Same Country, Different Nations
by Jacqueline Dobbins (’16)
Watching the sunrise over the Grand Canyon, experiencing a ceremonial Hopi Kachina dance, wandering the Walpi ancient stone pueblo complex, drifting down the San Juan River in a raft—the Exploring Hopi/Diné Nations May Term trip is filled with new experiences.
While students have the opportunity to take part in activities like these, the nine-day
trip is more than just exploring sites and taking in vistas. The goal of this experience
is learning and understanding.
“We want to help students understand the assets that people from marginalized positions
have,” says Marilee Coles-Ritchie, an associate professor in education and one of
the trip leaders. “We use the term ‘funds of knowledge,’ which refers to the historically
accumulated and culturally developed bodies of knowledge and skills essential to the
way a certain group of people work. It’s a little different than just saying culture:
culture tends to be a bit more bounded.”
To achieve this understanding, trip leaders Marsha Morton (who developed this experience),
Marilee Coles-Ritchie, and Cordelia Schaffer have crafted an excursion that combines
cultural and instructive experiences. The trip culminates in a research project that
focuses on a relevant issue that’s based on research and ideas from Hopi and Diné
people. “We want students to go with the attitude of, ‘I’m coming here to learn from
you,’ not ‘I’m coming here to help you,’” Marilee says.
Unlike international experiences, students can see firsthand how they’ve influenced
these groups. “Students are surprised that this place is so close to home,” Marilee
says. “Here, we have actually contributed in part to some of the issues that the Hopi
and Diné people have from historical trauma. There’s a sense of ownership of our decisions
in history and how they impact people.”
Students leave this experience with a more in-depth and well-rounded view of the
Hopi and Diné Nations and gain a deep appreciation for the knowledge that the people
in these groups have.
About the Westminster Review
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