouraged me to learn in every
way possible. I took this teaching and applied it to daily life and take every moment as a learning
moment. I have been rather keen to the Western Education model and found myself excelling in
academics but my heart knew the education I really wanted was a Traditional Zuni Education
which is comprised of the most ancient and beautiful Shiwi stories, morals, values, language, and
prayers. Through the years, I have learned to intertwine my Western and Traditional education to
become a knowledgeable, well rounded, Pueblo woman utilizing both education models to excel
in today’s modern society. One of my most powerful works would include Zuni interpretation of
our Traditional Kiva government and comparing it to our “Western” and current Zuni Tribal
Government (Zuni Constitution, Courts, Tribal Council), then establishing mutual understanding
Although I value each education the same, I chose to pursue a Western education. As I
began my higher educational path, I came across several options; my family wanted me to
educator. I knew in my heart that I wanted to be a leader of some sorts. As these ideas
culminated in my brain, I knew I could be all 3. I find myself naturally being in these positions
An educator by educating others of Indigenous issues, history, language, and cultures inside and
A mentor to Indigenous students trying to find their place at a higher education institution along
A leader by leading NAU Student Organizations like Connecting Higher Education Indigenously
(CHEI), the Miss Indigenous NAU Organization, and the United Diversity Council.
I am in love with my fields of study, Applied Indigenous Studies and Political Science, as both
fields challenge me to learn, interpret, and decolonize academic ideologies and structures with
of law, academia, culture, and language by gaining acceptance for the American Indian Studies’
Tribal Leadership and Governance Master of Science Program at Arizona State University. My
ultimate goal is to reclaim our sovereignty as an Independent Indigenous Nation by rewriting our
Zuni Tribal Constitution in the Zuni language as our interpretation will cater and benefit our
people. Through this incredible Master’s degree program, I would like to concentrate in Tribal
leadership, to focus on creating and cultivating the next generation of Zuni Tribal leaders.
I believe that I can contribute to the program by bringing energy, motivation, leadership,
and experiences as a Pueblo woman to Arizona State University and the American Indian Studies
Program. The reason I would love to attend ASU’s masters program as it is an esteemed program
with a renowned Indigenous faculty and staff whose work has been exemplified throughout
Indian Country. Such AIS faculty along with their works that inspire me to pursue this degree.
The AIS faculty is also known for their life-changing work they do for Indian Country
and I would be absolutely honored to work with and possibly be mentored by these great
professors. Professors such as Dr. Myla Vicenti-Carpio who is a trailblazer for her work in
Dr. Cheryl Bennett, Dr. Leo Killsback, Dr. James Riding In, and Dr. Davis Martinez for their
Since being introduced to the world of Indigenous studies by the most influential Zuni
woman, Miss Carlotta Martza, I was extremely passionate and in disbelief that there was such a
field dedicated to learning the histories, and background knowledge for our Indigenous
populations, governments, and laws. I realized I could then combine my love for Politics, tribal
leadership/governance, and laws into Indian country and our Zuni Traditional teachings. With
my Western educational background along with my Zuni educational teachings of ancient
morals, virtues, language, dances, and prayers, I study to utilize both aspects to create cultural
competency of our own tribal and traditional government systems and curating it to benefit our
people, history, and nation. Given my educational, personal and life experience, I feel that I am
always open to new thoughts, ideas, and experiences to which I apply to this program. I am
intrigued with the work and courses that are offered through this master’s program and am very