To prepare for a class discussion, consider the following questions in your group:

​

1. Having worked through all the assignments on the webquest, do you think that what happened to the Native

    Americans could be considered an act of genocide? Why? Motivate your answer.

According to the united nations the definition of genocide is:

In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethical, racial or religious group, as such:

1. Killing members of the group;
2. Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
3. Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
4. Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
5. Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

We’ve already discussed in assignment 5 weather some actions against the native Americans could be considered genocide and which points in the definition it refers to. I think the way the webquest is set up is to convince you that what happend to these groups was genocide. I think we all realise that slaughtering large groups of a population is considered genocide, but I think the webquest thought a lot of students that genocide does not necessarily have to mean murder and that there are other ways of eradicating a culture. For example the boarding schools, bounties and forced sterilization, because those actions can be linked to the points in the definition.

2. How can we prevent such acts of genocide from happening again?

I don´t think we rally can prevent acts of genocide. People like Hitler don´t just fade away overnight. Ideas of persons who have been involved in genocides won´t just go away. They still exist nowadays. Even if we could prevent genocides, it is not something that can happen overnight or without a warning. It requires organisations and a  properly thought out plan. It is important to know the signs that could lead to a genocide. You would have to protect the target, you would have to prevent armed conflict. People who commit crimes of genocide should be punished right away.  

3. Can you explain the title of this webquest?

The title of this webpage is related to the fact that we are looking at the past and how it is related to the present. We’re looking at the Indian reservations and genocides that happened back then, and how we can see relations between this and the present issues with the IS.

4. How can we create awareness of the situation of the Native Americans in the past and the present?

To let the Native Americans live in reservations, that where the majority are situated, west of the Mississippi River. Let them maintain their traditions. Native Americans should become proud and conscious of their values, traditions and culture. We should not let Native Americans be unemployed just because they are Native American. We should respect their traditions and give help to those who need it. Use Western medicine within their own cultural practices. They are after all US citizens, sadly only after 1924. Let people all over the world be aware of this situation, and give a voice to people who want to say what’s on their mind and that want to help.

5. How can we link this to the present IS situation?

The goal of ISIS is to found an Islamic caliphate in Syria, Iraq and the surrounding area. A caliphate is a state ruled by a successor to the Islamic prophet Mohammed.

It's all about respecting each others traditions. Every single person should be able to believe in whatever they want. In the afterlife, in God, but also when it comes to traditions. IS wants everyone to honor the same God. Native Americans were forced to leave their homes and were forced to act different.

You could say both situations are genocides. They used to kill large groups of Native Americans. Nowadays IS also kills many people to cause fear and to let people know that they're powerful. IS tries to cleanse the folk of all those who think differently.