Module 3: Cultural History

Essential Question:
What is Culture? How can it be defined?

Webster defines Culture as: the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc.; a particular form or stage of civilization, as that of a certain nation or period; the behaviors and beliefs (also attitude, values, goals, and practices) characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group.

I recently took a class called Passages I. The class explored research on traditional roles of males in Native cultures, among other things. One of the speakers was talking about the Native culture and they defined culture as stories taught to you as a child, remembered, and passed on to future generations. As he went on, he asked each of us to define our own culture. I didn’t think that I really had a culture. I didn’t have a strong, distinct sense of culture growing up that you might see in Native villages or people you interact with from different countries. The speaker went on to say that everyone has a culture whether they know it or not. He based it around his 3 F’s: Food, Fashion, and Festivals. He elaborated a bit more and made me realize that I do have a culture and I was able to come up with my culture that defined who I am and what I did traditionally growing up.

I believe that culture is an amazing thing and nobody should ever take it for granted. I was happy to realize that I had a culture and I wasn’t just lost in the big melting pot I thought I was in. We need to accept and try to understand all types of culture. This will aid in understanding why people do what they do and live how they do. Culture is very important to what and who a human being is. It’s important to understand where you came from and how you got the values and beliefs you hold close. And I believe it is very important to pass down your culture to future generations so it is never lost.

I found this short video on YouTube that has a variety of quotes about culture.

 




Examine Question:

Who and where are the indigenous peoples of Alaska?

There are 5 distinct groups of Native Alaskan peoples: Athabascan, Yupik & Cupik, Inupiaq, Aleut & Alutiiq, and Eyak, Tlingit, Haida & Tsimshian. The precise timing of migrations to Alaska is a controversial subject but is generally accepted that humans migrated from Siberia sometime between 15,000-50,000 years ago.

  Athabascan in Native Dress

The Athabascans populate the Interior of Alaska which begins south of the Brooks Mountain Range and continues down the Kenai Peninsula. There are over 11 different linguistic groups that are associated with this culture. They were widely dispersed throughout the Interior but concentrated around the Yukan, Tanana, Sustina, Kuskokwim and Copper River drainage. Salmon was a primary food source. They also hunted caribou and gathered plants.

A Camai Dance in Bethel, Alaska. An annual Yup'ik Celebration

The Yupik & Cupik, or Southern Eskimos, are spread out from Prince William Sound to the Bering Sea. They are the most numerous and diverse group. They traveled with migrating fish and game.







The Aleut & Alutiiq are in the South and Southwest parts of Alaska. They populate all the major islands in the Aleutian Chain. Since they are surrounded by water, that’s how they make their living. Weather plays a major role in their activities.

Aleut

The Inupiaq populate North and Northwest Alaska. It is a vast region with an extreme climate but home to a variety of animals and fish. They are a hunting and gathering society who’s lives evolve around whale, walrus, seal, polar bear, caribou and fish.

A Haida Totem Pole

The Tlingit, Haida, Eyak, and Tsimshian populate Southeast Alaska. The Eyak occupied the southeastern corner of Southcentral Alaska which runs along the Gulf of Alaska from the Copper River Delta to Icy Bay. The Tlingit territory include the pandhandle between Icy Bay to the Dixon Entrance. The Haida occupy the Prince of Wales Island area. The Tsimshian occupy the Portland Canal area. The Haida and Tsimshian both came from Canada.

Extend Question:

Besides Euroamericans, what other groups emigrated to Alaska and why?

- African Americans/Blacks migrated to America after the Civil War. Most of them were seafarers who worked in the fur trade and whaling. The military is a big reason why blacks have migrated to Alaska. World War II brought a lot up here to help work on the Alaska Highway as engineers. Many of them have been stationed at the Army and Air Force bases up here and with the Coast Guard. The discovery of gold also brought more blacks to Alaska. I came across this video of the history of African Americans in Alaska as well as some current goings on.

Alaska - Klondike - "Devil's Bluff portage in the canyon near Sheep Camp"; group of 8 African Americans and Whites making portage

- Asian Americans came to Alaska by crossing the Bering land bridge. The Filipinos are the largest of the ethnic groups to populate Alaska. They have a history that dates back to the 1700s They served as crew members on fur trading vessels and whaling ships. Later,  they helped lay underwater communication cables that linked Juneau, and other cities with Seattle. Some of them worked in gold mines and the majority of them worked in canneries. This is where they earned money in order to go to school.


- The first Polynesian Americans are thought to have come over as crew on Captain Cook’s voyages. The Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander community has been the fastest growing ethnic community in Alaska mostly due to the influx of Samoans. Here is a video of a little Samoan history. The music is old traditional Polynesian song. 

A youth choir from the Samoan Fellowship sings during worship at Turnagain

- Latin Americans are the second largest minority group in Alaska. The Spanish sent expeditions to Alaska in the late 1700s to assess the Russian activity in the area. Puerto Cordova and Valdez as well as other places are named after Spanish officers.

http://www.akhistorycourse.org/images/cultures/large/page-51.gif

Evaluation:

I thought this week's module was very insightful. I was able to learn a lot more about the different Native cultures of Alaska, where they're located, and how some of them are doing today. I liked the videos that were posted. There were plenty of pictures to look at and they helped me relate what I was reading to the people and things in the pictures. This module helped me realize that just because these tribes are all from Alaska doesn't mean that they are the same. Although they are similar, they have their own way of life, values and beliefs.

Blog Reviews:

http://edexplorationinak.blogspot.com/
I like how Kristin chose a village in Alaska and told how it has changed over time. She described how it affected the village people and the struggles they are facing because of global warming. I also liked how she tied in Seattle’s climate and how people have adapted to it.

http://explorealaska1.blogspot.com/
Joel gave a pretty good explanation of how digital information has changed our understanding of the natural systems. I like the link he gave to give us a better understanding of how satellites are used in this process.

http://www.learnalaska.blogspot.com/
Christy has some excellent examples of how a change in the natural systems effect wildlife. She talked about her town she lives in and how whale and geese migration have changed. I also like how she gave different websites to visit to explore more information about the changing trends.

Module 2 - Natural History

Essential Question 1:
How are Alaska's natural systems interconnected?

All of Alaska’s natural systems (Lithosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Cryosphere, and Climate Change) are interconnected in one way or another. And most likely, a change in one system will have an effect on one or more other systems. History and data collection have proven this over time.



I found a website that does a great job in explaining how each system is interconnected and it also gives a good visual of how it all works. This is much easier to understand than if I were to try to explain it in my own words.
Interaction among the Component of Climate Systems

As you can see all of the systems are interconnected to each other. One can’t study only one of the systems and determine exactly how it works without looking at all of them to get a better understanding of what is happening. This is why we need to take care of our planet and not disregard certain areas.

Essential Question 2:
How have Alaska's natural systems changed over time?

Alaska’s natural systems have changed over time in several different ways. Climate has had a big impact on the change in natural systems. Alaska used to be covered in ice back in the Ice Age. There was little to no life in the land at that time. Due to the increase in temperatures on Earth, the ice eventually melted away making a way for plants and animals to thrive and for human migration. All of which aided in making Alaska what it is today.

During the Pleistocene ice age, glaciers covered large areas of Alaska. Large glaciers can still be found in these areas. Two areas of Alaska, the interior lowland and arctic coastal plain, were not covered with ice during the Pleistocene.

Most of the glaciers that remain in Alaska are receding due to climate change. The factors that effect this change are temperature, humidity, slope, precipitation, wind speed, and reflectivity. Although air temperature around these glaciers have a more dominant effect, the other five still factor into the equation.

The lithosphere of Alaska has changed over the years. The Pacific and North American Plates are the major contributors in forming the mountains that we have. The 2 plates converge forcing the land to move and push upwards forming the great mountain ranges that we have today. As a result of these plates colliding, we have earthquakes and tsunamis. These earthquakes and tsunamis, change the physical structure of the land and shorelines. Erosion is also constantly changing the landscape. Heat, water and gravity all take part in that process of change. Warmer temperatures are also leading to the thawing of permafrost. Permafrost is all over in Alaska. Thawing will have drastic effects such as hurting the infrastructure of houses and buildings and changing the land.

A dozen Alaskan villages, including Shishmaref, are at some stage of moving because of climate-change-related impacts like coastal erosion and flooding.

The effects of changes in the natural systems, even in the tiniest way, can greatly change the land we live on. For example, if average temperatures go up or down one or two degrees, it can change the way the systems work. We may not be able to see it in our lifetime but the change is inevitable. Just by reading the information in this module, we can see evidence of it.




Module 2 Extend Question:
Describe the geography of the place where you live.

I live in Anchorage, AK. It is located in Southcentral Alaska. We are surrounded by the Cook Inlet and the Chugach Mountains and the Alaska Range. The Chugach mountain range to the East has peaks from 8,000 to 10,000 feet high. They block warm air from the Gulf of Mexico, keeping precipitation fairly low. The Alaska Range to the North protect the city form the cold air from the states interior.

View of Chugach Mountain Range for the air.

We get an amazing view of  Mt. Susitna. Also known as The Sleeping Lady. There is a great story behind The Sleeping Lady. If you haven’t heard it or read it please take a minute and look at this site

There are a lot of mudflats which are very dangerous. The tides come in very quickly and can even be seen. The Bore Tide is an amazing thing to watch because it looks like a wave coming in to the Inlet.
What is a Bore Tide?
In this video, you can see the mudflats and how fast the Bore Tide comes in.

Evaluate:
This Module had a lot of interesting information. It took me longer that I thought to get through it but it kept me engaged and wanting to read more. I learned a lot about Alaska’s natural systems and geography that I probably would have otherwise never learned had it not been for this class. I am definitely getting more accustomed to adding links and pictures.

Colleague Reviews for Module 1

Shayes Explore Alaska
I like how Shannon shared how her students might not know about city life because they live out on an island in Alaska. The best way they are going to learn is through ways that are relevant to them. But she also states that it is still important to educate them about other places in the world.

Excited about Alaska
Kelley brought up a very good point about being able to use technology in the classroom. She told of how she was telling her students about an antelope and they had never seen one before. She was able to get on her computer and quickly pull up a picture of an antelope for them to see. She also talked about being able to Skype with other students instead of just having a pen pal. This is great because you not only get to see them and hear them but it's in real time.

My Cove and Beyond
Marg did a great job telling us about her community. I really like all of the links she posted so we could get more information about the history of the town and the people that live there. It really looks and sounds like an interesting place to live.

Module 1 - Place and Pedagogy

Essential Question #1:
Why is an awareness of Place important?

An awareness of place is important for several different reasons. Place is where we’ve come from, where we are and where we’re going. Webster defines space as a physical environment or physical surroundings. We pretty much know and are familiar with the places we have been to the place we are now. They are a part of who we were and who we have become. They are filled with people who have influenced and molded us. It’s where we learned our culture and our beliefs. We learned how to communicate, socialize and survive in the places we have lived.

Blanket toss at Fur Rondy

Awareness of place changes as we grow and become independent. For example, I grew up in Illinois. I am very aware of many different things and places in Illinois and the Midwest because I lived there for the majority of my life. I have recently moved up to Alaska. This is my 2nd year teaching up here. I have had to become aware of the place in which I am living now. I am in a place where it is so different, physically and culturally, than I have ever lived before. I absolutely love exploring Alaska and immersing myself in the culture and everything it has to offer. Whether it be going to Nome for the Iditarod or learning about my Native students and where they come from and what their culture is all about or exploring Denali on a beautiful fall weekend.

Getting out with friends and exploring Alaska. (Hatcher's Pass)

I am hoping that I will be able to expand my awareness of place as my life moves forward. I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to enjoy the biggest adventure in my life so far. Place is always changing and adapting. It’s what makes life so exciting. I welcome the opportunity!









Essential Question #2:
How can an awareness of Place create better learning for Alaska students?

Students in Alaska can get a better understanding of where they live and the history of it if they are given the information they need to become aware of Place. Alaska just became a state in 1949, but it has so much history preceding that date. I feel that it is very important that students learn about their state and how it became what it is today. There were many trial and triumphs that are important to learn and understand. This education is not only important to Native students but Non Natives as well.

I just recently took a class called Passages 1. It was a class that gave insight into Alaskan Native boys. There was a panel of 3 Native men who came to discuss certain aspects of a Native boy’s life. They gave experiences from their own life and discussed how they lost some of their culture as they grew up and became adults because they had left their villages and pursued other things. Now they are working at getting it back. I feel that it’s important to teach our students in Alaska the importance of keeping their culture alive in their own lives. Living in Alaska is part of their culture and they need to take pride in that.

I think it’s great that it is required to take classes that focus on Alaska in order to teach here. I know for me, it has given me a greater understanding of Place. It has helped me understand my surroundings, the Native culture, and the history of Alaska. I take what I’ve learned and I bring it into my gym. I just recently finished a unit on the Native Youth Olympics. Not only did my students learn about the history of the games and how to play them, but I learned it as well and have a great appreciation for them. I am going to be teaching them about the Iditarod and have different games and activities for them to do around that time. I can also give personal experience because I have done some volunteering for the Iditarod. Which was an amazing experience and I will be going to Nome this year for the finish. I think about how much fun I am having learning everything I can about Alaska and I can’t help but know that students can enjoy it just as much as me.

I had the great opportunity to be a dog handler for Lance Mackey

Module 1 Extend Question:
How might you use content from this module in your professional practice?

Like I stated above in Essential Question #2, I would like to bring awareness of Place into my gym by teaching the students about different events that take place in Alaska. I just finished a Native Youth Olympics unit with my classes and all of the students seemed to enjoy it very much. They learned the history behind each game and why the Natives developed each game. They also have the opportunity to go and compete in the Junior Native Youth Olympics that are coming up. We have several students who are going to be participating in that. I am also going to bring the Iditarod to the gym. I will be teaching them the kind of training the dogs have to go through in order to stay in excellent condition. The responsibilities of the mushers before, during and after the race, and teach them about the trail where it goes and how far the race is.


Module 1 Evaluation:
I guess I’ve never really thought about awareness of Place playing a big part in our lives. This module has made me really look deeper into the meaning of Place and how important it is to understand it. Also, that it is important to help our students understand it as well. Being a PE teacher, there are only a few sites that I ever visit to get different lesson ideas. Most of the sites that I ever visit are for classroom teachers and don’t really have any ideas for PE. After looking over the sites given in this module, I now have some new resources I can look to for information.

First Test Blog

This is a picture I took at summit of Wolverine Peak. This is the first mountain that I climbed while living up here in Alaska. This is the reason why I first fell in love with Alaska and ultimately helped me decided to stay up here for another year. I love getting outside and exploring and taking in as much as I can up here. There is so much to do and see that I never have a dull moment. And breath-taking views like this keep me going back for more.