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Natalie Santander

Cooper 1st

AP Language & Composition

21 May 2019

Why We Must Do

Across many nations around the world, there is some version or multiple versions

of the same people, those being the shadows behind the blinding lights or others that

are underappreciated by those that surround them. Those underappreciated usually end

up proving to contain the brightest of lights and possess greater qualities that we cannot

imagine in which they are confined to hold in their magnificence due to the overarching

forces that make it so. I have come to realize this in light of the entirety of this school

year, including our Southwest trip to New Mexico which deepened our appreciation and

knowledge of particular tribes and the land. Our entire junior year has been centered

around Native Americans and learning how our history and contemporary involvement

has affected the present state of indigenous peoples around the nation. I originally knew

very little about natives, only that each tribe was distinct and followed their own values

but now feel I know a great deal more and realize my previous ideas were contributors

the issue that will be addressed. At the beginning of this year, we crafted a junior

portfolio that highlights work my classmates and I have done throughout this school

year regarding Native Americans that help us be more consciously aware and answer

our unique essential question. My question being: How do social norms of Europeans
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impact Native Americans, in history and in the present? At first, despite it being a

question of my own creation, I was not sure how to approach answering it, but as the

year progressed I changed as a scholar and used my increasing knowledge to build up

to now where I can effectively answer the question.

Beginning with the overwhelming amount of proven historical facts that confirm

that Europeans impacted Native lifestyles, originating with the arrival of Christopher

Columbus in the late 15th century creating the Columbian Exchange that had both

positive and negative impacts on indigenous peoples. I first saw this through the

summer assignments given to us in both English and History, through Howard Zinn

readings, graphic organizers--which was included in my portfolio--, and primary sources

and analysis questions that detailed the first interactions. All of which might have

improved the New World, also brought defeat and destruction of thousand year old

existing civilizations in the Americas, and decimated more than people but also cultures

and stories that will never be heard. As the year progressed, we viewed more

documents, images, political cartoons, and countless other platforms depicting the

momentous influence Europeans and later Americans inflicted upon millions of differing

tribes of indigenous peoples in the Americas. Andrew Jackson, 7th president of the

United States, being the cause of one of the most significant negative effects on North

American tribes including, but not limited to Creek, Cherokee, Crow, Sioux, Pawnee,

and Ute tribes in the infamous Trail of Tears spanning over almost 2 decades in the mid

19th century. He imposed policies and laws that forcibly removed Natives from their

homelands and move onto reservations where they were taught to be more civilized, as
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he believed Americans were poised and refined compared to the savage Indians. The

reasoning behind every event that has transpired was purely based off old European

dogmas that the natives are wild brutes and not to be considered humans while the rest

of the white population were superior in all aspects has led to all mentioned and much

more. The knowledge doesn’t stop there, however.

In our New Mexico trip, we visited regions of significance to history such as the

Gathering of Nations Powwow in Albuquerque that gathers individuals from tribes all

over the world to share a safe space to enjoy together and display their tribe’s unique

costume and dance. It was indeed a privilege to experience such a welcoming event to

all, and actually see with my own eyes how diverse all indigenous peoples are, not to

categorized together, but embraced every one’s Native identity. While I am not positive

of the origin of the annual event, I speculate it came to be to resist the overpowering

society that wishes to erase their culture from the mainstream media, and welcome one

another to embrace who they are and not be quieted. Everyday on the trip served as a

point of learning more as it was revealed to us, in the Albuquerque Museum, tour of the

Acoma Pueblo, Float and Feast, and visit to Old Town in which we experienced what

citizens of New Mexico get to view every single day and enjoy the richness of their

communities. Our trip to the To’hajiilee Community School which positively increased

my yearn to increase awareness about Natives deeply since we were interacting the

kids and created a connection to them, and seeing the potential that shines through

them to be the best versions they can be. Many issues that are attached to the current

system of Native education were mentioned in my IBL PSA video on my portfolio, and
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show ways people can help. Native arts, music, customs, and fashions are embedded

across the state of New Mexico as I have come to realize since the trip which helps

move towards increased awareness of Natives. This increased awareness will solve the

issues that have come to be due to lack of equal recognition amongst Native

communities across the U.S., and will serve to be the beginnings of a balanced society

and fair to all.

While not all issues were outlined here, for it would take more than the allotted

page limit to describe all of which I have come to be cognizant about, all of them

including the ones I outlined here speak tremendous measures on how old European

norms and current American models control the outcomes of Native American life.

While there are other issues that could be deemed more pressing, these issues are not

to be ignored if we as a collective American group, consisting of hundred of different

kinds of people wish to thrive and prosper, rather than digressing back to the outdated

ways of our ancestors.