C32: The Controversy Of Mount Rushmore’s Land and Meaning

The general area of my research is in American and Native American studies. My research question is “What makes Mount Rushmore so controversial and how do both Americans and Native Americans view the monument and the land it is on?”. My research question is an excellent way of bridging two fields while at the same time remaining relevant to both. It is relevant to Native American studies as it probes and seeks to understand Native American beliefs about the Black Hills and the Native Americans historical claim to the land. In addition, it is relevant to American studies by analyzing American beliefs and interpretations pertaining to the same land due to Mount Rushmore’s presence on it. To answer my research question, I conducted an analysis of scholarly journals, articles, and editorials which provided information about the history of the Black Hills and how both Natives and Americans have interacted with the site. As a result of my research, I discovered that for centuries the Black Hills have been sacred to many local Native American tribes like the Lakota due to the land’s connection to several of their myths. Native Americans have held firm to these beliefs despite the illegal appropriation of the Black Hills in 1877. My research also revealed that the American beliefs and interpretations surrounding Mount Rushmore have changed over time as certain aspects of the monument have been embraced or ignored. The final conclusion from my research is that while the Black Hills are what’s important to Native Americans, Mount Rushmore is what’s important to Americans. As neither group wishes to let go of their claim to the site the controversy of Mount Rushmore has continued to persist. Although this project is outside of my major of Biochemistry, I strongly believe that the research skills that I developed while undertaking this project will serve me well for the remainder of my time here at Miami and beyond. I am certain that the day will come in my career as a biochemist that the skills developed as a result of this project will assist me to solve problems and complete career related tasks.

Author: Tyler Ania, Biochemistry

Advisor: Oana Godeanu-Kenworthy, department of Global & Intercultural Studies