Sandia Peak Geology and Conservation
When we visited Sandia Peak in New Mexico, we learned about geology and conservation efforts to save the peaks. We learned that most of the mountain rocks are igneous, however, the thin layers of rock at the peak of each mountain are sedimentary. This experience fits within the pillar of Investigate the World because we were able to combine our outside knowledge of geology with the real life learning at Sandia Peak, which ultimately gave us a better idea of that New Mexican region. Furthermore, the opportunity to travel supported the concept of this pillar in that it provided context for future discussions, such as conservation efforts, land use, and tourism in the state. This trip addresses my overarching question in that it has a contradictory purpose and consequence. The founder of the Sandia Peak Tram was a huge advocate of conservation. However, the Tram has seen millions of visitors in its years of operation which no doubt has led to some pollution and destruction of the environment.
IBL Project: Researching Mainstream Understanding
In US History two friends and I researched prominent, (typically) celebrated figures in American history and created a presentation documenting the atrocities against indigenous people committed by those figures. This research fits within the pillar of Investigate the World because we analyzed primary and secondary sources, from different perspectives, of the tragic events in our history public figures condoned and ignored. This project addresses my overarching question in that it represents yet another paradox relating to Native Americans. Unfortunately, their experiences are so commonly left out of the education system, that one of the biggest (supposed) advocates of civil rights, Lincoln, can commit a crime against them and few will hear about it.
See our powerpoint here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1nroJIFP-3lKstPzXi6qklDl-qmlLWF9qSSpP9LzIP7s/edit?usp=sharing
Image: "President Lincoln in November 1863." Abraham Lincoln, Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln. Accessed 4 May 2018.
Superman and Me
In English we read Superman and Me and wrote notes on what surprised us and what did not surprise us. This short story fits within the pillar of Investigate the World because the story gave us a surprising and detailed insight into what life on a reservation is like and how stereotypes affect children’s lives. The notes activity supported the concept of this pillar in that it allowed us to identify our preconceived notions of reservation life and support or change our ideas based on the written experience of a true Native American. This source addressed my overarching question in that it shows a kind of paradox in stereotypes: they are often first presented from the external, but are most enforced internally.
Alexie, Sherman. Superman and Me. Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 1998. 11th ed. McGraw-Hill, 2011. Accessed 24 January 2018.
Ted Talk - America's Native Prisoners of War
In English we watched a Ted Talk by Aaron Huey about the alarming history and continued mistreatment of Native Americans by the US government. This video fits within the pillar of Investigate the World, because Huey’s startling statistics and stories were supplemented by photographs he had taken himself, when he visited the Lakota reservation. Using a diverse range of evidence, Huey’s presentation further supports the concept of this pillar because it gave us a an even more accurate idea of the scope of the issues the Lakota face today. This source addresses my overarching question in that it specifically recognizes a paradox in the relatively new “cooperative” relationship between American oppressors and indigenous people. After centuries of destroying Native American civilization, the reservation system gives the government an excuse to blame the widespread poverty, crime, and mortality rate on the Natives themselves.
Huey, Aaron. “America’s Native Prisoners of War.” TED, 2010. https://www.ted.com/talks/aaron_huey. Accessed 24 January 2018.
The Tribes of the West and the US Government
In US History we researched the histories of conflict between certain Native American tribes in the West and the US government and presented our information to the class. I researched the Red River War and Quanah Parker, and found that interestingly, the near extinction of buffalo, which led to the first battles, which led to the imprisonment of seventy-four Native leaders, all stemmed from the invention of a new tanning technique for buffalo. (The commercial interest in buffalo hide seemed to set off a chain reaction that led to the Indian defeat.) This activity fits within the pillar of Investigate the World because I explored the different factors and motives that culminated in the historical Red River War, as well as the continuing effects on US governmental policy. This source addresses my ultimate question in that it demonstrates, despite lack of cooperation with the US, the Natives were still devastated and stripped of their resources and identity. Essentially, this shows that historical cooperation and conflict have often had the same result regarding Indian and American relations: destruction.
See our presentation here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1voXCSS08tNQY2-wug7Xxvx1i7lyng5t-3Eh1OWziCHM/edit?usp=sharing