Module III

Essential Question: How are landscapes formed and how, in turn, are cultures shaped by their landscapes?

Explain: Landscapes are formed by a variety of different factors. In Alaska, much of our environment is the result of plate tectonics. The stress of the North American and Pacific plates has resulted in our growing mountain ranges and created Denali and Mt. St. Elias. Plate tectonics also cause earthquakes, like the 1964 Good Friday quake, in addition to forming our various volcanoes on the Ring of Fire. Landscapes are also formed by other factors such as glaciers and rivers.

Cultures are shaped by their landscape because this dictates how they will survive. Living on the Arctic North Slope is very different from living along the Yukon River. For those Native Alaskans living on the Yukon, fish is the key to survival. I found it interesting to learn from the video, "On the Yukon River" that the word for food for those Natives is the same as the word for fish. Life would be very different for those groups if they didn't have salmon for subsistence.

Extend: I've heard it said that Native Alaskans have a hundred words for snow. I'm not sure if this is accurate, but the idea does go to show that a people's environment will dictate it's culture. In "On the Yukon River," the elder stated that the purpose of the cotton blowing on the wind was to tell everyone that the salmon are coming. To me, it's a sign that I need to go to the store for some anti-allergy medicine. I never would have tied the cotton to the arrival of the Chinooks because I don't subsistence fish for a living. To me, the cottonwood tell me that there's plenty of fresh strawberries and tomatoes on their way from my garden.

Evaluate: Native Alaskan values in regard to the land are very valuable, especially in this day of reduce, reuse, recycle. In "Living from Land and Sea," it was very apparent that nothing is wasted. There is honor and respect for the land, sea, and animals. This is something that is present in all Native American and First People groups, but a trait that was lacking in the white, Western settlers as they attempted to fulfill Manifest Destiny. I am thankful that Americans like Theodore Roosevelt were able to look at a map of America 100 years ago and realize that if they didn't protect certain places, we would lose much of our natural landscape. America became the first country with national parks and as such, we've saved places like Denali, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon, not to mention countless species of plants and animals.

We are now in an era of land management, something that is critical for Native Alaskans and First People. I know non-Native Alaskans who gripe about the restrictions placed on them for fish wheels, dip-netting, etc., but these rules are necessary to protect the subsistence rights of Native Alaskans. Their culture was formed by this landscape, whereas white Americans have attempted to force their culture on Alaska. I like to think both can live together.