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Forum » Outsiders in America » Outsiders - General Discussion » "Native American sacred sites not valued over infrastructure"

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Author	Topic: "Native American sacred sites not valued over infrastructure"

RJansen

Novice Their American
Posts: 6

"Native American sacred sites not valued over infrastructure"
on: January 27, 2017, 13:42

http://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/academics/article_f3d3eb74-e43d-11e6-9d38-833cb029170f.html

When I read this article, the many discussions of landscape in Momaday's House Made of Dawn came to mind. In particular the idea of the black mesa, or “the house of the sun” (Momaday, 172) takes precedence, because it is by the patterns of sunlight falling on this important landmark that Abel’s people regulate their lives. The dates of events such as sports competitions, solstices, religious ceremonies, and agricultural practices are determined based upon the shadows cast on the mesa (172-173), and without this landmark Abel’s tribe would lose both its religious and communal identity. If this is the case for many Native American communities, it is no wonder that these people are trying so desperately to protect their land from Euro-American “progress”. One of the men in this article commented that “To be left alone is what the sacred [site] needs” (Campbell), and this must be true if the Native American people are to preserve their traditions and oral history, which is tied to the land and its appearance. For example, the story of how the black mesa was formed to protect four young sisters from their bear of a brother has little relevance if the mesa no longer exists (Momaday). It is sad, but not surprising that although consultations with Native Americans take place concerning development projects their representatives are rarely listened to (Campbell). What Euro-Americans must reconsider, however, is how our actions are influencing the very identities of the people around us—there are already remembrances of deicide and fallen cultures in Native American literature (Momaday 117), and it is commendable that this broken culture continues to fight for what religion and communal practices they have that remain.

sashaduart-
e

Novice Their American
Posts: 8

Re: "Native American sacred sites not valued over infrastructure"
on: January 31, 2017, 15:28

Great post and chosen article, Rachel. You made some strong connections between the issues discussed in the article and Momaday’s House Made of Dawn. I strongly agree with your notion that Native American identity, both communal and religious, is attached to their land, and thus, Trump’s rush on the progress of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines is to strip many Native Americans of their land and identity simultaneously. Heather Brady of National Geographic outlines that the project can have an impact on our environment in the sense of potentially endangering various animal species and ruining their habitats, as well as climate changes. But more importantly, Brady outlines the profound impact that the pipeline project has and will continue to have on Native Americans, “…the threat of an oil spill and poisoned water sources could impact the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe...burial grounds being disrupted during construction of the pipeline. Bulldozers have already removed some topsoil on ground that the tribe considers sacred,” (Brady). The importance of land to Native American lives is expressed throughout Momaday’s novel. Abel, the protagonist, is consumed by his identity crisis as he struggles between Native American reservation life and city life. However, during the novel’s conclusion, Abel secures a Native American identity, awakened by his grandfather’s passing, and discovered through his participation in the dawn race. During the dawn race, Abel’s body is connected with the land. As he ran, Abel became consumed by his body’s pain, the icy winter air, and the mountains and sky which surrounded him (Momaday 185). Through Abel’s journey, Momaday is able to convey the message that Native American identity is tied to the land and is essentially inseparable; a message that many Americans still need to hear.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/01/impact-keystone-dakota-access-pipeline-environment-global-warming-oil-health/

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