Winona LaDuke

Winona LaDuke, a Native American activist, stated, “In the end, there is no absence of irony: the integrity of what is sacred to Native Americans will be determined by the [U.S] government that has been responsible for doing everything in its power to destroy Native American cultures” (cite). This paper argues that the Dakota Access Pipeline is represented in the media as government intrusion and exploitation of Native Americans through environmental racism. The Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) is…

James Livingston describes, “Religion is that system of activities and beliefs directed toward that which is perceived to be of sacred value and transforming power.” Throughout class reading Native American Religion: An Introduction written by Sam Gill, and A Seat at the Table, written by Huston Smith, among other Native American religious handout; we have been able to better understand what it is to be a Native American. By using examples from the lives of Victor and Thomas Builds-the-Fire in…

Native Americans have endured a long history of environmental racism; beginning with the destruction of native ecosystems in the late 15th century through the Spanish introduction of non-native plants and animals, the indigenous population of the US has not been unfamiliar with disproportionate levels of pollution, land degradation and resource extraction on their lands. This form of racism has been exemplified in the Black Mesa area, home to both Navajo and Hopi tribes, in which the natural…

Essay #2 “There is no social-change fairy. There is only change made by the hands of individuals” (Winona LaDuke). Changing the world is a process that requires time and dedication by many people. Individuals believe that they have no power over the course of the future without realizing that the cumulative actions of individuals lead to great impacts on society. The myth of technology has made it easier to spread negative information around the world and has changed how human beings…

Although an individual’s experiences may shape one’s positionality, it doesn’t determine positionality. My positionality does not necessarily align with the positionality stereotypes of those who identify in the same groups. My complex personal experiences and background all contribute to my positionality and how I view the world, but doesn’t definitively determine them. In this essay I will argue of all the factors that shape my positionality, the three that have impacted me and my…