I hope what you gain here is an understanding of how Native American core cultural values demonstrate their associated behaviors and attitudes. These are not fully inclusive as there is no way to incorporate all of the differences in tribal affiliations into these core values. They do not reflect the wide variations spread throughout Native American communities being the result of various levels of cultural assimilation among individuals in those communities. Neither can it reflect the differences throughout the Native American cultures that have stretched across the North American continent. However many of these values have a commonality with so many of these communities, that they are easily picked upon when encountered in the Native American communities.
I believe that these qualities have provided the balance in my life that has enabled me to overcome the many issues and problems that I have had to face in my life and my recovery. They bring within me the ability to live my life in a manner that is respectful, hopeful, enlightened, open and allows me to grow as a spiritual being. Like any spiritual being on this planet, I make my share of mistakes, yet through my belief system, I have been able to correct many of these errors in judgment and not have to repeat them over and over again. I am far from perfect, yet have found stability in my life that previously was lacking. I have found a unique peace in my soul that for most of my life raged in unrequited agony over what had been done to me during my childhood and what I had done to others because of that childhood. The cultural values that I found in living my life within the Native American traditions have opened my heart and mind to the profound joys of living.
I can only hope that as we progress in our desire to overcome the NeoCon agenda, which wants to circumvent our Constitution and our way of life, that we encompass the Values and Behaviors that have sustained a people who have long suffered many of the threatened actions of these NeoCon Fascists. I pray that Great Spirit lead us into the revolution that ensues with an open heart and love of our fellow human beings, even when they are diametrically opposed to what we believe. By living our lives within the Values and Behaviors that demonstrate that we indeed are living our lives in a way that truly supports our Anti War stance, we not only are talking the talk, we truly are walking the walk.
Cindy Sheehan is indeed walking her walk. I believe that she truly knows in her heart that her spiritual well being is indeed being renewed and revived as she seeks to have our President explain to her the Noble Cause that took her son’s life. Spiritual growth is never easy, it brings with it not only joy but hardship. If it was easy, I personally don’t believe that it would carry the value that I place upon it. I look at the Mega Churches, the drive through churches and I see how easily they spread their truth, simply show up, give us plenty of your money and we shall give you spiritual well being by osmosis. I look at real Christians, those that live their faith and I know that they truly understand how difficult it is to grow and develop as a spiritual being. All of us together encompass something that is truly amazing, truly stretches our ability to comprehend the magnitude of our existence. Whether one is a spiritualist, evolutionist, agnostic or atheist, there is still the overwhelming sense that life, the life we have on this mere blue speck of dust and water in the greater universe, is truly a wondrous miracle to behold. Here are the Values and Behaviors that I have found to enhance, grow and develop myself as a better human being. They are offered as a road map of sorts, to travel on the road that offers each of you the happiness, joy, love and sustainability to create within your world all that you wish to achieve during your time here in this plane of existence.
More below the fold
Crossposted at Village Blue, My Left Wing and Our Word
Accepting Disparity
Native Americans have as a tradition, show respect to the unique differences among peoples. A common expression of this value includes staying out of other people’s affairs and interjecting their opinions only when asked. There is an expectation that this courtesy will be returned, as a matter of respect. Keeping ones opinion to oneself in the community shows respect for the lives of all who live in the community and interference should only be offered when asked for or when there are threats to the well being of the community or a community member. It would be considered disrespectful to ask another member of the community, what are your religious beliefs. This value has allowed me the opportunity to know and accept the varied cultures that have touched my life in so many ways.
Stillness
The overt act of quietness or silence as a value, serves many functions in Indian life. This value has significantly contributed to the survival of Native American cultures. For many tribal members, when they get angry or are uncomfortable, they simply remain silent. Most non Indians view this as indifference, which in fact it is not. It is a highly developed interpersonal etiquette that provides for the defusing of explosive issues that could injure the community. This ability to circumvent anger, frustration and resentment allows for the creation of solutions to problems that crop up within the community. I have used stillness as a tool to silence the inner voices and feel the magnificence of the world around me.
Endurance, Tolerance and Patience
Native American’s have a deep abiding respect for the virtue of patience and tolerance. This respect is based on the belief that all things in life will be revealed in their time. Patience, like silence, was another survival behavior that protected tribes during the genocidal years. Patience and tolerance were needed, in social situations; to show respect for individuals and elders, to help the group reach agreement, and allow time for “reflection.” This value is often seen as procrastination by non Indian cultures and many Indians have been unfairly stereotyped as lazy Indians, because they failed to live in the hurry up and wait world of the white man. Endurance, tolerance and patience are the truly remarkable values that have sustain my culture for the last 100 years, under the governance of the BIA. Patience has been one of the cornerstones of my recovery, showing me how to live in a society that is always hurrying to go nowhere fast. Endurance has become an increasingly valuable tool as I have had to endure the harsh reality of living in a country that is systematically being converted into a fascist state. And tolerance has enabled me not to lose my mind over this subverting of my country by the fascists.
Purpose driven work ethic
Work has always been directed as a function and is completed when it needs to be finished, in traditional Indian life. The non-materialistic societies created by many Indians are one product of this value. The accumulation of things through working was an alien concept until the forced assimilation of so many tribal members. Busy work, doing something to keep your hands busy is also a foreign concept in Native American tribal cultures. The need for so many outside of tribal cultures to keep busy is just not an itch that tribes have found necessary to scratch. The accumulation of stuff, just to possess stuff is also very foreign to Native peoples. Great Spirit has always provided what was needed to live not just to survive. I have found that my needs are constantly being met and that my wants for the most part exceed my needs exponentially. That is why I have curtailed my accumulation of things to try and make me happy.
Communal Mutualism
This value, attitude, and behavior, saturates the entire traditional Indian social fabric. Because mutualism supports a sense of belonging and harmony within the group, members cooperate to gain tribal protection and agreement. Because American culture supports the inclination to emphasize competition and work for individual gain over cooperation to benefit the whole community, many Native Americans have difficulty assimilating into American culture. The emphasis on how much do you own and much do you make are examples of this disparity in cultures. The sad fact that so many of us strive to keep up with the Jones’s creates an environment that is hostile to communal mutualism. The value of communal mutualism clearly demonstrates the commitment to all the individuals that live within the community. That the members least able to care for themselves are adopted by other members of the community to insure that they are well cared for, has historically been the norm in Native American tribal affiliations. I seek to enhance my community, to help it become more open and accepting of all the peoples that live within it and incorporate them into the very fabric of the community. I strive to achieve this in all the different communities that I am a member of, this acceptance of those who are a part of those communities insures that I am living my spiritual path and not just talking my way through life.
Nonverbal point of reference
The art of listening is a well practiced art in the traditional native American communities, many Indians prefer to listen rather than speak. Speaking simply to hear one’s own voice is rarely practiced in these communities. When one speaks there must be a purpose for your words, small talk is not widely received, except among close family or friends. Words have an elemental power within the culture of Native Americans and when used there must be a reason for that use and it must be exercised carefully. Within the confines of a social interaction the importance of the words are based upon their expressive connotations rather than their oral power to communication. This expressive nature is clearly defined by the highly descriptive stories of how the Native Americans came to be and how Great Spirit place them upon their ancestral lands. I remember working with an older Native American, who was a Medicine Man. I was always puzzled by his short grunts whenever I initiated a conversation with him. One day he asked me if there was ever going to be point to what I was saying to him. He helped me to understand that words have power and we must use them to enhance our existence upon this planet.
Observing and hearing
Native American’s have always placed, hearing, observing, and memorizing as highly valued skills, given that virtually all facets of Native American culture were conveyed orally or through modeling. The lore teller, the oral histories, the experiential and observational learning were all well organized within Native American cultures. The use of these skills, were necessary to carry on the traditions and values of the culture, which were based upon the members honing these skills to a fine art. Without the culture highly prizing observation and hearing, not just listening, many of the cultures finest oral traditions would never have survived the long dark years between 1875 and 1980. I have been very fortunate in having many fine teachers over the years, whom have helped me to hone my abilities to observe and hear. I am grateful for the many gifts my spiritual path has presented into my life. The skill sets I have in hearing what others are saying and observing my surroundings have greatly increased my abilities to live my life to its fullest.
Spatial representation
The Native American world allows things to come about when it is time for them to proceed. Time is relatively elastic and usually not ordered into parts as it is in current civilizations. Since arranging time and determining it into specific divisions are qualities of the predominate culture in the United States, dissonance can arise between the traditional living Indian and the prevailing culture. How that dissonance is remedied has taken many forms and for some it has prevented them from holding jobs in the real world. Time truly is relative and when the clock runs one’s life, there is a tendency to wither as a living soul. I realize that many of us must pursue jobs that create demands upon how our time is used, yet there are many places were we could allow our souls to be free of these constraints. Take the time to adventure outside of your comfort zone, explore the realities of what the world truly has to offer. Fortunately for me, I have had very few problems adhering to the time relative problems of the culture of the US. I know many that continue to struggle with the concepts of ordered time.
The Present as a point of reference
Traditionally, the Native American culture’s point of reference has always been to the present and the pressing tasks at hand. This point of reference further enhances the Human Beings presence on the planet as being not something that will be coming in some future time. The needs of the present take precedence over the desires of the vague future rewards that are off in the distance. Notably there have been alterations in this belief over the last 100 years, due to the forced assimilation of tribal members, yet it is still apparent within the personalities of most Native Americans. All things that show up in Native American’s lives are dealt with based on their immediate relevance to the current time and place. This lesson was a hard one learned and I am grateful to the teachers I have had in my life to help me view life in the here and now. Living one day at a time has definitely given me a greater life to live.
Holistic approaches to living
Native American cultures have an ancient and almost built in path to understanding the whole. This is readily perceptible in a variety of aspects in Indian cultures, ranging from curative to community associations. When dealing with Native cultures it is imperative to keep in mind this holistic outlook on living life, that the whole is not simply a sum of all of its parts.
I cured with the power that came through me. Of course, it was not I who cured, it was the power from the Outer World, the visions and the ceremonies had only made me like a hole through which the power could come to the two-leggeds.” “If I thought that I was doing it myself, the hole would close up and no power could come through. Then everything I could do would be foolish.
Black Elk Oglala Sioux
I have brought this approach into how I live my life today. My life has become like the circle of life, that all I am is not just the sum of my parts. I am a Human Being, therefore I am valued not just for being, I am valued because I am.
Confidence in Spirituality
Spiritual contemplation and attainment are integral parts of the shared traditions within the Native American life. Spirituality is deemed an accepted element of all that there is in the world. Integrating spirituality within ones life is a measure of how well we have assimilated the values and principles of our culture. The spirit world opens our hearts and minds to the vast realm of life and its desire to continue in all its forms. That we must connect with all the life forms that are a part of our lives, insures that we are indeed living a spiritual life.
You have noticed that everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the Power of the World always works in circles, and everything tries to be round….. The Sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nest in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves.
Black Elk Oglala Sioux
I am of the coyote clan. I feel the presence of my clan as I strive to achieve and assimilate the values and guiding principles of my spiritual path. The sweat lodge, the vision quest, smudging and prayer all bring me closer to the place within my heart that will truly set me free.
Vigilance
The inclination toward vigilance in unknown personal experiences and circumstances has established the stereotypical representation of the stoic Indian. This quality is closely related to the calm and silent conduct of many Native Americans. Such carefulness results from a basic apprehension concerning how others whom they are unfamiliar, will acknowledge their views and actions. This carefulness is also displayed when in new circumstances with which they have no familiarity. That the stoic Indian has little concern for others is a decidedly false and unjust indictment; against a value that simply says when in doubt say little until you are sure of what you need to say. I personally have found this value of great importance in keeping my head out of my anal orifice on so many occasions. I find that if I don’t have something positive to say, it would be much more responsible of me to say nothing and let it pass me by. This approach has given me great confidence when I actually do have words that might have some importance in the ongoing topic of discussion.
I offer these values and behaviors as a way for our communities to address the injustice, moral turpitude and outright illegal activities of the people in power in our country right now. Can we win the battle to retake our country from the NeoCon criminals who are working so diligently to usurp our Constitution and hold hostage our sacred rights. I can only tell you that I will fight as long as I am able to sustain breath and voice my concerns in a free republic. I can also tell you that these values and behaviors have sustained a people for more than 100 years as they have struggled to achieve personhood, the right to vote, the right to own property, the right to live their lives unhindered by the government of the United States of America.
I say to all progressives, if the Democratic Party does not begin to address the needs of the progressive left, if it continues its march toward becoming the GOP light, then I say, move on, take your voice, you money and your vote to another party. One that has an understanding of progressive ideals, one that will stand up to the NeoCon corporatists that want nothing more than to control all the wealth and all the power in the US. I have recently sent a letter to the DNC, explaining to them that I will not be a member of their party much longer if they continue to discount the three core issues that I find most important as an American. Personal privacy is of the utmost importance that no law shall impugn upon any human beings right to choose any medical procedure without interference from the Government. That the Patriot Act shall be rescinded fully and a new law written that guarantees to protect all of my rights, that were so carefully written into our Constitution by the founding fathers. Lastly that all elections in every county in the US will insure that a paper trail shall be available for recounts in the event there is a need for that recount.
If the DNC continues to move right, I will be working diligently to move more members to the left and if that means joining another party that supports most of my concerns about the US and its policies, then it will truly be a shame that I must walk away from a party that I have been a member of since 1972, when I was allowed to vote for the very first time. I hope that each of you will open yourself to this fact of life and that when the time comes, let our Party know that if they choose to ignore our warnings then they shall indeed feel the wrath of our righteous anger at having been minimized by them. I believe if enough members of the grassroots, start letting the DNC know that they are in danger of losing a significant amount of their base, they might just tell the DLC to take their corporate hackism and take a hike.
