Randy DeGroat (He/Him/His)

Yá'át'ééh

Shi ei Randy DeGroat yinishye. Ashiihí nishłí dóó To’ aheedlini báshíshchiin. Tl’ogi dashícheii dóó Ashiihí dashinálí.

My name is Randy DeGroat and I am a member of the Diné Tribe (aka Navajo). I introduce myself to you in my native language to identify who I am and where my family is from. I have four clans that are represented by my mother first, followed by my father. Then, my maternal grandfather, and finally, my paternal grandfather are represented as my third and fourth clans. To learn more about my family and my culture, please feel free to come by the FPNC and introduce yourself. I'm always open to  sharing more about my culture.

I was raised within the traditional homeland of the Diné people crossing the state boarders of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado. More specifically, I was raised within New Mexico and that is where most of my extended family call home. I visit often and love spending time in New Mexico, but I have made California as my home and I intend to support my communities here as long as I am able to.

I work closely with the Native and Indigenous communities throughout Southern California and am always eager to learn.  Some of my roles include working with Native students and faculty within the California Community College system, being a part of a fellowship that supports Native communities within the state of California, and offering Native language workshops. In fact, I coauthored a Native language class curriculum to be offered as a non-credit course and it is currently being reviewed for approval. Besides that, my current role within the FPNC is to support outreach efforts to bring Native/Indigenous students into a community cultivated with care and respect.  Whether it’s engaging in ceremonies held by honorable elders, offering thanks to Mother Earth, or sharing my culture to curious minds,  I wish to meet everyone so that we can share cultures and provide a prosperous future.

It is an honor to be here and I hope to meet you all in due time. Ahéhee’.