IBL: Action Portion
In English we researched a particular topic for IBL and used the information gathered on said topic to create a survey and a website to both gather information and deliver information about Native Americans and Capitalism. This project fits within the pillar of Take Action because we actively had to present information about the topic at hand to help educate those who may otherwise know little to nothing about the problem. Although the simple idea of Native Americans and Capitalism conjures up simple stereotypes of poverty and misery, when in reality, it is far more complicated than that. Furthermore, the actual research and survey required a fair bit of initiative and action on our part, requiring us to piece together a paper from research, and later transforming our insight into a survey that would better illustrate to us what the general public thought. The information gathered addresses my overarching question by showing that it often depends on the reservation or tribe to find success in "greed-driven" American free market, with some handling it far better than others.
IBL website: https://capitalism-and-native-americans.weebly.com/
To'hajiilee: New Mexico Navajo reservation
In New Mexico we worked with children from the To'hajiilee community school and assisted in activities with the children, for example, in the 4th grade room, we attempted to make felt moccasins with pretty beads. This service fits within the pillar of Take Action for fairly obvious reasons: the interaction and assistance with these children was done to gain an understanding of their lives and also do our best to help with their tasks within the allotted time. Overall, the actual process of talking to the children and gaining an understanding of their situation was far more helpful than the actual task at hand (moccasins). Talking to the children proved to be a dose of reality on the trip, as the harsh lives these children lead was quite openly manifested upon us. Ultimately, this conversing and observation with the children may have helped me more than vice versa, as I was the one who left feeling both shaken and more knowledgeable. Furthermore, we also donated gifts to the children of To'hajiilee, bringing back something from our far more privileged existence to help the community there, easily fitting into the pillar of Take Action. This visit would also assist in answering my overarching question in that the reservation was located farther beyond the normal reach of Americana, preserving cultural ties on one hand but also making it a rough and harder place to live, lacking in many of the comforts and luxuries that are endemic in the big city regions of the USA.