Native Bruin: Past, Present & Future Gabriel A. Montoya, Ohkay Owingeh Nation, Class of 2011

Bruin Highlight: Past, Present & Future This December 2024 we are highlighting Native Bruin Gabriel A Montoya from the Ohkay Owingeh nation, class of 2011 with a major in American Indian Studies. Gabriel A. Montoya is a professional video editor residing in Simi Valley, California, alongside his wife Nikki and daughter Eireann. His experience in … Read more

Native Bruin: Past, Present & Future Amber Kanazbah Crotty, Navajo, Class of 2007

Bruin Highlight: Past, Present & FutureThis November 2024 we are highlighting Native Bruin Amber Kanazbah Crotty from the Navajo Nation with a major in History class of 2007. Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty ’07 is a member of the 25th Navajo Nation Council, serves on the Budget and Finance Committee, and is the chair for … Read more

UCLA Native Welcome Event

Native Welcome event

The UCLA American Indian Studies Center and Department extend a warm invitation to all American Indian/Native American and Pacific Islander individuals to connect with fellow native professors, staff, and students involved in various native student organizations. This event also provides an opportunity to interact with current students and alumni, as well as to gain deeper … Read more

Native Bruin: Past, Present & Future Eva Thomas (Walpole Island First Nation)

Eva Thomas

Bruin Highlight: Past, Present & Future This August 2024 we are highlighting Native Bruin Eva Thomas from the Walpole Island First Nation, a MA graduate of 2009 in American Indians Studies. Eva Thomas is an accomplished director, writer, and producer, with a strong commitment to bringing diverse Indigenous stories to the forefront of film and … Read more

Native Bruin: Past, Present & Future – Patricia Bengochia (Bishop Paiute)

Patricia Bengochia

Bruin Highlight: Past, Present & Future This July 2024 we are highlighting Native Bruin Patricia Bengochia (also known as Petey) from the Bishop Paiute Tribal nation, a graduate of 1976. Patricia Bengochia, is one of the first group of Native students that was recruited to UCLA. Pat majored in History with a focus on American … Read more

Native Bruin: Past, Present & Future – Lydia Yellow Hawk (Sicangu Lakota)

Lydia YellowHawk

Bruin Highlight: Past, Present & Future This June 2024 we are highlighting Native Bruin, Lydia Yellow Hawk (Sicangu Lakota) class of 2023, MA in American Indian Studies. Lydia YellowHawk Lydia Yellow Hawk is Sicangu Lakota from the Rosebud Reservation, He Dog community in South Dakota. Lydia is a 2023 UCLA alum and received her M.A. … Read more

Native Bruin: Past, Present, & Future – Arlene Bowman (Diné)

Arlene Bowman

Bruin Highlight: Past, Present & Future This May 2024 we are highlighting Native Bruin, Arlene Bowman (Diné), class of 1986, MA in Film & Television. Arlene Bowman discovered her passion for art at a young age, drawing faces and bodies in elementary school before transitioning to still photography at fourteen. She earned her Bachelor of … Read more

Native Bruin: Past, Present & Emerging – Angelo Isaac Sandoval

Angelo Isaac Sandoval

This November we are highlighting Native Bruin, Angelo Isaac Sandoval  (Apache/Dine) Class of 2009. Angelo Isaac Sandoval is a staff attorney and clinical supervisor with the Clean Slate Practice at the East Bay Community Law Center through UC Berkeley’s School of Law. He leads the work to end the criminalization of poverty, advocates for the … Read more

Native Bruin – Past, Present & Emerging – Christie Michelle Poitra

Christie Michelle Poitra

This August we are highlighting Native Bruin Christie Michelle Poitra, Class of 2010. Dr. Christie Michelle Poitra graduated from UCLA in 2010 with a Master of Arts degree in American Indian Studies. As a first-generation college graduate, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from UC Berkeley and a doctorate in Educational Policy from Michigan … Read more