Final: Indigeneity

When thinking of indigeneity, I was immediately reminded by my interactions with Muwekma residents and how they come from different reservations and villages. When thinking of indigeneity, several things occur to mind. The first is how the sense belonging to a particular group or palce renders one with different qualities and a unique identity. When considering native populations, the different reservations that people come from, and the tribes that they grew up in, I’ve grown a stronger appreciation for how indigeneity brings people together. In talking to Kawena, I’ve learned about the  Kanaka tribe in Hawaii and their culture. In talking to Aidan, I’ve developed a deep fascination for life in Alaska and how remote villages function in the extreme weather and wilderness.

This quarter, I had the privilege of relating that understanding to my coursework. In one of my classes, my classmates have been working on developing wind turbine solutions for Igiugig Alaska. Igiugig is a small village in Alaska that is home to around 50 people. During the winter time, Igiugig faces harsh weather conditions and a short supply of energy. My classmates have been working on redesigning vertical wind turbines for their extreme weather conditions so that the people of the village would have a constant power supply through the winter. It got me thinking that indigeneity, while important in bringing people together, carries its own challenges. Unfortunately, indigenous groups in the United States face many challenges in their land, infrastructure, and equality with non-indigenous groups; putting them at a disadvantage despite their rich culture, heritage, and rightful place here.