Cate Waggoner

Cooper P-2
5/14/19
SW Reflection Essay

In August of 2019, the AGS Junior class went to New Mexico on a learning expedition.

We were able to do many things while we were there that furthered our knowledge about Native

American people, especially the Pueblo people such as the To'hajiilee. However, before we went

on this trip, we were asked to create a question that we wanted to research about Native culture.

My question was, How has today’s society affected Native peoples culture? While traveling

throughout the state, specifically in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, we were able to see first hand

where the indigenous culture had been touched by the rest of America. In some ways this was

sad to see, in others it was amazing to see a blend between their old traditions and modern

society. Some of the the most impactful places we went during this trip was the To'hajiilee

Community School, the Acoma Pueblo, and the Native Cultures Feast and Float.

At the To’hajiilee school, we were able to interact with many different students. We did

activities such as team building, participating and watching traditional dances, made fry bread,

and watched some classes. Team building was one of my favorites because it was the first time

that the students really started to talk to us and open up. We were able to joke with them and

share stories which was really interesting because I saw first hand, our cultures mixing, with us

sharing jokes and dance moves with them, and them with us. Another fun part of this day was

making fry bread. Not only was fry bread delicious, but it was crazy how similar it was to one of

our foods, funnel cakes. I was shocked by the similarities. It made me wonder which culture took

this idea from the other. Our short time at the To’hajiilee school taught me a lot about the

intermixing of cultures and how even though we are different, we have a lot of similarities.
 Another fun part of our trip to New Mexico was visiting the Acoma Pueblo. It was one of

the most untouched communities I had ever seen. Watching the people interact with eachother

and seeing how little they had advanced in technology since they were originally built was

breathtaking. One of my favorite parts about walking around was the people selling their art. If

you look at all of the booths from far away, they all were very similar. However, when I asked

each individual artist about the meanings behind their art, they were all so different. Hearing

each story and each lines different meaning was incredible to hear. It shows you how typically

people are stereotyped into groups, however when you disect individual people, everyone has a

very different story.

Another exciting and educational part of our trip was our Native Cultures Feast and Float.

I really enjoyed this part and getting to float down the river. They explained to us how Natives

have a spiritual connection with water and I truly felt this while we floated. I learned a lot on this

day because while we floated, we were able to ask our tour guide specific questions that we were

curious about. I asked her about how their culture was affected by ours. It was interesting to hear

about how many kids had phones and technology, but other parents wouldn’t let their kids use

technology like that.

I learned a lot in New Mexico about the different Pueblos, the culture on reservations,

and within the bigger cities. When coming back home and looking back at my question, how

today’s society has affected Native peoples culture, I knew a lot more about the answers. While I

do believe that our culture has changed that of Native Americans, I think that the parts of their

culture that are still present today have been fought for, therefore strengthening those parts of

their culture. I believe that our society beating down and changing their has made them stronger.
While Americas ways have changed Natives in a horrible and inhumane way, Natives still hold

on to a large part of their culture by creating traditions while also maintaining the old ones.