Caution: Kids at Play
Acknowledging dangers of living close to daily traffic
Leighton Creager
Embedded Files
Thursday, September 11, 2025- Senior Sunrise '26
PUEBLO OF LAGUNA
PUEBLO OF LAGUNA
https://www.lagunapueblo-nsn.gov/
Identity
Identity
Friday, June 13, 2025, Personal Photo
"Sharing One Skin" by Jeannette Armstrong
"Sharing One Skin" by Jeannette Armstrong
In the article "Sharing One Skin" by Jeannette Armstrong, the author provides many ideas about community, such as the importance of community and the roles/expectations of. They also talk about 'belonging' to a community, and how unity is its strongest power. The author also provides their own values, which they use to guide themselves. One main idea generally expressed in the article is unity, that without taking community into consideration, a person is "lost to being human", and "alone". I interpret this article as a call to the significance of community. The connection to identity is made by the authors ideas on roles in community, and how community influences individuals.
Armstrong 1966 "Sharing One Skin". The Okanagan Community pp 460-470 in Jery Mander and Edward Godsmith (eds.) The Case Against the Global Economy, San Francisco, CA: SIerra Club Books
Saturday, August 2, 2025- Personal Photo
"And then I Went to School" by Joe Suina
"And then I Went to School" by Joe Suina
This article depicts the authors perspective from going to a boarding school. In the article, he uses contrast to explain how his ideas and values were subjected and forced to be changed into a white man's views and values. I interpret this story as a way for the author to express his thoughts during this time. The connection to Identity is how it was changed, almost. From remembering traditions to being forced into new values, we value our identity now.
Suina, Joseph H. "And Then I Went to School." Rethinking schools, 22 June 2021, rethinkingschools.org/articles/and-then-i-went-to-school/.Accessed 08 Sept. 2025. is an Associate Professor in the Department at the University of New Mexico.
Monday, May 12, 2025- Personal Photo
"How Place Names Impact the Way we See Landscape"
"How Place Names Impact the Way we See Landscape"
This article talks about how names signify and connect philosophy, as well as history, to today. Names have many stories and teachings, but when these stories are forgotten, or when a name is glorified behind stories of genocide and hate, the meaning is diminished, and people don't mind the hateful views of the person named thereafter, such as Abraham Lincoln, or Andrew Jackson. I interpret this article as a statement against the unworthy names given to street signs that normalize and water down the true history of the names. This connects to identity because names all have a history, and philosophy, in which we use to signify and remember people/places.
Oaster, B. 'Toastie'(2024, January 24) How place names Impact the way we see landscape. High Country News. https://www/hen.ong/issues/54-51-people-places-how-place-names-impact-the-way-we-see-landscape
History
Saturday, March 14, 2026- Personal Photo
US Assimilation Era (Late 1800s to Early 1900s)
US Assimilation Era (Late 1800s to Early 1900s)
There were many ways that White people tried to assimilate Natives, one being the promotion of individual land ownership, meaning owning private property. In 1887, Congress passed the “Dawes Act”, which provided allotments of land with treaties to Native Americans and to erode the reservation land that it previously granted.
HUSL Library: A Brief History of Civil Rights in the United States: The Allotment and AssimilatiON ERA (1887 - 1934). LIBRARY.LAW.HOWARD.EDU/CIVILRIGHTSHISTORY/INDIGENOUS/ALLOTMENT .
Drunk Driving a leading cause for early death (1980)
Drunk Driving a leading cause for early death (1980)
“Among young American Indians and Alaskan Natives, Drunk-driving accidents, suicide, and violent crime account for many deaths, according to the Indian Health Service.”
DUE TO ASSIMILATION, THE REMEDY TO TRAUMA BECAME DRINKING
MANY PEOPLE WOULD DRINK AND DRIVE
Tribes - Native Voices. www.nlm.nih.gov/nativevoices/timeline/549.html
Tribes - Native Voices. www.nlm.nih.gov/nativevoices/timeline/549.html
Kinney, Scott E. “Truck Collides With Car.” Portsmouth Herald, 1 Feb. 2011, www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/2004/08/20/truck-collides-with-car/50246830007.
Traffic Cones For Less.com. “Official MUTCD Slow Pedestrian Crossing Traffic Sign.” Traffic Cones for Less, www.trafficconesforless.com/official-mutcd-slow-pedestrian-crossing-traffic-sign.html?srsltid=AfmBOoqwf31Do1F47fv9qU7jgVuwAcx4dM8lrVqemzlMYnwR-K48uhhn.
Traffic Accidents kill many American Indians under the age of 44 (2003)
Traffic Accidents kill many American Indians under the age of 44 (2003)
This article I found online talks about a wide majority of American Indians/ Alaskan Natives, about two to four times more than any other Americans, who are likely to die in fatal car crashes. The article states that this problem was mostly prominent in young adults, and in rural areas that lack safe roads.
Current Events
Urban Hillbilly Videos. “CAR SHOW Burnouts Gone WILD.” YouTube, 28 Apr. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0pGaChq0Mk
The Good News
The Good News
Currently, from an article posted in 2023, 6 different major urban cities around the earth were reviewed for air pollution, and how traffic attributed to this. Surmised from this study was the assurance that we are moving in a positive direction, reducing urban gas emissions via technological advancement towards filtering emissions, and city laws requiring reduction of carbon emissions from non-traffic producers (factory organizations, etc.).
Harrison, Roy M., et al. “More mileage in reducing urban air pollution from road traffic.” ScienceDirect, Under a Creative Commons license, Apr. 2021, doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106329
Petersen, Tracey, and Tracey Petersen. “Update: Crash Blocks Highway 120 in Groveland Area Turns Deadly - myMotherLode.com.” myMotherLode.com - The Mother Lode’s Local News, Sports, Weather, Movies, Classifieds, Yellow Pages, Real Estate, 29 May 2024, mymotherlode.com/news/local/3366290/crash-blocks-highway-120-in-groveland-area.html
The Bad News
The Bad News
Another article posted in 2023 focused on the concept definition of traffic accidents, causes, risk factors such as socioeconomic status, and practical hazards like being busy while driving. Whilst this article makes more than a few claims based on studies, there is one claim that sheds light on the danger. ¨In 2020 alone, about 40,000 people died in a traffic accident and about 2.1 million people visited emergency units due to traffic accidents¨.
Ahmed, Sirwan K., et al. “Road Traffic Accidental Injuries and Deaths: A Neglected Global Health Issue.” Health Science Reports, vol. 6, no. 5, May 2023, p. e1240. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.1240
Global Connections
New York City
New York City
Mayor Mamdani intends on reducing speed limits in school zones across the 5 boroughs of New York.
¨More than 800 additional school locations will see speed limits reduced to 15 MPH this year, bringing the total school locations with 15 MPH speed limits to 1,300 by the end of the calendar year¨
“Mayor Mamdani Announces 15 MPH Slow Zones at All Eligible NYC Schools by End of First Term in Largest Sammy’s Law Expansion.” The Official Website of the City of New York, Mar. 2026, www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/03/mayor-mamdani-announces-15-mph-slow-zones-at-all-eligible-nyc-sc. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
“Congestion Pricing in NYC.” RPA, Sept. 2019, rpa.org/work/reports/congestion-pricing-in-nyc
Leonard, Andrew. “What Beijing’s Horrendous Traffic Jams Say about Green Energy - Salon.com.” Salon.com, 16 Nov. 2010, www.salon.com/2010/11/16/china_trip/ Accessed 18 Mar. 2026
China
China
In 2003, China enacted their first major law on traffic safety
This would lead to raised government expenditure doubling on public security, and a decrease in minor traffic accidents
“The RTSL (Road Traffic Safety Law) was expected to curb road traffic fatalities in a country that accounts for 15% of the world’s road traffic deaths despite claiming only 2% of the world’s motor vehicles¨
. Aney, M., & Ho, C. (2019, April 15). Deadlier road accidents? Traffic safety regulations and heterogenous motorists´ behavior. sciencedirect.com . Retrieved April 29, 2019, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0166046218300863?via%3Dihub
Mexico
Mexico
Mexico City’s ‘Hoy No Circula’ program
Created to control emissions produced by vehicles in 1989-ongoing
Enforced in all 16 Delegations of Mexico City as well as 18 Municipalities in the State of Mexico
Mexperience, and Mexperience. ¨Mexico´s Hoy No Circula Vehicle Driving Restrictions. ¨Mexperience|Experience More of Mexico, 4 Mar. 2026, www.mexperience.com/mexicos-hoy-no-circula-vehicle-driving-restrictions.
Cave, Damien. “Stranded in a Sea of Cars, Where Speedometers Barely Budge.” The New York Times, 6 Sept. 2013, www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/world/americas/in-maddening-traffic-even-road-rage-is-too-much-trouble.html
Personal Connection
Personal Connection
The reason I’m interested in wanting to inform people about driving safely is because of my family that had passed away in an accident not even 10 minutes away from home.My name is Leighton Creager, and I live in the state of New Mexico, on the Rez, in Laguna Pueblo. I am also half Navajo/Diné on my Mother’s side. A part of my family were my cousin Litanya, and her children, Leo and Ileana, who tragically died in a truck driving accident no less than 2 miles away from their home in Arizona, close to the border of Utah. As a child, I spent most of my time with them, along with Litonya’s other children, and my other cousin, who I came to understand and know as siblings of my own. This thesis and research are all dedicated to reminding people to be safe when driving anywhere, anytime, anyplace. Another reason I want to inform the youthful people who are beginning to drive is because they need to know the precautions they must take to ensure their safety. I myself drive (with a permit), so I know how dangerous it can be, at times. Lastly, I think that living close to the highway has an effect on tradition, culture, and health, as well as safety(i.e. Pollution).
Action plans
Action plans
Action Plan One
Action Plan One
This short film was intended to be a Public Safety Announcement that I would show to students from my school. Their help and awesome personalities made the film special because we are from the same community. The film would be later shown to students from my school. The majority of the class were seniors, and the latter were freshman. Most students who had attended felt empathetic towards the film, saying they had been in the same situation where they had come close to being hit by a vehicle, as demonstrated in the video.
Action Plan Two
Action Plan Two
25 February, 2026 Action Plan 2
My second Action Plan was demonstrating, using the video game Grand Theft Auto 5, how drunk driving inhibits your perception using in-game modifications. This was also done with students from my high school. The participants consisted of mostly seniors, but one junior. I presented first the matter of what influences bad driving behavior, and how they can impose danger to others. I went on to demonstrate how drinking can affect your driving, and what harm it can cause to others. The mod did pretty well doing this, and most students had a shot in the demonstration. The students said they had fun whilst also learning why drinking while driving is so dangerous.
Citations
Citations
Thursday, September 11, 2025- Senior Sunrise '26
https://www.lagunapueblo-nsn.gov/
Armstrong 1966 "Sharing One Skin". The Okanagan Community pp 460-470 in Jery Mander and Edward Godsmith (eds.) The Case Against the Global Economy, San Francisco, CA: SIerra Club Books
Friday, June 13, 2025, Personal Photo
Suina, Joseph H. "And Then I Went to School." Rethinking schools, 22 June 2021, rethinkingschools.org/articles/and-then-i-went-to-school/.Accessed 08 Sept. 2025. is an Associate Professor in the Department at the University of New Mexico.
Friday, June 13, 2025, Personal Photo
Suina, Joseph H. "And Then I Went to School." Rethinking schools, 22 June 2021, rethinkingschools.org/articles/and-then-i-went-to-school/.Accessed 08 Sept. 2025. is an Associate Professor in the Department at the University of New Mexico.
Saturday, August 2, 2025- Personal Photo
Oaster, B. 'Toastie'(2024, January 24) How place names Impact the way we see landscape. High Country News. https://www/hen.ong/issues/54-51-people-places-how-place-names-impact-the-way-we-see-landscape
Monday, May 12, 2025- Personal Photo
HUSL Library: A Brief History of Civil Rights in the United States: The Allotment and AssimilatiON ERA (1887 - 1934). LIBRARY.LAW.HOWARD.EDU/CIVILRIGHTSHISTORY/INDIGENOUS/ALLOTMENT
Saturday, March 14, 2026- Personal Photo
Tribes - Native Voices. www.nlm.nih.gov/nativevoices/timeline/549.html
---. www.nlm.nih.gov/nativevoices/timeline/615.html
Kinney, Scott E. “Truck Collides With Car.” Portsmouth Herald, 1 Feb. 2011, www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/2004/08/20/truck-collides-with-car/50246830007.
Traffic Cones For Less.com. “Official MUTCD Slow Pedestrian Crossing Traffic Sign.” Traffic Cones for Less, www.trafficconesforless.com/official-mutcd-slow-pedestrian-crossing-traffic-sign.html?srsltid=AfmBOoqwf31Do1F47fv9qU7jgVuwAcx4dM8lrVqemzlMYnwR-K48uhhn.
Harrison, Roy M., et al. “More mileage in reducing urban air pollution from road traffic.” ScienceDirect, Under a Creative Commons license, Apr. 2021, doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106329
Urban Hillbilly Videos. “CAR SHOW Burnouts Gone WILD.” YouTube, 28 Apr. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0pGaChq0Mk
Ahmed, Sirwan K., et al. “Road Traffic Accidental Injuries and Deaths: A Neglected Global Health Issue.” Health Science Reports, vol. 6, no. 5, May 2023, p. e1240. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.1240
Petersen, Tracey, and Tracey Petersen. “Update: Crash Blocks Highway 120 in Groveland Area Turns Deadly - myMotherLode.com.” myMotherLode.com - The Mother Lode’s Local News, Sports, Weather, Movies, Classifieds, Yellow Pages, Real Estate, 29 May 2024, mymotherlode.com/news/local/3366290/crash-blocks-highway-120-in-groveland-area.html
“Mayor Mamdani Announces 15 MPH Slow Zones at All Eligible NYC Schools by End of First Term in Largest Sammy’s Law Expansion.” The Official Website of the City of New York, Mar. 2026, www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/03/mayor-mamdani-announces-15-mph-slow-zones-at-all-eligible-nyc-sc. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
“Congestion Pricing in NYC.” RPA, Sept. 2019, rpa.org/work/reports/congestion-pricing-in-nyc
. Aney, M., & Ho, C. (2019, April 15). Deadlier road accidents? Traffic safety regulations and heterogenous motorists´ behavior. sciencedirect.com . Retrieved April 29, 2019, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0166046218300863?via%3Dihub
Leonard, Andrew. “What Beijing’s Horrendous Traffic Jams Say about Green Energy - Salon.com.” Salon.com, 16 Nov. 2010, www.salon.com/2010/11/16/china_trip/ Accessed 18 Mar. 2026
Mexperience, and Mexperience. ¨Mexico´s Hoy No Circula Vehicle Driving Restrictions. ¨Mexperience|Experience More of Mexico, 4 Mar. 2026, www.mexperience.com/mexicos-hoy-no-circula-vehicle-driving-restrictions.
Cave, Damien. “Stranded in a Sea of Cars, Where Speedometers Barely Budge.” The New York Times, 6 Sept. 2013, www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/world/americas/in-maddening-traffic-even-road-rage-is-too-much-trouble.html
25 February, 2026 Action Plan 2
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