Born in Guatemala, senior Danny Cox moved to the U.S. at the age of 1 after being adopted. Since Cox remembers little of his time in Guatemala, he has had to work to stay connected to his Central American heritage.

“My cultural identity has been relatively impactful on my life,” Cox said. “Because I live in the U.S., I feel as though it’s not as prominent as if I were living in a region (where it has) more influence.”

Cox is of Mayan descent. The Maya, an ethnic group made up of the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica, live principally in Southern Mexico, as well as parts of El Salvador, Belize and Guatemala. Following the end of the Guatemalan Civil War in 1996, many Mayan refugees migrated to the U.S., settling in areas along the Sun Belt such as California and Florida. However, the U.S. did not — and still does not — officially recognize the Maya as a tribe. Cox thus has trouble identifying with the term “Native American.”

“It felt improper to consider myself Native American without being a part of a federally recognized tribe,” he said. “I am glad that I am able to talk about it because I’m sure I am not the only one who feels as though they are in the gray area.”

But Cox keeps reminders of his heritage in his home,
including woven artifacts such as tapestries, to preserve tradition.

“Community and family are incredibly important within the culture and are often expressed as such in artwork,” Cox said. “Even though many, including myself, have had a disconnection with the deep-rooted traditional culture, there are still artifacts that remain and are so predominant.”

Cox is most interested in reconnecting with Mayan history. While visiting Ecuador this past summer, he was struck by the vibrant cultural connection and traditional practices of the area’s indigenous people, who speak a Quechuan dialect called Kichwa.

“One thing that I am fascinated by is how tribes generally work,” Cox said. “You’re part of a family, you learn your ancestral connections and there’s so much diversity among the tribes.”

Cox believes in the importance of embracing Native American voices both within and outside of tribes.

“Everybody’s experiences are different,” he said. “Nobody can say what the predetermined Native American is, so I think that people should just ask to learn about different experiences.”

Every summer, Social Studies Instructional Lead Jeff Patrick and his family spend a few days in Alaska, where he and his wife grew up. They visit a small fishing village near Juneau, Alaska’s capital, where Patrick used to live and where his family still resides. These trips are a way for him to connect to his culture and for his kids to discover their heritage.

Patrick grew up in a mixed household: His mom was half-native Alaskan, and his dad was white. Growing up, he wasn’t connected to his native Alaskan side, but he acknowledges that his respect for nature stems from growing up around native Alaskan culture.

“Growing up in a partially native household really shows that kind of direct connection between people and the land,” Patrick said. Patrick’s grandmother, who grew up in the 1930s, lived on the Aleutian Islands — a chain of 50 islands off Alaska’s coast.

During World War II, fearing its citizens would fraternize with the Russian and Japanese governments, the U.S. government moved Patrick’s grandmother to Alaska’s mainland. According to Patrick, his family lost much of his grandmother’s culture after the move.

“My grandmother, because she was one of the only Aleutians in this area, didn’t preserve much of that culture,” Patrick said. “So, growing up, (our family) was more familiar with what was going on (in Alaska), especially in terms of foods and such.”

As Patrick’s children discovered their heritage, he began to connect further with his culture.

“They would ask some questions, and I wouldn’t actually know,” he said. “So then, we would reach out (to organizations).”

Patrick’s children applied for college scholarships through some of these organizations, requiring Patrick to research them. As a result, he learned more about local native Alaskan history and traditions.

These organizations also hold activities for families. Patrick has done weaving and moccasin-making projects with his daughter. Patrick has rekindled his familiarity with his culture through these family experiences.

“I try connecting my own children with their heritage, but Alaska has also been a learning experience for me,” he said.