Using Graphic Design to understand History
“The graphic design framework gave me a way to distill and organize the large amount of information I learned about the history of Indigenous people in general and specifically about the Ute people- the tribe I chose to focus my research on in Indigenous Lives: Past and Present. I am passionate about graphic design. This class introduced me to the depth of issues Indigenous people have faced. I am grateful to have learned about this part of our history and I am glad that I can use my graphic design skills to help teach others about the history and the depth of the problem.” -Leo, grade 9
Student reflection
Click here to view Leo’s final project.
About Indigenous lives: past and present
Whether studying the Trail of Tears, Wounded Knee, Sand Creek, missing Indigenous women, land treaties, boarding schools, or the Dakota 38, the history of Indigenous people in the United States is marked by violence, broken promises, and segregation of communities. This has caused many Indigenous people to continue to live in abject poverty within a nation which prides itself on prosperity. Students in this course studied the history of Indigenous people in the United States and provided service work and awareness for the many communities in need, working to help magnify their stories of resilience and determination as they continue to maintain their culture and communities in the face of adversity. While heightened awareness of this history may help to improve current conditions, there is still much work to be done to amplify Indigenous rights and their visibility in our country.
