Recognize Perspectives
Indian Removal Act
History- November 2017
In US History we studied the Indian Removal Act and discussed the tragic effects it had on Native Americans as well as the opinions held by many leaders in the US government about the decision. This historical event fits within the pillar of Recognizing Perspectives because the decision of indian removal was hotly contested and contained a wide array of different perspectives on what was the right course of action. Furthermore, the Indian Removal Act supports the concept of this pillar in that it contains many different viewpoints on the same crucial issue. Many Americans supported the protection of Native Americans and their land while others, like President Andrew Jackson, valued the nation’s growth over the protection of the native people. Ultimately, a massive group of Cherokee indians were forced from their land and began a trek to uninhabited western land in a journey that is now called the Trail of Tears. Finally, this source addresses my overarching question in that it shows one of the most prevalent cases of native oppression in American history. This event continues to shape our nation’s view on the protection of indigenous people because of the devastating effects of the Indian Removal Act.
History Where We Learned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beN4qE-e5O8
The Dawes Act
History- February 2018
In US History class we studied the Dawes Act and discussed the ways that this law changed the lives of Native Americans across the United States. The Dawes Act eliminated all indian reserves and replaced them with individual allotments of 160 acres to each Native American family. This was an attempt to assimilate them to the frontier culture of the United States and break down their tribal ties. As a result, the cultures of the Native American tribes in the western US were gradually eliminated. In addition, the small land grants to individual families meant that millions of acres were cut from reservations and made available for American settlers. This piece of US history fits within the pillar of Recognize Perspectives because there were two distinct opinons about this law. The Native Americans wanted to preserve their land and culture while the American government and settlers wanted more land to be available for expansion. Ultimately, the side with more power made the decision. Furthermore, the Dawes Act supports this pillar because it shows how when a differing perspective is disregarded, countless people can be hurt. This source addresses my overarching question in that it shows one of the more notable cases of oppression towards Native Americans in US history. This act obviously shaped the United States’ sense of responsibility to indigenous people because after seeing its damaging effects the law was eventually replaced by the Indian Reorganization Act in 1934 which restored millions of acres of reservations.
History Where We Learned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q16OZkgSXfM
History- February 2018
In US History class we studied the Dawes Act and discussed the ways that this law changed the lives of Native Americans across the United States. The Dawes Act eliminated all indian reserves and replaced them with individual allotments of 160 acres to each Native American family. This was an attempt to assimilate them to the frontier culture of the United States and break down their tribal ties. As a result, the cultures of the Native American tribes in the western US were gradually eliminated. In addition, the small land grants to individual families meant that millions of acres were cut from reservations and made available for American settlers. This piece of US history fits within the pillar of Recognize Perspectives because there were two distinct opinons about this law. The Native Americans wanted to preserve their land and culture while the American government and settlers wanted more land to be available for expansion. Ultimately, the side with more power made the decision. Furthermore, the Dawes Act supports this pillar because it shows how when a differing perspective is disregarded, countless people can be hurt. This source addresses my overarching question in that it shows one of the more notable cases of oppression towards Native Americans in US history. This act obviously shaped the United States’ sense of responsibility to indigenous people because after seeing its damaging effects the law was eventually replaced by the Indian Reorganization Act in 1934 which restored millions of acres of reservations.
History Where We Learned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q16OZkgSXfM
Peter Pan Video Analysis
English- February 2018
In English class we analyzed videos of multiple different performances of Peter Pan over the last few decades. As a class we watched all of the videos and then discussed how each performance of Peter Pan depicted Native Americans in a different way. As a class we noticed that early performances showed Native Americans in a very insensitive and stereotypical manner. In contrast, later performances have attempted to achieve a more authentic portrayal of Native American language and culture. This shift displays a tangible improvement in how the media is trying to recognize perspectives and give a fair representation of Native Americans. This collection of videos fits within the pillar of Recognize Perspectives because it helped us as a class to learn about the oppression of Native Americans through negative portrayals in movies and plays. In addition, it showed us the progress being made to try to change the pattern of damaging stereotypes and make an attempt at recognizing the cultural perspectives of Native Americans. This source addresses my overarching question in that it shows how the historical oppression of Native Americans through insensitive portrayals has significantly affected how we are changing things today. In recent performances of Peter Pan the Native Americans are shown in a much more culturally aware and responsible way.
“Peter Pan- What Makes the Red Man Red”. Youtube, uploaded by PeterPan3401, 8 August 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=f7yE8TKUB_M, 20 February 2018.
English- February 2018
In English class we analyzed videos of multiple different performances of Peter Pan over the last few decades. As a class we watched all of the videos and then discussed how each performance of Peter Pan depicted Native Americans in a different way. As a class we noticed that early performances showed Native Americans in a very insensitive and stereotypical manner. In contrast, later performances have attempted to achieve a more authentic portrayal of Native American language and culture. This shift displays a tangible improvement in how the media is trying to recognize perspectives and give a fair representation of Native Americans. This collection of videos fits within the pillar of Recognize Perspectives because it helped us as a class to learn about the oppression of Native Americans through negative portrayals in movies and plays. In addition, it showed us the progress being made to try to change the pattern of damaging stereotypes and make an attempt at recognizing the cultural perspectives of Native Americans. This source addresses my overarching question in that it shows how the historical oppression of Native Americans through insensitive portrayals has significantly affected how we are changing things today. In recent performances of Peter Pan the Native Americans are shown in a much more culturally aware and responsible way.
“Peter Pan- What Makes the Red Man Red”. Youtube, uploaded by PeterPan3401, 8 August 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=f7yE8TKUB_M, 20 February 2018.
Smoke Signals
English- March 2018
In English class we watched a movie about the life of Native Americans who live on reservations in modern times. As we watched we wrote about things we noticed and then discussed the movie with each other after the movie ended. The movie centers around two young Native American men who have to leave the reservation to go bury their father. Even though the story itself is fiction the harsh reality and the discrimination shown in the movie still happens today. This movie fits within the pillar of Recognize Perspectives because of how we were able to see the everyday struggles of Native Americans even in recent history. In addition, watching the movie, "Smoke Signals", supports the concept of this pillar because we were able to discuss as a class afterwards and share the different things we noticed about their life perspective amidst the stereotypes they are forced into everyday. This source addresses my overarching question in that the movie it attempting to accurately represent the lives of modern day Native Americans in order to try to break down the long-standing stereotypes that exist about their culture. As a class we were able to take what we learned and this helped us to get a more accurate view of Native American culture that has helped us in other projects we have done as well as our trip to New Mexico.
English- March 2018
In English class we watched a movie about the life of Native Americans who live on reservations in modern times. As we watched we wrote about things we noticed and then discussed the movie with each other after the movie ended. The movie centers around two young Native American men who have to leave the reservation to go bury their father. Even though the story itself is fiction the harsh reality and the discrimination shown in the movie still happens today. This movie fits within the pillar of Recognize Perspectives because of how we were able to see the everyday struggles of Native Americans even in recent history. In addition, watching the movie, "Smoke Signals", supports the concept of this pillar because we were able to discuss as a class afterwards and share the different things we noticed about their life perspective amidst the stereotypes they are forced into everyday. This source addresses my overarching question in that the movie it attempting to accurately represent the lives of modern day Native Americans in order to try to break down the long-standing stereotypes that exist about their culture. As a class we were able to take what we learned and this helped us to get a more accurate view of Native American culture that has helped us in other projects we have done as well as our trip to New Mexico.