Category: Thinking Historically

While I am out exploring around the Cariboo, or anywhere in British Columbia, I am constantly thinking about what kinds of things that land as been apart of. I always think about the amount of people that looked at the same rocks and beaches as I have. History 1120, gave me the foundation to be able to go out and find information about the places I have been. I now know the steps I must take in order to find out historical information about something. It has also sparked an interest for me to further my history studies even more. British Columbia is a great place for any person in history. From the Gold Rush to the many indigenous tribes, there are many things to learn about the great province I get to call home. Here are some pictures of places that I have been that cause me to think. Think about the battles that have taken places there, think about the amount of love that place has seen, and think about the amount of different people that have sat exactly where I have. Simply amazing!

 

Over looking the Fraser River near my parents house 25km west of Williams Lake

On the shores of Dragon Lake, Quesnel BC

On the sand dunes at Farwell Canyon, with the Chilcotin River and Rattlesnake Ranch in the background

The place I grew up- Alkali Lake Ranch, BC

Mahood Falls, BC

On the shore of the Thompson River in Kamloops, BC

By the end of the semester I know that in order to do history, one must have an ethno-historical methodology in order to determine history from all aspects. This way of thinking balances two different approaches, using written records, primary sources and oral accounts of history. Being able to put yourself into the lives of the ones in the time period is an important aspect of finding the secrets of history. Once one has completed the research and taken many different sources into account, the next step is to develop an opinion of the findings of the research. When studying history, there are many different opinions and sides to every story. This semester has forced me to broaden my horizons when it comes to research and develop a strong and educated opinion.

On the first day of class back in September, Tracy asked the class to write down what we thought it meant to do history. I didn’t really understand how I was supposed to answer that. But eventually I thought of something to say. I wrote down that history is the facts of the past, whether it is how society became how it is today or the evolution of humans. And believed that to do history meant a lot if research and work is needed to find all the historic facts. Throughout the semester, after many reading logs, a research project and lectures I have a better understanding on what it means to think historically.