Hannah Bell

Final Reflection

Throughout this semester, we have discussed the impacts of globalization on everyone

and specifically with indigenous peoples. Globalization is a change that occurs as a result of

different societies interacting with one another, and therefore having to create a relationships and

adapt. Concerning indigenous people, globalization has flipped many societies upside down,

making it hard for them to function the same ever again. In our readings and discussions in class,

we were able to see how indigenous people were able to cope with the changing world. Some

were able to adapt and change their beliefs such as Last Cargo Cult reading, where indigenous

people incorporated western ideas and clothes into their rituals as a result of colonization.

Whereas others faced the destruction of their homes and people, such as the Christopher

Columbus reading, where indigenous people were taken as slaves and their homes were

destroyed. These readings may have been in the past, but the problem of globalization affecting

indigenous people is still happening today.

A current example of globalization affecting indigenous people in the U.S. is Indian

reservations. Because of colonization and exploration, Europeans came to the Americas and

settled. Europeans pushed and pushed the Native Americans further west. Eventually when the

United States government was established, Native Americans were put on reservation. On

reservations they are usually not able to perform all of the actions and duties of their ancestors or

live the way their ancestors lived. Many Native Americans struggle with poverty and addiction,

which is a result of reservations and globalization. People on reservations also have problems

with overcrowding and poor living situations. Even on the land deemed theirs by the U.S.

government, they are not safe from having it stolen. Countless times the government has taken
Native Americans land or companies come unto their land to do construction. Reservations can

also can get polluted by companies that come onto the land or near it. An example of this is the

construction of oil pipelines. Not all Native American tribes are recognized either and many

languages are dying off.

My panel discussion was a positive article that gave a little pushback to globalization.

Because some native Alaskan languages were dying off and some people could only speak those

languages, these languages were added to the voting booths. This situation is an example of how

to combat the effects of globalization. Globalization and the advances made as a result of

globalization can be beneficial to the world, but when it directly harms a group or groups, a

change needs to occur. Indigenous people should not have to conform to a globalized world if

they choose not to do so. I also believe it is the governments job to make sure indigenous people

are able to practice their lives how they please and that they are not harmfully impacted by

globalization.

After taking this class, I feel that I have a better understanding of globalization and

indigenous people than I did before taking this class. It was interesting and eye opening to see

how globalization has changed the world and affected people. I think everyone should be open to

becoming more aware of problems indigenous people face and how globalization can negatively

affect society.