How is everything connected : Module II

The arctic natives have been here for thousands of years. In that period of time the people have learned to live off the land and survive. The Inuits believe in the concept of Sila. They believe in a spirit within everything connects life, energy and the physical universe. The intelligence of the world. In the time the Inuits have lived in the arctic they have learned science through observation and experience. Their culture teaches a holistic approach to explain nature. The Inuits had to learn how to live off the land to survive. They learned life cycles of animals, what plants to harvest and eat, read the sky to aid in weather knowledge, and ocean patterns all without the use of modern scientific instruments. The native people understood the relationships between land, sky, water and air. An example is in their culture they believe that the Bowhead whale gives up it's life for the sustinance of the people. The Inuits did not do actual science but understood their environment. They practiced good ecology and respect for the earth.

Western science uses a set of rules to process science. We have tools to take readings and measurements to quantify our world. Each discipline of science is or was taught as a stand alone subject. As scientists gather more information with improved technology we now realize that we live in an earth system. All facets of the system are related. The biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, cryosphere and lithosphere are affected by changes in each one. The ocean effects the weather which in turn will cause change in the lithosphere and naturally the biosphere. We see pollution from other parts of the world end up in the arctic through weather patterns, ocean currents and the food chain. As educators it is our duty to teach geosciences as an earth system. We need to show our students that all parts of our earth are related and changes in one system will cause change in the other systems.

It is important that our students of all cultures understand both the holistic view of our world and the western earth system. We need to understand that each segment of our earth is related by observation, experimentation and improving our methods of gathering and analyzing data. The native culture needs to keep their traditions of Sila while using the western advances in science knowledge. I see in the village I live in the use of the internet, cellphones,GPS, satellite receivers, new medical tools and procedures, snow machines and of course petroleum. The native students need to learn the values of western science methods and students in other parts of the United States need to understand the holistic approach to our universe. Richard Glenn who is both an Inupiaq whaler and geologist stated that each point of view is like a flashlight shining down the same path. Each culture will benefit with the convergence of knowledge gained through each method of learning about science. The western culture can benefit with the idea of the relationships between each part of the earth system and the native students can become scientists to improve their knowledge of the natural world.