National parks reviving links to their Native past

+ what to do with Turkey Day leftovers US Edition - Today's top story: In America, national parks are more than scenic − they’re sacred. But they were created at a cost to Native Americans [View in browser]( US Edition | 24 November 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Consumers tiptoe into holiday shopping season]( - [Black Friday psychology: Love it or loathe it]( - [Still in a food coma? Take our quiz to wake up]( Lead story Each year, more than 300 million visitors trek to some of the most spectacular places in the United States: its national parks. For many Americans, the parks’ value goes beyond sheer beauty and recreation. They’re hallowed symbols of the country, like the Fourth of July and the Pledge of Allegiance − considered almost sacred. But creating the park system [came at a cost for American Indian nations](, writes Tom Bremer, a scholar of religion, nature and tourism. Manifest Destiny − the notion that Americans had a divine mission to push west, into the regions where many of the most famous parks are today − also preached that Americans must expand Christian society. In recent decades, though, the parks have made progress acknowledging Native American connections with parklands: from cooperative projects to restore bison herds and maintain healthy ecosystems to educational materials about Native American culture and history. “These programs have begun the process of reconciliation and healing − working to make a more inclusive and democratic civil religion,” Bremer explains. [ [Get our Understanding AI series – four emails delivered over the course of a week, with experts explaining this confusing topic.]( ] Molly Jackson Religion and Ethics Editor ‘Valley of the Yosemite’ by the 19th-century artist Albert Bierstadt, owned by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. VCG Wilson/Corbis via Getty Images [In America, national parks are more than scenic − they’re sacred. But they were created at a cost to Native Americans]( Thomas S. Bremer, Rhodes College The idea of Manifest Destiny inspired Americans to push west, leading to the creation of the first national parks. But those beliefs spelled removal for many Native American groups. Economy + Business - [Americans are tiptoeing out of economic turmoil this holiday shopping season]( Ayalla A. Ruvio, Michigan State University; Forrest Morgeson, Michigan State University With the state of the economy unclear, shoppers seem hesitant to get too festive, too fast. - [Why do Black Friday shoppers throw punches over bargains? A marketing expert explains ‘psychological ownership’]( Colleen P. Kirk, New York Institute of Technology Psychological ownership is that feeling that someone stole ‘your’ parking spot or nabbed the last sweater you had your eye on. We have a tendency to get territorial when we feel it’s been violated. Environment + Energy - [Pollution from coal power plants contributes to far more deaths than scientists realized, study shows]( Lucas Henneman, George Mason University The longest-running study of its kind reviewed death records in the path of pollution from coal-fired power plants. The numbers are staggering − but also falling fast as US coal plants close. Politics + Society - [A ceasefire is far from lasting peace – a national security expert on the Israel-Hamas deal]( Gregory F. Treverton, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences A cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas calls for the release of at least 50 hostages taken during the violent attack on Israel by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. - [Geert Wilders: how election victory in the Netherlands for Party for Freedom fits into a wider picture of European radical-right populism]( Catherine de Vries, Bocconi University The controversial Dutch politician has won the most seats in parliament, but may still find it expedient to be the junior partner in a coalition government Ethics + Religion - [Bison are sacred to Native Americans − but each tribe has its own special relationship to them]( Rosalyn R. LaPier, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Efforts are being made to develop the capacity of Native tribes to manage bison and bison habitats. An Indigenous scholar explains their sacred significance. - [Unthanksgiving Day: A celebration of Indigenous resistance to colonialism, held yearly at Alcatraz]( Shannon Toll, University of Dayton The origins of the Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Sunrise Ceremony, held on the traditional lands of the Ohlone people, go back to 1969, a pivotal moment of Indigenous activism. Education - [‘Time warp’ takes students to Native American past to search for solutions for the future]( Eric M. Anderman, The Ohio State University; Tzu-Jung Lin, The Ohio State University Rather than have students memorize names and dates, this history curriculum invites students to grapple with real-life issues faced by people from the past. Science + Technology - [The psychological differences between those who love and those who loathe Black Friday shopping]( Michael Breazeale, Mississippi State University Some can’t wait to hit the ground running while others would rather endure a root canal. Certain characteristics help explain who is in which group. Arts + Culture - [What to do with those Thanksgiving leftovers? Look to the French]( Samantha Presnal, Amherst College It doesn't have to be a week of tiresome turkey sandwiches. A food historian explains how the French came to see leftovers as an outlet for creativity and experimentation. Podcast 🎙️ - [Brandalism: the environmental activists using spoof adverts to critique rampant consumerism]( Gemma Ware, The Conversation Subvertising campaigns are often funny, but they also aim to make a wider point about the unsustainable excesses of consumerism. Listen to The Conversation Weekly. Trending on site - [Forget dystopian scenarios – AI is pervasive today, and the risks are often hidden]( - [Why George Santos’ lies are even worse than the usual political lies – a moral philosopher explains]( - [Digitized records from wildlife centers show the most common ways that humans harm wild animals]( The Conversation Quiz 🦃 - Here’s the first question of [our special Thanksgiving edition:]( For maximum protection from bacteria when preparing your Thanksgiving turkey, the USDA recommends that you ... - A. Baste it with Neosporin - B. Boil it for 10 minutes before cooking - C. Leave it unwashed - D. Roast it until it's dry and tasteless [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? Follow us: • [Threads]( • [Bluesky]( • [Mastodon](• [Post.news]( • [LinkedIn]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](