Ibl Project-Podcast
January 2018
For our Inquiry Based Learning project, we began by conducting extensive research on our topic of Native American assimilation and it's modern day effects. We then created a podcast in order to answer our research question and deliver our conclusions to our specific audience. As we were targeting American youth and millennial's, who may have received biased or rather bleak information as to Native American peoples and cultures, our ability to post the podcast on outlets such as YouTube and Sound-cloud made it an effective mode of delivery. This project fits within the pillar of Take Action because we reached out to people across the US in an effort to educate them on an important topic. Widespread ignorance and the general lack of understanding of current Native American problems is a prominent issue. If the American people had a better understanding of the complexity of issues on reservations, we would be able to more effectively combat these problems and improve the lives of countless American Indians. Furthermore, this addresses my overarching question in that this project tackled the background information necessary for understanding the modern day economic, cultural and social effects of assimilation.
To'hajiilee: Southwest Trip Volunteering
April 27th, 2018
While we were in New Mexico, we visited the To'Hajiilee Community School on the Navajo reservation. During the visit, we assisted some of the children with their classwork and listened to them talk about their culture and tell interesting stories about their personal life. We also joined them in some competitive games of kickball and basketball. This fun and memorable experience fits within the Take Action pillar because we sought to gain a better understanding of their lives and culture through conversation and interaction. To be honest, we spent more time talking and interacting with the kids rather that assisting them with their work. Lastly, this visit addresses my overarching question in that I was able to see the cultural revitalization movement first hand. During our visit, representatives of the school spoke of their new language program that educates the children in both English and their native language beginning at a young age. Hopefully, this program will be able to revive their native language and create a new generation of fluent speakers.