BECOMING A LOUDER GIRL: Paying It Forward During Native American Month

From the Beach to the Country: My Lesson in Listening

When I was twelve, my family moved from the beach town of Pacific Beach (population 41,590) to Alpine, a quiet community of just 5,000.

Why the move? My dad, on his sixth career out of nineteen, traded his carpentry work for a foreclosed house in Alpine. Suddenly, our lives changed from sidewalks and surfboards to stalls, chicken coops, and country roads.

For the first time, I rode a school bus that passed through a Native American reservation. I had no idea it existed. Yet when I saw the open land, the mountains, and the small houses scattered across the hills, I felt something deep in my chest — peace.

Decades later, I found myself back on a reservation, this time as a volunteer working with Native educators and high school students. Together, we explored storytelling and the power to reclaim narratives that have long been told about them, instead of by them.

What Happens When We Let People Tell Their  Stories

In one exercise, I asked Native high schoolers to bring in images showing “what society thinks about Native Americans.”

They came back with painful stereotypes such as drunks, beggars, casinos, dropouts, teepees.

Then, I asked them to bring images of what it’s like to be them.

This time, their collages overflowed with: Land. Family. Feathers. Horses. Traditions. Graduation caps. Pride.

When I asked, “What’s the story here?” they said:

WE LOVE OUR FAMILY AND OUR COMMUNITY.
WE LOVE THE LAND.
WE ARE PROUD OF OUR NAMES AND OUR CULTURE.
WE WILL GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

That’s the power of storytelling, the shift from stereotype to truth.
When we listen deeply, we realize how wrong the dominant story has been.
More empathy. Less judgment. More listening.

Paying It Forward During Native American Heritage Month

People asked me, “Dr. Z, what’s the connection between paying it forward and Native Americans?”

My answer is simple: Everything.

Paying it forward in this context means moving beyond one act of kindness toward ongoing, meaningful action that uplifts, advocates, and amplifies Indigenous communities all year long.

Here’s how you can start:

1. Acknowledge the Land

Learn about the Indigenous nations who are the traditional caretakers of your land.

Find the Native American land where you live and work here: native-land.ca

Here’s the land acknowledgement I use in my signature:

“I acknowledge that I live and work on the unceded land of the Kumeyaay Nation. For generations, they have protected, nourished, and loved this land. In the spirit of justice and storytelling, I commit to amplifying voices that have been silenced for too long.”

Here's the longer version of the land acknowledgement for San Diego:

2. Amplify Native Voices

Read. Watch. Listen. Share.
Read books by Native authors, watch films directed by Indigenous filmmakers, and follow Native journalists and artists online. This helps to disrupt stereotypes and brings their authentic stories to the forefront.

Here are examples for your consideration:

Books to read:

• Braiding Sweetgrass — Robin Wall Kimmerer
• There There — Tommy Orange
• Crazy Brave — Joy Harjo
• Heart Berries — Terese Marie Mailhot
• An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States — Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Watch:

• Reservation Dogs (Hulu)
• Dark Winds (AMC+, Roku)
• Killers of the Flower Moon (Amazon Prime)

3. Participate in LOUDER GIRL Gatherings

FREE LOUDER GIRL Webinar
BECOMING A LOUDER GIRL: Paying It Forward During Native American Month
Date: November 3rd & 17th
Time: 4 PM to 5 PM Pacific
RSVP Here → https://www.loudergirl.com/webinar

Walk away with community and support, peace, and renewed power.

HEROINE RISING: A 6-Week Live Workshop
Step into your story unapologetically — surrounded by women who see and celebrate you.

You will:

• Mother yourself.
• Love yourself.
• And rise — not just for you, but for every woman who comes after.

Date: 2026 Dates TBA
Time: 4 PM – 5:30 PM PDT
Format: 90 minutes Live on Zoom
SIGN UP HERE → https://www.loudergirl.com/gatherings