Technology serving as bridge between cultures (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

Technology serving as bridge between cultures
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2004/03/11/news/local/news08.txt

By Andrea J. Cook, Journal Staff Writer


RAPID CITY - Global-satellite photos and global- positioning systems are
modern parallels to an American Indian scout seeking information for
his tribe, according to James Rattling Leaf.

Rattling Leaf, land and natural- resource developer for Sicangu Policy
Institute at Sinte Gleska University in Mission, spoke Wednesday to
students in Central High School's Lakolkiciyapi Room.

Last summer, Sinte Gleska received a $5 million NASA grant to develop
resource management systems and education tools.

One product of the grant is a program called RezFinder, which Rattling
Leaf demonstrated for the students. Using a satellite's topographic
photo of Rosebud Indian Reservation, RezFinder displayed a parallel map
of the same area. With the click of a computer button, Rattling Leaf
expanded the satellite image to show a bird's eye view of a Rosebud
community.

"We can add sound," he said, giving the computer another command. Music
from a Lakota drum group filled the classroom, and with another
command, a Lakota speaker was heard.

RezFinder is helping bridge generations on the reservation and preserve
cultural awareness, Rattling Leaf said. The program has maps that show
historical tribal boundaries.

"We link language and songs to protect and preserve the language," he
said.

Rattling Leaf said it's important to get kids involved in what global
information systems, or GIS, can do for them, and especially for
American Indians.

>From satellite imagery to a hand-held global-positioning system and
demographic information, GIS encompasses a multitude of
information-gathering technologies.

"GIS is relevant because it's about the land, and that's what defines us
as a people," Rattling Leaf told the students.

In the past, a tribe depended on scouts to gather reliable information
that guided the people's decisions, he said.

"They wanted the best information available," he said.

Today, GIS can serve a similar purpose and provide information the tribe
can use for economic development and management on the reservation, he
said.

"We use GIS demographic information to track our high rollers at the
casino," he said.

GIS is also used to manage the tribe's buffalo herd.

"We're pushing GIS because it's land related," Rattling Leaf said.

GIS is also interdisciplinary and involves other sciences, culture and
business.

Central geography teacher Valerie Johns said that Rattling Leaf's
presentation was important because he illustrated the correlation
between math and science.

Using satellite photos, Rattling Leaf showed the students thermographic
images of ocean currents, the heat generated by cultivated and
noncultivated land, and storms forming on land and in the sea.

Rattling Leaf emphasized that a fire burning in Africa affects climate
in other parts of the world.

Michelle Frye, the Rapid City School District's community partnership
facilitator, coordinated Rattling Leaf's visit to the freshman
classroom.

"You're the ones who can make a difference," she told the students who
heard Rattling Leaf's presentation.

"Technology is creating huge boosts to information," Frye said. "And
you're going to have to learn to use that information."

Rattling Leaf said, "We're trying to build this culture for merging
science and technology with our traditions."

The goal is also to develop a new generation of leaders capable of
making the connection between the technology and the land, he said.

Contact Andrea Cook at 394-8423 or andrea.cook at rapidcityjournal.com

Copyright © 2004 The Rapid City Journal
Rapid City, SD