3.3: Decolonization and Research Assignment
- Page ID
- 293554
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Choose one or three of the following alternative assignments:
1)
Now would be a good time to investigate the Indigenous people of the land. Find out the name of one or two tribes, nations, or people groups who originally lived in your region. Is there a reservation or officially recognized tribe near you? Compile research on one of the tribes. Look for their mentions in old newspapers, historical sites, and at your local libraries and museums. Find their official (and unofficial) websites and memoirs, biographies, and autobiographies from tribe members. Does your city, town, or county recognize this tribe on their websites and tourist pamphlets?
Answer these questions:
- What is the name of the tribe you selected?
- Do they belong to a greater nation or confederacy?
- Where had they originally lived and where were they resettled (if they were)?
- What is their history of contact with the federal government?
- Do they have treaties and what do those treaties recognize?
- What trades and practices did they specialize in?
- Can you find origin myths or other meaningful stories?
- What form of governance did they practice and is that similar to what they have now?
- What other things can you learn about this tribe?
2)
Normally when we are new to researching a topic, we might spend a few minutes here or there looking at some websites. An online encyclopedia or a pros-and-cons website or book and maybe a few scattered sources may seem enough for beginning research, and maybe that is all you have researched with previously. However, challenge yourself to spend a whole afternoon in a library; whether a local one, one at your school, or in a nearby university you have access to.
For your current research project or essay, take out a few books on your subject. Look for your topic in both the Table of Contents in the front and Index in the back and read the relevant pages, plus a few surrounding pages for more context. Find four relevant journal articles on your topic to read and take notes about. Then look at the bibliographies from the journals and books for more relevant or interesting articles and books on or related to your subject.
Keep index cards to record this bevy of information and where you have found it.
Let this research inform how you will construct your essay rather than relying on preconceived notions of a simple five-paragraph essay.
3)
Challenge yourself to listen intently to your research. Research something that is of value to you: a question, an identity, a family history. The best research is time spent meandering. Read the bibliographies of studies you’ve found to find other related (and interesting) studies and books. Find out how the research is conducted. Read memoirs and dig deep into mentioned events that you also find interesting.
In other words, take the research where you don’t expect it to take you. Learn from it and let it challenge you.