Beats By Samantha

In our first edition of “Beats,” we talk to Native American activist Samantha Eldridge, who travels the country advocating for issues but spends most of her time as an Associate Instructor at the University of Utah. Given Indigenous People’s Day on Monday, we thought it fitting that she would be the ideal inaugural subject. “The best thing about being a person of color is knowing who and where I come from. Our family has lived on this land we call America since time immemorial; long before borders were drawn. Our traditions, culture, and language have been passed on from generations and despite the Federal Government's attempt to assimilate us we are still here,” she says. “Where so few Native American voices have a seat at the table, I am fortunate to be able to advocate for American Indians/Alaska Natives at the national level specifically around social justice issues. My advocacy centers around eliminating the historical and institutional structures that create inequitable policies, practices, and barriers that impede the success of Native American communities.” She says that in Navajo, they have a concept called hózhóogo naasháa doo. It means ‘in beauty I walk.” Beauty not in terms of physical beauty, but rather striving to live in balance and harmony with yourself and the world and reminding us of the beauty that is all around us as we walk through our everyday. She says she carries that with her every day. Read the full “Beats by Samantha” here.