Eastern Oregon University

General Education Assessment

2008 Spring Pilot Project:

Critical Thinking Outcome

Anthropology 101:  Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

Student Samples

Level 3:  Proficient

          I am writing this letter to voice my concerns on the current guidelines for land use at Devil’s Tower.  As an avid rock climber for the majority of my life I feel that we need to reach some common ground on the guidelines set forth. 

          I am not nieve to the importance of religion to any person, and can respect t5he fact that for native Americans, nature is the ultimate house of worship.  I do however feel that nature and the enjoyment of it is universal, regardless of ones personal connection between nature and spirituality.

          My proposal is a relatively simple one; for those individuals who choose to climb during the month of June, we designate a side for climbing and a side for worship.  I believe that this will help alleviate the overlap, making sure that as those who worship at the tower will not have climbers in their view.  I would not want someone to base jump off my church’s steeple and can respect the view of the monument for those worshiping.  I do feel that climbing for us is our own form of spirituality and would like to see everyone get what they need in this situation for spiritual growth. 

          Thank you for your time on the matter.

Level 2:  Adequate

          I am with the Yakima Nation Indian Tribe.  I wish to express my concerns with the public use of Devil’s Tower, or as we call it, Mato Tipila.  Our Tribe along with many others has taken time for centuries to travel to Mato Tipila to pray for our land and earth.  It is very sacrid ground to us.  My practicing our rituals we work to ensure the  wellness of the land for us and all the creatures and plans upon it.  We gather out families and go to the base of Mato Tipila.  After setting up our teepees we begin our rituals and traditional vision quests.  This helps our land and brings our families together.  We ask, not to stop all access of the precious rock, but to keep limit to the area, especially during our sacrid times.  We do not hurt, or disturb the religion or rituals of others, and ask only the same for us.  It is for our past and our future.  Please allow the use of the land to us and our families to make the land, the plants, the animals, and our lives stronger for all of the people, and all people who come after us.  Thank you for your consideration.

Level 1:  Developing

          Native America is always looked different people.  Most people think that they don’t have a say so in anything in life, expectionly when it comes down to the Devil’s Tower.  Native people believe that putting whales in the walls is very disrepectfull.  It’s not in there belieave that ? the Devil Tower is not spritlaly.  Meaning that if you climzing that tower you don’t have a sprityll contact.  The argument is that people need to respect the native America belieave more, and not put hold in the walls.  They have a spritlly belieave so they think that people should listen to them.