Robert Corral III Author: Jillian Altfest Interviewer: Tonya Moreno Ethnic Group: Native American Generation: Youth

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Robert Corral began his life in French Camp in 1979. He is of mixed ancestry—Caucasian, Mexican and Native American, but feels he identifies most with his Native American heritage. Robert feels his interests, beliefs and personality are similar to those of other Native Americans. He is very proud to consider himself a part of the Northern Valley Yokut/Ohlone/Me-Wok tribe and the California Indian culture.

Although Robert’s family doesn’t live on a reservation, his parents are still an active part of the Native American community. His mother and father are Native American Monitors. As Monitors, Robert’s parents act as liaisons between the Indian community and the archeologists, contractors and public agencies that plan the development of and building on native lands. In watching the proactive route his parents have chosen, Robert has really internalized the importance of helping a community preserve its identity and heritage.

Before a person can successfully help others find and preserve their identity, he has to understand his own. While growing up, Robert’s father didn’t bestow his Catholic beliefs on Robert or his sister. Robert was encouraged to choose for himself. Robert maintains that religion can take many shapes and forms and is crucial to a person’s identity. He believes that everyone, in one way or another, has spirituality, and is somehow guided by it. As Robert said, “Religion is where we find out what we are and what we believe in.”

While in elementary school, Robert felt very connected with his heritage. He participated in a school program in which the Native American students were given the opportunity to learn, in detail, about their tribe’s history and culture. Robert continued in this special program throughout high school, as well as being part of the Magnet Program. Because Robert’s father was such an influence in his life, constantly supporting and encouraging him to do well, Robert felt compelled to work and study hard to avoid becoming “anyone’s donkey!” As Robert continued to mature in both age and knowledge base, he became interested in the field of business. He took part in the Business Careers Program at Woodruff Regional Occupational Center. From this experience, he knew that he would like to pursue a career in business. Upon completing high school, Robert attended Heald Business College in Stockton. To this day, Robert feels he learned a great deal from his educational path and treasures the knowledge he gained.

As he’s grown older, Robert’s tribe and family have become increasingly important to him. The Northern Valley Yokut/Ohlone/Me-Wok tribe went before a federal court in attempt to establish tribal recognition and was denied. The legal battle to be recognized by their own country has had a huge impact on Robert’s family and friends. The lack of success in court served to open their eyes to the need to stick together and fight to preserve their history and culture. The Corral’s feel that if they don’t fight, their tribe faces the reality of never attaining what they feel is their absolute right—to be understood and distinguished as a culture, native to the very land upon which they live.

Although the continued battle for tribal recognition has taken a toll on Robert, he still remembers happier times with his tribe. Robert recalls his grandfather leading their tribal meetings and how he would sit and listen to his grandfather’s stories and memories, about times and places so different than his own experiences. His grandfather’s tales taught Robert about life and about his own past. He learned a great deal from his grandfather, and the rest of his family. Through his interaction with his now late grandfather, Robert knows that he was lucky to have grown up in a generation that allows for understanding and more freedom from racism and discrimination. Robert can see clearly that today, tolerance of ethnic diversity is much more widespread than in his parent’s time. But with a shift towards acceptance of his traditions from the general public, Robert recognizes his own community’s shift toward integrating traditions other than those native to the tribe. He understands this, but has no intention of letting go of his deeply ingrained culture.

Aside from growing emotionally through the stories of his past, Robert began to grow into an adult when he received his driver’s license. With this new freedom in mobility, coupled with graduation from high school, Robert was able to move out on his own. These changes have brought a transformation in the way Robert’s family treats him. He has more responsibilities and his family recognizes this. Robert was able to graduate from high school early, and is proud of his accomplishments. He has taught himself how to time manage and accomplish the goals he sets for himself, all of which have helped Robert in determining the kind of man he would like to become. While it is certain that Robert, at age 25, has much more to learn and experience, his determination, enthusiasm, and love of family and life will carry him throughout his journey into adulthood.