HIST 100: Engineering The Past

Native Water Use and Water Rights in the American West

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After researching the Tohono O’odham tribe and how the United States seized their lands in Arizona, and parts of New Mexico it is hard to be proud as a US citizen. This tribe, for the most part, minded their own business. But this peaceful tribe just happened to reside in a area that both Mexico and the United States were fighting for. In in the early 1800’s O’odham fell to Mexican rule.

In 1853, through the Gadsden Purchase, the United States purchased some of this area from Mexico, making O’odham land divided. At this time in America, the development of mining and transcontinental railroads was increasing at a rapid rate. Resulting in the loss of the tribes land to the US.

In more recent years of the Gadsden Purchase, the Tohono O’odham tribe has attempted to get ownership of their native lands back. The US government did not want to fulfill their wishes because it would include separating from all federal/state authority. However the government did provide the tribe with better water storage and delivery systems, under the condition that they will only use a certain amount per year. They have also given some of the land back to the tribe that was previously lost to promote a better environment for the Tohono O’odham people.

I believe that the government has tried very hard to provide compensation to the Tohono O’odham people for what was taken from them. But these people were conquered by a bigger and stronger nation that wanted their lands. The tribe never wanted to be part of the United States. I believe that if the government wanted to make up for what happened to these people, they should give them back what is rightfully theirs and leave them alone. But the US government has to have their hand in everything and refuses to loose any source of power.

Water Woes

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If given the chance to go back in time to help resolve a water problem I would explain the current position we are in today. There are millions of people affiliated with villages that have to walk miles upon miles just for water. I would explain to them that there is an easier way to gather this water.

They should take the villagers and gig a canal that has a large pond at the city center connected to it. This would allow constant water flow to the people of the village and it would a;so less-in the chance for disease. It would also help increase of disease that seems to be a problem.

This would also bring vegetation that would increase the amount of people that were able to receive the nutrients that is needed to survive. Because there are such spaces available that allow for large farms it would be excellent for crops that could generate a produce that supports a large number of people at a time. Luckily in the US we have the federal government that ensures the use of land that will support our growing society. Countries like this have no such organization. I believe with the right leadership from the US that they can create their own laws that ensure the safety and well being for the being of the country they are representing.

These countries need influence because they are still developing. Re-using water like we do here in the united states is a dream. That is why the help from developed countries is so important. The simple task of putting in a drain and pipe system for running water for simple appliances such as a sink and toilet.

Just the simple task of running water to these villages increases the survival rate dramatically. With water they are able to grow crops, drink fluids that wont kill them, and they are able to create a septic system that doesn’t create diseases. As a developed country we are in the position to help countries like these every day. And to not lend a hand would be unconstitutional.

Concept Map

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I built my concept map on the Aztec Empire and what they have contributed to modern day society. This fascinates me greatly because it is so hard to create an understanding of how they were able to build the society they did, with the tools and technology that was at hand.

The Map is circled around one topic, the Aztec Empire, with many examples of innovations/discoveries branching off in all directions. My mind sees it this way because all of these things were an outcome of the Empire that the Aztecs created. From these there are a few examples that branch off into smaller items. In a few case while building the map I noticed that these smaller branches directly correlated with each other so it got a little messy trying to link them together as well.

 

To finish the Map, I tried to show how the Aztec Empire directly impacted the modern day society. They may not have given us the exact tools we use today, but they formed the foundations for future creative minds to create the things that we use every day.

Concept Map