Link to Audio Podcast: https://www.bravevoices.fieldscenter.princeton.edu/native-indigenous-voices

Interview with Lina Lyssia Abtouche ‘27

Hosted by Gabby Chavarria ‘26

Lina Lyssia Abtouche ‘27 (00:05)

My name is Lina Lyssia, class of 2027. I'm studying Public and International Affairs. [Introduction in Native and/or Indigenous language].

So I'm from the Kabil tribe of northeastern Algeria, part of the larger Amazigh diaspora of northern Africa, which is also part of the Tamezra. So that is modern day North Africa or the territory of North Africa.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (00:29)

What is your initial impression of Princeton University? How does Princeton's environment compare to the environment you were raised or grew up in?

Lina Lyssia Abtouche ‘27 (00:36)

My initial impression of Princeton University was very idealistic. I remember idolizing it growing up. I live near the Princeton area, so I think Princeton was the end-all, be-all for me. In comparison to the environment I grew up in, I would say it is pretty similar in that you do find a lot of different collectives, initiatives, groups of people to be a part of.

But I think the primary difference is values. I think in comparison to my Indigenous values, it's very far removed from the land, the people. I think one of my mottos, and my friends can attest to this, is that Princeton is predicated on its students. I wholeheartedly believe that Princeton would quite literally not exist without its students. We are the ones who make the institution what it is and contribute to its very intricate fabric.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (01:31)

What was your experience like your first year here at Princeton and how did you adjust to the transition at Princeton?

Lina Lyssia Abtouche ‘27 (01:37)

This is actually one of the primary reasons why I chose the chapel as the place to do this interview. I remember one of the first weeks I was here as a first year, I came to the sacred space to pray. And one of my prayers was just finding a group that I could be a part of, just getting acclimated to a very different space. I grew up in a very low income background and obviously there are various types of people here but that's also what enriches the experience. So I just wanted the strength to be able to proceed within this space in a way that was not only constructive at the time but that would allow for my personal growth. But I think adjusting to Princeton was by no means easy, but there were a lot of support systems. My friends, student groups like SIFP, and also just taking it one day at a time. I found my group, my people at FSI, which is the Freshman Scholars Institute. So I'm very grateful for that experience.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (02:36)

What is your relationship like with your family and your tribal or Indigenous community since leaving home and has being at Princeton changed that?

Lina Lyssia Abtouche ‘27 (02:44)

So, I think Princeton in a way has brought me closer to my tribal identity and people of my tribe. I know two people respectively that are from my same tribe, in my same grade. I think prior to Princeton living here in the U.S. there was a dissonance between my inherited identity and my acquired identity. I think, you know, I was called the Americania, which quite literally translates to ‘the American girl.’ So I neither belonged in Algeria nor in or in my Indigenous land, nor did I belong here. So I had to carve a space for myself and try to find my homeland. And I would say I definitely found my homeland here in people, in in different spaces and also in myself and my voice, which is why it was very imperative for me to speak up my first year. I know Tell Us Tigers did a feature on me and I was very honored to be able to share my identity and my tribal affiliation with people that didn't even hear about it before.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (03:50)

Are there any moments when being Native or Indigenous made you feel marginalized from the greater Princeton community, and if so, could you describe this moment?

Lina Lyssia Abtouche '27 (03:58)

I would say it all goes back to values. I think first year I was involved with Natives at Princeton. This year I'm involved with the Global Indigenous Collective. And next year there are more projects that the Global Indigenous Collective wants to pursue. But I think in a way, most of the spaces here don't recognize the Indigenous identity, especially the female Indigenous identity. And in my culture, you know, it's all based on, you know, the contributions of women, their oral histories, their, their stories. And I think in these spaces, this interview, the Carl A. Fields Center and other organizations on campus really want to make an impact and that's why they want to hear my voice. I think a particular instance in which I felt marginalized was in terms of, trying to assimilate to groups that cover broad identities and broad religious affiliations, whereas my Indigenous identity was not really represented in those conversations or spaces. I think though what I will say, most of the students of those organizations wanted to hear me out and adjust so they were more inclusive. So I think even though I did feel marginalized in the way I guess my values were represented there were still people willing to listen and to make a difference in their procedures or the way they went about things.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (05:29)

Are there any moments where you felt a sense of community or connection because of your Native or Indigenous identity?

Lina Lyssia Abtouche ‘27 (05:35)

I would say one of the most telling moments was fall semester of my sophomore year, this year, and I took a course taught by Professor Mounia Mnouer who's an Amazigh and Moroccan scholar, one of the first Amazigh scholars here at Princeton. She taught a class called Amazigh Communities through the NES department and I just remember never thinking that I would be able to learn about my identity or see myself represented in an academic space. And it was so liberating because the year prior during writing sem, I remember I wrote about a few of the Amazigh protests and that was a very contentious topic considering I still have family overseas. But it was nothing critiquing. It was actually just analyzing, you know, just the Amazigh identity. And I think in that classroom setting, speaking with people that genuinely had an interest in learning about my culture and also learning with them. I think a lot of what I know is from, again, oral history, which is what my culture is founded upon. But it was really inspiring just to see the history undergirding all of it. You know, the women, varieties even among different tribes. Because I come from the Kabil tribe.

Dr. Mnouer comes from the Atlas Mountain tribes in Morocco. So, just comparing and contrasting, but also finding those continuities really brought me closer to my Indigenous heritage. And also having people in the class that were Amazigh that I didn't know before just really made me feel grounded and inspired to hopefully continue Indigenous scholarship in my work, especially in the areas of law and political autonomy.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (07:17)

So our next set of topics is around identity. Has being at Princeton changed the way you perceive yourself as Native or Indigenous?

Lina Lyssia Abtouche '27 (07:27)

I think especially, yes, especially relative to other Native and Indigenous people here. Prior to coming to Princeton, I didn't really identify as Indigenous or I was afraid to, just because growing up, especially with where I come from, was always like identifying with the hegemonic identity.

And I started embracing my Indigenous heritage when I came here because I found that other people had the courage to do the same and they also had the space and they were carving out the space to do that. So I would say I definitely, Princeton has allowed me, or more so Princeton's people and students, have allowed me to really step into my Indigenous identity and talk to people about it. And also find myself within it because there is, I would say, know, the Amazigh identity is a collection of stories, of narratives, of strife and struggle, of adversity. And for me, contributing to that narrative was both an honor but also a great responsibility. So I think if anything, Princeton students and other Indigenous individuals have inspired me to continue that story and do so in a way that's ethical and inclusive for all.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (08:45)

So our next topic is about campus life. Do you believe that Native and Indigenous identity and culture are represented at Princeton and if so, in what ways?

Lina Lyssia Abtouche '27 (08:53)

I think it is represented in various microcosms and very not apparent spaces. I think if it is represented, it's primarily homogenous unilateral narrative. And I think it's primarily or predominantly the North American Indigenous identity. But I think we need to empower other Indigenous voices and tribes. I think there are a lot here at Princeton. It's just a matter of being able to really go out and embrace more Indigenous identities. I think even with the North American Indigenous identity, there are various tribes within the larger North American continent that are not represented enough. So feel like for all Indigenous voices, Princeton really has to update curriculum, be willing to integrate it into curriculum, not out of necessity, but more so out of out of responsibility and care for their students. And I know the Anthropology department is looking into like an Indigenous minor, Indigenous studies minor. So having more classes like the Amazigh communities classes focused on global indigeneity and various Indigenous groups would really be beneficial in the long run for everyone. And I also feel like in that, not only amalgamating all the voices, but really taking the time to dissect each narrative and listen to people. I think a lot of what we do is just throw information at Princeton and, you know, it doesn't really focus on comprehension or understanding. So really prioritizing that is crucial for the sake of recognizing Indigenous identity and having more cultural representation and intersection.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (10:44)

So how did you feel when you got accepted into Princeton? And how do you feel compared to now?

Lina Lyssia Abtouche ‘27 (10:50)

Again, another reason everything happened in this chapel. I remember being part of the Princeton University Preparatory Program, PUP, through the EBCAO Center. And that was in my freshman year of high school. And I just remember being in this chapel, sophomore year, it was COVID, praying and really wanting to get into Princeton. Princeton, I was dedicated to Princeton, to its mission. But I think when I remember when I opened that acceptance letter in December, I was surrounded by my family. My mom was reciting an Indigenous prayer. And I opened the letter and I just, I found out I got accepted.

It was, I call it this, the first day of the rest of my life, just because that was just how monumental it was for me. And the next day, from then on, people started calling me Princeton. They didn't call me by my first name anymore. And that was both, I think, a double-edged sword, blessing, and a curse. I think I became associated with the prestige of this institution.

But at the same time, I lost a part of myself that day to the history of this institution. And I think most people who got accepted, who come from minority disadvantaged backgrounds, who got accepted here lost a piece of themselves that day. And it's an irrevocable loss. Because while I was…I venerated the university, and in ways I still do. I've come to realize that I am Lina at the end of the day. I'm Lina Lyssia. I am my own person and individual apart from this institution. But at the same time, I'm very grateful for the opportunities that this institution provides me. And I hope, again, after my graduating and going on and pursuing different career endeavors, I could give back in the same way and give a chance to those that are of the same background, as in minority disadvantaged, just as Princeton gave it to me. But I do think being an insider at Princeton is way different than being an outsider and that I later came to find out after entering this institution. It's really what you make of it. So, again, I was really grateful when I got accepted into Princeton. Now, I would say I'm still, again, very grateful, but I've come to really try to find myself again and define who I am apart from institutional tenants and the larger administration. But yeah.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (13:30)

So we're going to do our final question. What is your hope for future Native and Indigenous students on Princeton's campus?

Lina Lyssia Abtouche '27 (13:37)

I really want them to feel like things have improved, like their voices are represented. I want them to feel like this is their second homeland and find home, not only at Princeton, but in each other. I think there's a lot to learn from other Indigenous communities and tribes. Our schools of thought are connected in a way. Everything is, especially in the Amazigh culture, we believe that everything is interconnected and that people are meant to find each other in various ways. I think all the Indigenous students that end up at Princeton or even that you meet in the world, you're meant to find because you have the shared roots. You have that connection to one another. So I would say stick together and continue fighting for future Indigenous voices, embrace your Indigenous identity. And even if that means finding the courage later on in your Princeton career, that's fine. I think as long as, as you find solace in knowing that your ancestors, that the people that have come before you have really made the effort and fought so you can get a voice. And now this is your responsibility. This is your endeavor to bear. And I hope you bear it with love, kindness, but also with hope that things can get better and they will get better.