Fresh Banana Leaves
What kind of scientist is Jessica Hernandez?
An environmental scientist (a scientist who studies land, air, and water health and protection, and human relations with those spaces).
Why is Jessica's book called, "Fresh Banana Leaves"?
As a child soldier in El Salvador in the 80s, her grandfather hid in banana trees and was protected from unexploded bombs by the shelter of the leaves.
Why does the Mexican flag show an eagle on a cactus eating a snake?
The Aztec people were told by their god to build their capital city on the spot where they saw this eagle. They spotted it on an island in Lake Texcoco.
What is the ideal length of a written summary in our class?
75 words maximum, but you can write less. Not more!
Hernandez uses the terms "Western" countries and "developing" countries. Which countries does she specify in each category?
Western: US, Canada, Europe
Developing: Mexico, Central America, South America
Why does Jessica's grandmother compare the white tourists with cameras and trucks to anthropologists?
The tourists are taking pictures and experiences of Oaxaca in the same way that the anthropologists took the stories of Indigenous peoples, without permission, credit, or payment.
How did the Aztec people construct their city? How did they feed themselves and connect to the land around the lake?
They build their city on an island. They constructed floating gardens of mud and lake grasses. They build causeways (like bridges on top of the water) so they could cross to the land. They also used canoes.
What is a summary?
A summary is a short written response that captures the main ideas of a longer text. It focuses on the main ideas using keywords and details. It avoids personal opinion.
Define the word indigenous.
How does helicopter research prevent Indigenous communities from making decisions about protecting their own environments?
Western scientists travel to a place in a developing country and make decisions about science based on how they understand the environment separate from its people and history. They often do not consult native communities to hear their opinion or see if they want those scientific projects.
How was the Aztec empire and city at Tenochtitlan destroyed?
The emperor Montezuma invited the Spanish colonizers as guests. The Spanish brought diseases like smallpox. The Spanish desired the Aztec wealth, so they later invaded with their advanced weaponry and the assistance of smaller tribes that the Aztecs controlled.
What are the 5w's and how do they connect to a summary?
Who / What / When / Where / Why
These are the 5 questions words that we want a summary to answer.
She suggest that the scientists should help Indigenous people to tell their own stories, rather than speaking for them. She suggests that they teach people to read and write so they have the power to record their stories.
Jessica says that the relationship between western scientists and Indigenous people in Mexico and Central America is a form of settler colonialism. Define this phrase.
Settler colonialism is the practice of some nations dominating and controlling the land and lives of other people around the world; these nations, often European, used military power, religion, legal systems, and deceptive trade practices to enslave, kill, or remove Indigenous people from their lands, often in North America, Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
How were the Aztec empire at Tenochtitlan and the Inca empire at Cuzco similar?
Both cities showed a high level of craftsmanship, stonework, and knowledge of the landscape. Both cities were the center of their empires and had extreme wealth in precious metals. Both cities were eventually invaded and destroyed by the Spanish conquistadores in the 1600s.
A summary will show to your reader that you understood the main ideas and key words in an essay, article, or story. By summarizing that original text, you educate your reader about the topic before you share your perspective or analysis.