UC Merced Undergraduate Research Journal

Amidst a time defined by overwhelming contemporary upheavals—namely, the climate crisis, escalating global conflicts, and the rapidly expanding influence of artificial intelligence—why should humanity concern itself with the past? The past is, after all, irretrievable. However, as this research paper will emphasize, the past is not merely a closed chapter; it is a living essence that imbues the present and subtly directs the unfolding of the future. Engaging with the past is, therefore, not a mere exercise in nostalgia but rather a critical process of understanding, resistance, and responsibility. This intellectual reflection becomes particularly vital given the historical ramifications endured by Indigenous communities, whose pasts have been forcibly rewritten, silenced, or erased.