Sentence:  The above speech does address "the state of things existing at the time"; unlike Aristotle's model, however, the Cherokee oration also evokes memories of the past, as well as hope for the future, by reminding the audience that the Native Garden at <WSD>West Carolina</WSD> University represents "the continuation of our tradition of cultivating knowledge about the natural world," as well as "the continuation of the circle in which we live and learn." 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  (Western Carolina). a university located in Cullowhee, North Carolina.