HR: 0800h
AN: ED31B-0745    [Abstracts]
TI: Native Americans and the Geosciences: Problems With Societally Driven Research, Cultural and Racial Divisions
AU: * Redsteer, M H
EM: mhiza@usgs.gov
AF: U.S. Geological Survey, 2255 N. Gemini Dr., Flagstaff, AZ 86001 United States
AU: James, K
EM: kjames@lamar.colostate.edu
AF: Department of Organizational Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523 United States
AB: Why are Native Americans absent from the geosciences? It doesn't seem to make sense when one view common to most traditional Native communities is earth and ecosystem stewardship, i.e. respect for Mother Earth. In addition, Native American communities could benefit from contributions made through earth science research. Land, and the natural resources that accompany it, are most tribes' greatest assets. Natural resource and land-use plans require information on geologic hazards, water quality and availability, soils, and environmentally sensitive areas: all data that are sorely lacking in Native communities. Native communities, with rapidly growing populations, desperately need geologic information for planning urban development. Even so, there are several reasons for a lack of interest in the geosciences: Mainstream science has historically served non-Native society to the detriment of Native communities, leaving few positive examples of earth science research for communities to draw from. Native North American communities have suffered greater harm from resource exploitation and have gained less from natural resource development than non-Native communities. Moreover, the earth scientist is usually the one who begins the assessing what is available for corporate exploitation, making the role of earth scientist adversarial. Racism, that begins at the elementary school level or earlier, leaves students feeling inadequate to pursue any degree, let alone those that are considered more challenging. Western science has a long history of denigrating indigenous knowledge and beliefs, producing a social stigma that Native American scientists must overcome. In addition, research tends to be narrowly focused, and based on the desire for individual academic achievement. This attitude counters cultural values of most Native groups, who seek to serve the collective group, rather than seeking self promotion.
UR: http://lamar.colostate.edu/~natsci/proceedings.htm
DE: 6605 Education
DE: 6620 Science policy
DE: 6630 Workforce
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting