Ske:g Tas! Sapai cui’ig? Añi an ap ce:gig Zoe Hernandez Masad Ali.

Kamuuduushthik? Nyaa Zoe Hernandez ‘iim mulyk. Nyaa mataam-shaxukk-mayk-xamxmokk. Nyip Nthaysh Felicia Ramos thlyxoxm, Nyip Nykewsh Joni Ramos duum. Arizona State University yaak. Va Shly’ay ilynyavayk aanyii piipayk aanyii kmank. Aanysh Dothm.

Good day! How are you? My name is Zoe Hernandez. I am Onk Akimel O’odham, and I am the 19-year-old daughter of the late Felicia Ramos. My maternal grandmother is Joni Ramos, and my great grandmother is Hazel Thomas. I am a student at Arizona State University where I am pursuing my Bachelor of Sciences in American Indian Studies. In the future I hope to pursue a bachelor’s in communications and double major. I reside within the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community boundaries and have lived here my whole life. 

My interests include baking, playing the viola, learning new languages, traditional dancing and going to concerts. Recently, I’ve been exploring my traditional values and have become engrossed in them. This past year I have started to learn simple phrases and the orthographies of both the Onk Akimel O’odham and the Xalychidom Piipaash. I have been extremely fortunate to partake in a program where I was able to learn both traditional O’odham dances and chiyer, better known as bird dancing. I have found myself dancing with a big smile whenever I have the chance. I also enjoy dancing cumbias and having fun with my friends on the dance floor. I try to attend concerts as often as possible and will often attend one close to every month. 

I am overly excited to work with O’odham Action News. I have always seen the O’odham Action News team around the Community with their cameras and thought they looked so cool. I feel very fortunate to gain this experience. I am excited to see not only our Salt River Community members, but everyone around the Community. I hope to meet new faces and familiar ones. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me! Sape!