Module VII-American Period: Society

Essential Question:To what degree is there distinctiveness in the art, literature, science, recreation and cultural institutions of Alaska? In what way do these contribute to , or reflect a unique Alaska identity?

http://blog.camaibnb.com/2011/01/anchorage-and-alaska-public-art.html

I truly believe that art is very distinctive in Alaska. It began with visitors portraying pictures of the landscape. Natives wove baskets and carved ivory.  Others were commissioned by military to paint landscapes. Alaska's appreciation for the art is distinctive also by the legislature mandating that a percentage of construction cost of state buildings be spent on art for the buildings.

Literature in Alaska is also distinctive in many ways. As mentioned in previous blogs, this is a state so vast and filled with adventure; that many have written both fiction and non-fiction stories about these grand explorations. There are famous authors that have written about Alaskan adventures, take "Into the Wild" for example; A national bestseller about a young man leaving everything to live in the wild Alaska. It is one of the novels that our eleventh graders are required to read.  Jack London and John Muir both left lasting legacy's about Alaska. London wrote about the North and survival, while Muir came to visit several times in 1879 and wrote about Alaska's extraordinary beauty. Others write about Alaska to impact public opinion. Elliot was one of the first to do so, he wrote about the need to protect the fur seals. Today there are many activists that continue to write about Alaska one of which is: Sierra Club. Newspapers written especially for Natives are also distinctive to Alaskan Literature.

http://toolikblog.wordpress.com

Scientists from around the world have come to document Alaska physically. We have learned  from previous modules that Alaska is a state filled with many environmental and geographical phenomena. Earth Scientists are amazed by Alaska's natural offerings but Alaska is also distinct in its unique animal population. From moose in the back yard to polar bears in the Arctic.

Alaska houses many Alaska Native museums and cultural centers to assist with educating about Alaska and the Native cultures here. The visitor center in Anchorage is another great resource, as well as the Native Heritage Center; which is also used for Native American students throughout the Anchorage School District to take classes or gather cultural experiences.

To say recreation in Alaska is distinct is an understatement.... from our very own version of the lottery; the Nenana ice classic which started in 1917 by  a group of surveyors betting on when the Nenana river ice would break. The Iditarod race, fishing, big game hunting, mountaineering, the list continues... All of these aspects, is what makes Alaska so unique. whether one has experienced the amazing artwork, literature and/or the abundance of amusement experiences that are ever lasting.


Examine: Describe various forms of recreation in Alaska. Explain whether or not these are a particular Alaska variant of these types of recreation.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=skiing+in+alaska&qpvt=skiing+in+alaska

Alaska's recreation allows for a diverse number of activities.  To say that there is amazing skiing in Alaska is like saying that trees produce oxygen... Throughout Alaska you can almost Nordic ski out your back door. Others come to experience the extreme heli-skiing adventure. Along with skiing, Alaska provides a variance of other winter recreation; which includes ice skating, snowshoeing, sledding and dog-sled racing. There are also long traditions such as the Fur Rondy that occur in the winter.



http://www.tobinphoto.com/alaska-scenes/fishing-141.htm

The winter sports are not the only Alaskan style of recreation, to be the state that houses the largest mountain in North America speaks volumes.  There are many who make the trek here from around the world to say that they have conquered Denali! Although it is among the largest mountains, Alaska has others and is an amazing recreational area for mountaineers and rock climbers alike. Fishing... need I say more... whether people are going on a halibut charter or fighting the mighty combat salmon fishing of the Russian River there really is no other place in the world with such amazing fishing! As mentioned in the Alaska History and Cultural article, along with the Alaska variant recreation, there is also other cultural activities that really speak to the Alaskan culture. The Athabaskan old time fiddling festival is one of these. Although many of these activities exist in other places around the world, I truly do not know if they offer the same over all beauty and experience that is uniquely Alaska! The Alaskan beauty is truly unique and as menitioned in the article on State parks Alaska's very own Chugach State Park is ranked among the top 10!

Photographer: Matthias Breiter / Accent Alaska

Extend: How might you use the information in this module in your professional practice?

The information about how education started and the funding issues is a constant concern and as an educator, I need to be aware of these issues so I can continue to advocate for appropriate education. It is also important to me to be informed about the diverse University settings so that I can guide my students to attend the Universities in Alaska instead of going out of state. Lastly, the recreational opportunities offered are critical in enhancing student development. I have a lot of students that are new to Alaska and tend to feel isolated, because they do not know about all the awesome opportunities for recreation that Alaska provides. I now  feel like I can help guide them to try new things and venture out to the local museums and events that are unique to our State!

Evaluate: I truly enjoyed reading about the education through the 1980's, since I grew up in Anchorage during the 1980's. It is amazing to me how things are changing so rapidly but how much more we still have to go. It was also astonishing to learn about the medical history. Although there are amazing medical advances, I still feel that there are some things that we continue to look to the lower 48 for. Lastly, I really wish there was more information on UAF. I am hoping to look further into what degrees and opportunities they offer that are so unique. And the section on recreation I felt could have been a little longer, but maybe there is still more to come....

Blogs I have visited:
http://latitude61alaska.blogspot.com/
It was interesting reading about how the sisters of Providence helped with health care.
http://brad-hoyt.blogspot.com/
I enjoyed the beginning of his blog and play on moosings
http://alaskareflection.blogspot.com/
I enjoyed Paul Ongtooguks quote and agree about self-determination and the future.