Question

Think of it this way, your ancestors navigated by the stars, and today most people won’t walk outside without a GPS. That’s a crazy loss of direction or skill at some level for sure. And while Indigenous peoples and many rural peoples can still see the stars, most of the world’s population cannot. That’s particularly an urban thing, where there’s all this light. From my farm, through the open skies, at night I can see the glow of Detroit Lakes, and that’s 25 miles away.

—“A Case for Waawaatesi,”
Winona LaDuke

Which statement best describes the point LaDuke is making in the passage?



How does the writer appeal to the reader’s logic?



How does the writer establish credibility?

Answer 1

Which statement best describes the point LaDuke is making?
- LaDuke argues that modern reliance on technology (GPS) and urban light pollution have caused most people to lose the traditional skill and relationship to navigating by the stars—a skill still retained by many Indigenous and rural peoples.

How does the writer appeal to the reader’s logic?
- She uses clear cause-and-effect reasoning (ancestors navigated by stars → today people use GPS → therefore skills are lost) and contrasts past and present to show the change.
- She supports the claim with concrete, observable facts (most people in cities can’t see the stars because of light pollution) and a specific example (from her farm she can see the glow of a town 25 miles away), which makes the argument seem reasonable and evidence-based.

How does the writer establish credibility?
- She uses personal, firsthand experience (“From my farm…”) and concrete, local detail (naming Detroit Lakes and the 25‑mile distance), which signals direct knowledge.
- By referencing ancestral and Indigenous practices, she presents herself as connected to a cultural tradition with authority on the subject.