Native American Heritage Month: SilentRain Espinoza's Story
11/17/2022
This Native American Heritage Month and always, Washington Athletics celebrates the Huskies with ties to their heritage.
SilentRain Espinoza, a fifth year on the Washington softball team, holds a deep tie with her Native American heritage.
This Native American Heritage Month, we are re-sharing the story she told in November 2020.
Espinoza's pride in her tribe runs deep.
She grew up on a reservation, and was eager to teach others about her culture - So those unfamiliar can hear more about where she comes from. To be a representative of her reservation.
HISTORY
Espinoza is a member of the Kumeyaay Indian Nation on the Viejas Reservation in Alpine, Calif., near San Diego.
Her dad’s family is Kumeyaay and her mom’s family is Penobscot, from Maine. Espinoza’s grandfather on her mom’s side moved to California when he was young and in the Marine Corps, so her mom grew up in San Diego.
“It’s been really nice growing up at the reservation because all my dad’s family lives all around us,” Espinoza said. “We’re a huge family, we’re all super close, and it’s awesome.”
CULTURE
Espinoza is more rooted within her father Greybuck’s Kumeyaay heritage.
Espinoza vividly recalled growing up going to traditional gatherings during the summer on weekends. Everyone – even from different tribes – would come together for those gatherings.
“They do traditional dancing and singing and games,” Espinoza said. “I did traditional dancing all growing up my whole life and there’s this thing called pow wows. I was a pow wow dancer. I was a fancy shawl and jingle dancer.”
At age 12, Espinoza was the head young woman dancer for one of the pow wows.
I really loved it and I loved just being around all the Native people. It was just a big family outside my immediate family...Everyone knew everyone.SilentRain Espinoza
PRIDE
Espinoza grew up playing in a league from her hometown where she was the only Native girl. As she got older and started playing on league teams in bigger cities, that distinction remained the same.
“When people would hear my name, they’d know I was something different, but they didn’t know what I was,” Espinoza said.
When people would hear my name, they’d know I was something different.SilentRain Espinoza
Greybuck was the one who came up with her name. She explained that in Native culture, rain is a symbol of healing and new life.
“He said that I came into the world in a quiet way, but I brought healing to my family, so that’s where I got SilentRain from,” Espinoza said.
Espinoza never had a hard time accepting her culture when she was growing up, but she did say it was difficult when she was younger to really express her pride in it.
She knew what her culture meant to her and her family. She knew she loved it. But she had a hard time talking about it because she knew it made her different.
That’s changed.
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that it’s a part of me that I would never want to change, that I’m very proud of now, and it’s what makes me, me,” Espinoza said. “It’s what makes me different, so I’d say I’m definitely proud of it. It shaped me into the person I am today.”
When she thinks back to those leagues she played on when she was younger, she’s struck by the memory of telling girls she’s Native American and in response hearing, “that’s awesome, I’ve never met a Native American.”
A train of thought escaped Espinoza as she thought out loud through that memory.
“Which is crazy I think because it’s so sad how Native girls are so underrepresented in a majority of sports, so I think for me, I really want to show all minority girls, specifically Native American girls, that it’s definitely possible that they can play at this level and succeed and get an education,” Espinoza said.
REPRESENTATION
It’s so sad how Native girls are so underrepresented in a majority of sports, so I think for me, I really want to show all minority girls, specifically Native American girls, that it’s definitely possible that they can play at this level and succeed and get an education.SilentRain Espinoza
Espinoza isn't the first in her family to play softball - after all, the softball field on the Viejas Reservation is named after her great grandfather Daniel Espinoza, who was a fastpitch softball pitcher - but she is the first in her family to not only play a college sport, but to go to a university.
She also believes she may be the first from her reservation to leave to play a college sport.
“It’s definitely a lot of pressure when I realize that I’m one of the only Native young women that’s made it this far in collegiate sports,” Espinoza said.
ROLE MODELS
Espinoza was asked about what kind of advice she'd give to Native American kids wanting to pursue their dreams of playing college sports.
Espinoza realized the role she has in inspiring Native kids during her freshman year at Washington.
After a home Husky game, the team was available to fans for an autograph session. Espinoza noticed a group of girls waving her over, so she went over to the group that included a mom with eight young girls.
That just put into perspective how doing what I love is making it possible and making it achievable for these young girls to see.SilentRain Espinoza
“They were all Native from a reservation here in Washington, and they were like, ‘we drove four hours to come watch you play. You’re such an inspiration to these girls,’ and that just put into perspective how doing what I love is making it possible and making it achievable for these young girls to see,” Espinoza said.
The smile she wore telling that story slowly settled into a more serious line.
The weight of the responsibility of being a role model.
“I guess I would just tell them that it’s possible to do anything,” Espinoza said. “I didn’t think I would be playing at one of the best softball colleges in the United States. I loved it, but I didn’t know how good I was, so I think just continuing to work hard and not give up, it’ll definitely be possible in the end.”
MORE
Washington Athletics is proud to celebrate and honor #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth, while educating ourselves and others throughout the month and beyond.
— Washington Athletics (@UWAthletics) November 1, 2022
Stay tuned as we hear from @UWTrack’s Rosalie Fish, @UWVolleyball’s Emoni Bush, and @UWSoftball’s SilentRain Espinoza. pic.twitter.com/rsrMLzezUT
Voice. Cause. Representation.
— Washington Athletics (@UWAthletics) November 10, 2022
This is the story of @rosaliefishx’s courage to use her platform for something bigger than sport - using her voice to speak up for those who have been silenced.#GoHuskies x #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth pic.twitter.com/9kekbfpUEr
"[It] just fills my heart so much."@emonibush speaks on being an inspiration to members of the Native community, presented by the @pac12 Diversity Mentorship Program#GoHuskies x #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth pic.twitter.com/taQPagetDj
— Washington Athletics (@UWAthletics) November 16, 2022