In the article “Sharing One Skin,” Jeanette Armstrong describes our four selves. Our four selves, the physical, emotional, thinking, and spiritual self, allow us to be human. Our physical self is what interacts with our environment. The emotional self allows us to form bonds with communities and the land.” The thinking-intellectual self is “a spark that ignites” and can create or destroy. The spiritual self is “our true self” and connects us to a greater community. With all of these selves, we can be a connected human.

Armstrong, Jeanette. “Sharing One Skin.” Jerry Mander and Edward Goldsmith (EDs). The case against the Global Economy. San Francisco, CA. Sierra Club Books. 

Memories and stories are connected to our land, as described by B. Toastie in the article “How place names impact the way we see the landscape.” Place identity connects us to the land, a perspective people have about a place due to its known connotation, the feelings one may experience at that place, one's own feelings when there, etc. Place identity connects is almost a relationship someone has with the land. Stories can also influence place identity because they can be tied to the landscape. The shape of rock formations, the winding of rivers, or certain flowers on the land can be explained through stories. Memories and stories can influence how we see life and the landscape and alter our identity.

Toastie, B. “How Place Names Impact the Way We See Landscapes,” High Country News. Know the West. 2022.

 In the article, “And I Went to School,” by Joe Suina, he shares his experience as a pueblo child in the fifties. Mr. Suina grew up in Cochiti’s Plaza with his grandmother. He performed duties such as cutting wood and hauling water. He was an active participant in cultural traditions. As he grew older and went to school, he had a hard time adjusting to the English language, being constantly stationary, and the new expectations. Later, he starts to resent his culture because he “imagined it could be a heck of a lot better if only I had a white man’s house with a bed, a nice couch, and a clock. the white man’s was so convenient and clean." Eventually, he accepts both cultures and lives with both. This acceptance creates harmony and positivity in Suina's life.

Suina, Joseph. “And Then I Went to School,” New Mexico Journal of Reading. Winter 1989. Vol. V, No. 2. Re

            Tomás Karmelo Amaya. “This Native American Tribe Is Taking Back Its Water.” Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Mar. 2023, www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/native-american-tribe-pima-indians-taking-back-water-180981542.

Surprisingly, in Qatar, 20% of people are living with diabetes because diabetes usually occurs in low and middle-class countries. The cause of the rise in diabetes in Qatar is due to the accessibility to luxury and leisure. Such as the easy access to needs and wants is debilitating because it does not force individuals to seek resources through viable exercise. The accessibility limits the amount of exercise citizens are getting. For example, with diabetes, a man who was once active in sports was diagnosed. This was a pivotal moment in his life as he had to constantly inject and monitor. He is now completely incapable of leaving his home, only for visits to the hospital for medication and checkups. 

United Nations. “Qatar: Sweet Epidemic (Diabetes).” YouTube, YouTube, 6 Nov. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iyq7klfOctY.

This article argues that the implementation of processed foods into the Pacific Island community caused the uprise in diabetes within the islands. It cites that in the 1940s, a study was conducted that showed diabetes was virtually nonexistent. After World War II, government feeding programs introduced processed foods and soon after, diabetes became a profoundly increasing chronic illness. Many factors aid in the continuation of relevancy including cost, resources, patient negligence, poverty rate, calorie-dense inexpensive premade foods, transportation, affordability, agriculture, fishing, and rural vs urban populations. To amend this, they are creating awareness, food policy, and education to their youth. 

Ruikka, Jessica. “The Western Diet’s Negative Impact on the Health of the Pacific ...” The Western Diet’s Negative Impact on the Health of the Pacific Islands., 2016, ir.library.louisville.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1131&context=honors.

A study was completed by conducting interviews in malls and shopping centers (mostly) along with other locations and methods, asking participants about their knowledge of diabetes risk factors. Surprisingly, only a few knew how to prevent diabetes. Most of these people were highly educated with a college degree. They felt the convenience of processed and fast foods was easiest to prepare, especially for those who work during the day. They argue that it was too hot or they didn't have enough energy to exercise. After being diagnosed with diabetes, people were surprisingly less active and ate more. The lack of education proved to be a major factor in the success of exercise and diet in the prevention of chronic health issues. 

Carballo, Manuel, et al. “Knowledge, Attitudes, Behaviours and Practices towards Diabetes Mellitus in Kuwait.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 15 Aug. 2017, www.emro.who.int/emhj-volume-24-2018/volume-24-issue-11/knowledge-attitudes-behaviours-and-practices-towards-diabetes-mellitus-in-kuwait.html.