My name is Patrick V. Naranjo. I serve as Director of the American Indian Graduate Program (AIGP) at UC Berkeley. I am a proud member of Kha Po' Owinge, which is the original name for Santa Clara Pueblo. This name first arrived when Spanish conquistadors joined the Pueblo communities of Northern New Mexico, designating a Catholic patron saint for each community which they encountered. This renaming represented the colonial perspective. Today, many Pueblos use their original names but still coexist with Spanish relatives and community members.
 
These names are representative of my experience and interpretation as a young person growing up in the Espanola Valley. I am Tewa; however, I'm also half-Hispanic. Even before I understood the history of colonization, this dual identity was confusing to interpret considering my tribal affiliation and my experience growing up in my home community, as well as professionally. I'm not the only individual that embraces this narrative from my home location as a Native person. My educational experience is similar to that of many Native people.  
 
I came to UC Berkeley to share my academic, professional, and personal experience working with Tribal governments and Native communities. I am a graduate of Haskell Indian Nations University where I competed as a football student-athlete, and an American Indian Studies graduate of UCLA with an emphasis on contemporary tribal cultural property protection. My education and purpose has always been informed by my worldview as a Tewa individual. As it was for many young people, the concept of attending college as a life strategy was something very different from what I expected. Honestly, it was something of a far off concept to even consider. I have always understood the importance of education in this regard; however, the process of college, graduate school, and career was not very easy to comprehend. 
 
I recall guidance from both of my grandfathers - Native and Hispanic - in this direction. This was very informative, especially growing up in Espanola, which is not an easy community in which to consider these kinds of ideas. As a young person, these ideas seemed difficult to even consider in defining a realistic future. Like, who goes to school for these things? Shaping the future of Native people and my Tribal community has always been important to me, but I did not realize it could be a career.
 
The culmination of my career is being able to mentor Native and first generation students and help UC Berkeley partner with tribal communities. Each day, and especially during Indigenous Heritage Month, I am honored to share my story and to be honest about the way that confusion about my identity and my educational direction shaped my career path. I hope my perspective might resonate with other people and encourage them to pursue what is most important instead of settling for the careers they are directed into by others.
 
For more information on the the American Indian Graduate Program (AIGP) at UC Berkeley or other ways to expand your knowledge and advocacy for the Indigenous community, email me at pnaranjo@berkeley.edu.

Patrick V. Naranjo is the executive director of the American Indian Graduate Program at UC Berkeley.