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2013 Autumn | Arts & Humanities, Environmental Justice

Beautiful and Resilient

Student(s):

Cara Moser

Program or Department(s):

  • Program on the Environment
  • University of Washington

Site supervisor(s):

Megan Styles

Partner(s):

  • The Acequia Institute

Faculty advisor(s):

Devon Pena, Anthropology, University of Washington

Through my internship, I explored inter-generational differences in values and conceptualizations of the Sangre de Cristo Land Grant. By using semi-structured interviews, participant observation, Photovoice methods and cognitive mapping, I aimed to develop a thematic analysis of how different generations conceptualized the commons. The results of my interviews and participant observations suggested three reasons for the existence of the gap in knowledge, pointing to a larger political struggle. Identifying the reasons for gaps in traditional knowledge assists in understanding the current state of intergenerational resource management. This is necessary to secure indigenous place-based traditional knowledge in future generations.