Native american historical inquiry
Essential Question: How can an examination of multiple sources and perspectives lead to a more enlightened understanding of history AND contemporary social, cultural and political realities?
Inquiry Seminar Reflection:
Indigenous people are an important component of the Durango culture and community, so for this project we studied multiple sources to better understand the history between the United States and the Native Americans. We first read Howard Zinn’s A People’s History, which brought to light the atrocities committed by Christopher Columbus and Andrew Jackson against native peoples. It also outlines the preceding events for Indian relocation to reservations and the Trail of Tears. We then investigated how present-day Native Americans are influenced through the media and other stereotypes through the film Reel Injun (which examines how Native Americans are historically portrayed in film); some personal essays from First Persons First Peoples (which conveys the journey of modern Native Americans when attending Dartmouth College); and through a myriad of short stories from Sherman Alexie’s The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven (which describes how modern native peoples hold onto their cultural heritage despite the federal government’s past treatment and modern stereotypes). We then looked at different documents that all described the events of The Battle at Little Bighorn and how some details differed depending on the sources from which they originated. The examination of these sources provided alternative perspectives and brought light to some buried or uncommon information regarding Native American history and their modern perception within American society.
This project has developed my critical thinking skills and challenged some false conceptions I had towards Native American history. The most significant lesson I learned through this project is that you should never take one source of information for granted. You should always look for more than one source because unique revelations could be revealed and because different authors interpret data differently…based on their own individual biases. For example, my perspective of Christopher Columbus was called into question when Zinn revealed in A People’s History that Columbus had conducted genocide against the native peoples. They greeted the explorers with curiosity and acceptance, welcoming them into their homes and sharing their food. How did Columbus repay them? He enslaved them and forced them to carry the explorers around on their backs. When one Indian acted up, the retaliation would be the cold murder of the entire family, mostly by setting fire to the hut or entire village. They’d walk down the street, cutting down Indians for sport. Peaceful relations weren’t even considered. This raised feelings of uttermost rage and misunderstanding towards Columbus and what I was taught about him. Traditional textbooks don’t even mention these events, instead portraying Columbus as a heroic figure. Now I understand that his discovery of the Americas is a very noteworthy event, and that children shouldn’t be exposed to the cruel facts of life too early on, but I feel that people should at least be made aware of what transpired AFTER he landed. I wonder how many other historical figures I’ve learned about aren’t who they are portrayed to be.
We wrapped up this examination by conducting a group seminar discussing our personal revelations gained through the examination of our sources. We also answered the guiding question, “How can an examination of multiple sources and perspectives lead to a more enlightened understanding of history AND contemporary essential question social, cultural and political realities?” (I don’t understand the second part of your question there. Do you mean. We also asked, “How can multiple source examination help us answer essential questions about our social, cultural, and political realities”? Our class in its entirety all agreed that the genocidal acts of Columbus and the oppression of Andrew Jackson’s actions are morally unacceptable, and that we as a people should have attempted to find a peaceful way to coexist with the Native Americans. After all, we were the guests at their doorstep. A very enlightening point was brought up by fellow student, Domi, who pointed out that the only reason why Andrew Jackson and others like him got away with their treatment of Native Americans was due to their use of rhetoric and propaganda. They were able to convince the general populace that Indians were vicious savages without any feeling or remorse. Without the public's support, the Trail of Tears would be nonexistent, and Native Americans could still be living on their sacred land. A connection that I made during the seminar is that I’m seeing a repeat of sorts between our treatment of Native Americans, which was justified by helping them become a more civilized people through government-sanctioned schoolhouses, and the current political / military situation in the Middle East. I understand that some of that interference is necessary to keep world peace, but it does seem that we as a nation are yet again sticking our noses in other people’s business. With a little extra research, I found that the United States is currently involved in over 130 wars. It seems like we aren’t learning from our past mistakes and are yet again traveling down this very narrow and fragile path. Sooner or later, it will snap. Again.
In response to the essential question for this seminar, an examination of multiple sources and perspectives leads to a more enlightened understanding of history and modern-day realities by providing the reader with more than one opinion, which allows the reader to formulate their own opinions. If you only read from one source, then you will only have read that sources opinion, which, depending on their bias, could be very misleading. Take modern textbooks and Columbus for example, he’s only mentioned as the great man who discovered the Americas, leaving out the very important part of him being a mass murderer. Also, gaining multiple understandings of a certain subject allows to you formulate your own response towards modern-day issues concerning said subject.
One example is that of affirmative action for native peoples. (You should probably explain what affirmative action is.) Should current generations feel the guilt that their ancestors caused on generations long dead? After all, we didn’t do it. However, this pain can still be felt by the descendants and survivors of those Native Americans. Should there be a program in place in order to compensate them? Or should we just bury the hatchet and move on. Go read some stories and decide for yourself!
This project has developed my critical thinking skills and challenged some false conceptions I had towards Native American history. The most significant lesson I learned through this project is that you should never take one source of information for granted. You should always look for more than one source because unique revelations could be revealed and because different authors interpret data differently…based on their own individual biases. For example, my perspective of Christopher Columbus was called into question when Zinn revealed in A People’s History that Columbus had conducted genocide against the native peoples. They greeted the explorers with curiosity and acceptance, welcoming them into their homes and sharing their food. How did Columbus repay them? He enslaved them and forced them to carry the explorers around on their backs. When one Indian acted up, the retaliation would be the cold murder of the entire family, mostly by setting fire to the hut or entire village. They’d walk down the street, cutting down Indians for sport. Peaceful relations weren’t even considered. This raised feelings of uttermost rage and misunderstanding towards Columbus and what I was taught about him. Traditional textbooks don’t even mention these events, instead portraying Columbus as a heroic figure. Now I understand that his discovery of the Americas is a very noteworthy event, and that children shouldn’t be exposed to the cruel facts of life too early on, but I feel that people should at least be made aware of what transpired AFTER he landed. I wonder how many other historical figures I’ve learned about aren’t who they are portrayed to be.
We wrapped up this examination by conducting a group seminar discussing our personal revelations gained through the examination of our sources. We also answered the guiding question, “How can an examination of multiple sources and perspectives lead to a more enlightened understanding of history AND contemporary essential question social, cultural and political realities?” (I don’t understand the second part of your question there. Do you mean. We also asked, “How can multiple source examination help us answer essential questions about our social, cultural, and political realities”? Our class in its entirety all agreed that the genocidal acts of Columbus and the oppression of Andrew Jackson’s actions are morally unacceptable, and that we as a people should have attempted to find a peaceful way to coexist with the Native Americans. After all, we were the guests at their doorstep. A very enlightening point was brought up by fellow student, Domi, who pointed out that the only reason why Andrew Jackson and others like him got away with their treatment of Native Americans was due to their use of rhetoric and propaganda. They were able to convince the general populace that Indians were vicious savages without any feeling or remorse. Without the public's support, the Trail of Tears would be nonexistent, and Native Americans could still be living on their sacred land. A connection that I made during the seminar is that I’m seeing a repeat of sorts between our treatment of Native Americans, which was justified by helping them become a more civilized people through government-sanctioned schoolhouses, and the current political / military situation in the Middle East. I understand that some of that interference is necessary to keep world peace, but it does seem that we as a nation are yet again sticking our noses in other people’s business. With a little extra research, I found that the United States is currently involved in over 130 wars. It seems like we aren’t learning from our past mistakes and are yet again traveling down this very narrow and fragile path. Sooner or later, it will snap. Again.
In response to the essential question for this seminar, an examination of multiple sources and perspectives leads to a more enlightened understanding of history and modern-day realities by providing the reader with more than one opinion, which allows the reader to formulate their own opinions. If you only read from one source, then you will only have read that sources opinion, which, depending on their bias, could be very misleading. Take modern textbooks and Columbus for example, he’s only mentioned as the great man who discovered the Americas, leaving out the very important part of him being a mass murderer. Also, gaining multiple understandings of a certain subject allows to you formulate your own response towards modern-day issues concerning said subject.
One example is that of affirmative action for native peoples. (You should probably explain what affirmative action is.) Should current generations feel the guilt that their ancestors caused on generations long dead? After all, we didn’t do it. However, this pain can still be felt by the descendants and survivors of those Native Americans. Should there be a program in place in order to compensate them? Or should we just bury the hatchet and move on. Go read some stories and decide for yourself!