Module III

Essential Question:  Why is a study of Alaska Native cultures critical for an understanding of Alaska, past and present?


Alaska's unique cultures were discussed in great detail through one of this modules great resources, Alaska History and Cultural Studies website.  The following is a picture from this site representing where each of the culture's reside in the state:

Not only did this site provide a thorough explanation of the linear progression of how Alaska has reached it's current state, it also showed how this progression was influenced by the Alaskan Native and the non-Alaskan's, mostly from Washington D.C. and oil companies, who wanted to exploit this states resource's.


One thing I learned from the content of this module is how long the Native culture has flourished in the area now known as 'Alaska.'  To be quite honest, the knowledge I gained from both this course and Paul Ongtooguk's Multicultural Counseling course has made a big impact on how I view both the Alaskan Native culture, people, and the Russian and European settler's.  It's almost idiotic to think that a particular population that has managed to survive for literally thousands of years needed anything from an outsider to improve their way of life.  The introduction of tobacco and alcohol has done nothing but hurt this amazing group of people and when I hear stereotypes associated with these people in the community it really frustrates me.  


I'm excited to take this course because it has given me a rejuvenated appreciation for this culture that I intend to share with my students at the high-school level that can hopefully start to improve how this culture is perceived by a part of the general population.


Examine Question:  How do you explain your own cultural identity?
I thought I'd explore this question because, as a life-long Alaskan myself, I thought I could provide an authentic perspective on my take of 'Alaskan Culture.'  When I think of what define's the culture I associate myself with, things like the mountainous terrain, commercial fishing in Bristol bay, a personal connection with the environment, hockey, family, what me and my family normally eat, attitudes and beliefs, and hobbies are what quickly come to mind.  I think cultural identity can be defined as anything that you frequently experience that you feel is important and that may be unique.


Hockey has become a large part of my cultural identity because I've been playing since the age of 3 and everyone I've met along the way have become a big part of my life.  For example, just walking around the Sullivan Arena last night at the Aces game, I ran into former teammates and coaches that I hadn't seen in years.  It's  amazing how fast you can pick back up and it not feel that any time has past.  I think I became aware of this part of my identity when I first started traveling down to the states to play.  The players I would interact with from other parts of the U.S. would be amazed that I was from Alaska and 'Alaska' would often become nick name.

When I moved to the Mat-su Valley at the age of 13 I started a new chapter of my life by leaving close friends and the environment that I had grown to know and getting to know new classmates, teammates, a new house, a new surroundings.  At the time, it was, in my opinion, the worst move anyone could make.  I thought I enjoyed the 'big' city and was scared of my new situation.  Now, I'm glad to call myself 'valley trash.' A name that our people we're once called by a political figure that stuck.


It's hard to answer this question in 3-5 paragraphs because it involves so many facets of my life.  Another part of my cultural identity is the farm-like food that I have grown accustomed to eating.  I think my dad brought this type of food up with him from Minnesota.  A typical dinner at any Frank house hold consists of either steak, burgers, or pork chops, potatoes, and cauliflower.  My wife was able to start infusing my diet with salad, green beans, chicken, and I've always been a fan of any fresh seafood that happens to be in our waters.  


Comments:

Module II Post

Essential Question:


How does knowledge of natural systems inform our understanding of cultural systems?
Having a basic understanding of the physical and atmospheric characteristics of a region is important for educators while addressing and interacting with people from that region.  These characteristics are directly correlated with how they hunt, what they do to earn money to buy the food they can't get from the land or oil to provide heat, and what they do with their leisure time. 
Knowing that a large portion of the Alaska Native population rely on subsistence hunting for survival and that there are certain times of year that they hunt will help the educator understand how the people of this culture manage their time.

For example, people of the Bristol Bay region start preparing for the red salmon run in early April.  For many, this run of salmon provides food and money that last them the entire year.  If I we're a teacher in King Salmon, Dillingham, or Naknek, I would make sure to be cognizant of which families relied on this run for survival to ensure they could fit their academics and preparation for fishing in their daily schedule.



Examine Question:


What are some roles of the cryosphere in regulating global climate?
I wanted to look at this question because the term, cryosphere, was a new one to me.  The Teachers Domain's (TD) in this class have been an invaluable resource and really bring home some of these newer concepts to me.  
Before reading the second module I had a rudimentary understanding of the glacier's role in the earth's system.  Now I see that the north and south polar regions act like an air-conditioner for the mid-region.  The TD video also discussed how the polar caps are quickly diminishing and that they may be completely gone by the end of this century.  This brings up two questions to me:  One, is the diminishing ice caps part of a longer cycle that the earth goes through? And two; how will this impact the food source for people in the arctic region that this change will impact in the near future?
What's really alarming is that this warming process builds on itself and gains speed - kind of like the snowball effect (the snowball itself, however, wouldn't last that long).  The following is a graph showing the decline of the polar ice cap over the last 100 year's.  It's amazing how quickly it's disappearing. 

Favorite Place

My favorite place in Alaska has to be Hope.  Located in the middle of the Chugach National Forest, Hope has been a place of refuge for me and my family for roughly twenty years.  It has become the place where I can go and hit the reset button.  It's also where I had the first date with my wife.  I spend my time gold-panning, hiking the many trails, sipping pints at the Seaview, and observing the abundant wild life.

Awareness of Place and Learning

I thought the saying "If you don't know where you came from then you don't know where you're headed" fit very nicely with this question and it's one that I've seen resonate in lectures, text books, and various communication I've had with native leaders.  I had the pleasure of taking Paul Ongtooguk's Multicultural Counseling class a couple years ago which was really eye-opening to me.  The class immediately broke down some superficial knowledge I had about the Alaskan Native people and then started to rebuild it. 
Professor Ongtooguk spoke of how the Alaskan Native people are primarily to blame for their youths' inadequate understanding of Alaskan history. 
Of course, the white man didn't help this cause while introducing various illnesses in the early 1900's (e.g., the Great Death) but he wanted to make sure that the current elders try not to use that as the primary reason that so many Alaskan Native youth are in need of an Alaskan Native identity and instead work on educating them on why this culture has survived for thousands of years. 
I see this happening, especially at the high school level in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley where the school district helps fund the Native Youth Olympics each year (I'm currently in my third year as Head Coach at Burchell High School).  I look forward to doing my part at educating the youth in my area about the amazing culture that has been here and will remain here for years to come.

Connectedness

I thought I would start my blog with sharing an activity I'm coordinating at the high school I work at.  Some recent research suggests that a schools climate and the students perceptions' on connectedness are directly related with the academic success students experience at that particular school.  My task was to have as many students and staff at my school go through a survey that was constructed to assess those specific things. 
I think no matter where you live, the individual must feel connected with the culture and physical surroundings to be successful.  This also helps develop your identity and a sense of belonging which are both very important when dealing with our long, Alaskan winters.