Question To Native Americans About Perception

[NewGuyOnTheBlock]

I know little to nothing about the native american spiritual traditions and don't pretend to; and my exposure to the same is minimal to nearly nonexistent.

In the light of public discourses, educational course selections, websites, etc. etc. I see the trend that "Native American" culture, history and religion are dumped into one lump sum under the heading "Native American".

Now, from my limited knowledge, I don't see Native American cultures and traditions as extensions of one and the same. For example, some pre-colonial Native Americans were farmers; others hunters; some migrant, others not; such things as "Totem Poles" being facets of tribes from the West Coast and absent elsewhere; some were warriors and others peaceful.

So my observation is this: There is not one "Native American" culture or religion. The Native American culture and spiritual traditions seem, to me, to be varied, unique and diverse.

My question is a sincere seeking of knowledge and empathy; it is not intended to offend, raise negative emotions, or an effort to troll.

Here is my question:

How does this propensity of grouping the diverse cultures and religions into one lump sum by those not in tune with Native American diversity affect you?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I dont know if you directing this specifically to those living in reservations or all nave americans, but I will answer since I am one by blood. I cant speak for all.

It affects both those who live on reservations and those who do not. For example, if my family opened and told us which family live on res. the rest of us can help out. However, because of a lot (not all) res. not wanting to work with the US they are loosing money, hard to find work, and more to the OP trying to keep their traditions and faith.

A lot of traditions are mixed with Christianity. From general knowledge and reservation trips, they do believe in a Creator. Unfortunately, like "totum poles" use of the words Great Spirit and Wanka Tanka I would highly assume was used years ago but not now given the mix up.

Native american spirituality is very private. One lady at a Pow Wow we went to remarked positively and suprisingly that "minorities" came. African americans had a lot of descrimm as native americans though different histories if course.

She continued that she didnt like whites coming to their res. stealing their traditions, and like you posted, maybe distorting them all into one group.

Im sure youre just asking for general knowledge. Specific beliefs and traditions are usually kept with the tribe and family.

Hopefully you get a variety of answers. A lot of people on res. find it hard to use comp and internet if they decide to go off land. If their res isnt with the US its like going to another country.

I know little to nothing about the native american spiritual traditions and don't pretend to; and my exposure to the same is minimal to nearly nonexistent.

In the light of public discourses, educational course selections, websites, etc. etc. I see the trend that "Native American" culture, history and religion are dumped into one lump sum under the heading "Native American".

Now, from my limited knowledge, I don't see Native American cultures and traditions as extensions of one and the same. For example, some pre-colonial Native Americans were farmers; others hunters; some migrant, others not; such things as "Totem Poles" being facets of tribes from the West Coast and absent elsewhere; some were warriors and others peaceful.

So my observation is this: There is not one "Native American" culture or religion. The Native American culture and spiritual traditions seem, to me, to be varied, unique and diverse.

My question is a sincere seeking of knowledge and empathy; it is not intended to offend, raise negative emotions, or an effort to troll.

Here is my question:

How does this propensity of grouping the diverse cultures and religions into one lump sum by those not in tune with Native American diversity affect you?

 

[metis]

Indeed the N.A. "religions" were quite diverse, even though there was quite a bit of commonality in certain basic areas. One is that they didn't see that their beliefs and approaches as being "religion", instead being just another aspect of life itself. Secondly, their pre-Columbia approach was polytheistic with usually one more dominant deity. Thirdly, there was a heavy emphasis on ritual, whereas if certain rituals were not followed bad things could happen ("inside/outside the circle" was fairly common amongst Norrth American Indians). Fourthly, we call their religion in general "animism" since all tended to put very heavy emphasis on animal deities if they were hunter & gatherers, and more agricultural societies often included deities that related to weather, the sun, and the moon and stars.

The Central and South American Indians, since some tribes were much larger, tended to be much more formalized and more apt to use human sacrifices. Also, their priesthood tended to more "institutionalized" and more relatively powerful than their North American counterparts.

 

[jeager106]

@Carlita
What nation or tribe?

I'm a "dirty foot". Know what that slang represents? Sometimes called "Bug's Boys"
for reasons I've never learned.
Native Americans were flat out swindled, cheated, murdered, robbed, and worse.
The last reservation I visited was in the way too far north of Ont. Canada, a place
called Arrowland. About 800 miles into the interior of Canada, part of the Ojibwa
tribe. They didn't like white people one iota.

 

[metis]

@Carlita
What nation or tribe?

I'm a "dirty foot". Know what that slang represents? Sometimes called "Bug's Boys"
for reasons I've never learned.
Native Americans were flat out swindled, cheated, murdered, robbed, and worse.
The last reservation I visited was in the way too far north of Ont. Canada, a place
called Arrowland. About 800 miles into the interior of Canada, part of the Ojibwa
tribe. They didn't like white people one iota.

I'm writing from the middle of Ojibwe "country" here is da U.P., and here there's really not much of a problem between they and the whites. Things have improved on the reservations here, especially with many casinos that have been guilt. Even though I'm a Me'tis, I look very "white", and yet I've never had a problem here.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

They didn't like white people one iota

Yeah. I got the vibe. My grandmother (father) is Blackfoot and my mothers side, further back, Cherokee. My family is down south and south west of me, virginia: North, South Carolina. Alabama, Georgia, and Texas.

My family have a feeling that african americans and native mated. Our family looks down on people if they arent african american. Mostly they are concerned with racial mix whites. My mother says that my south fam. probably quiet because they afraid US will put them in reservations. The Cherokee Nation sided with the US so I dont think thats true. They probably ashamed of their heritage.
-
Im just Cherokee and especially blackfoot by blood. I have no cultural connections. Here is a good site. It will give you advice about their spirituality; but, it may be an offense to outsiders looking in unfortunetly.

Seeking Native American Spirituality and Traditional Religion: Read This First!

 

[jeager106]

I'm writing from the middle of Ojibwe "country" here is da U.P., and here there's really not much of a problem between they and the whites. Things have improved on the reservations here, especially with many casinos that have been guilt. Even though I'm a Me'tis, I look very "white", and yet I've never had a problem here.

It's been 25 years since I've been in the Far North and likely things have changed.
Glad to hear that.
I'm only about 20% or so dirty foot. Great Grandmother was a full blood. Wish I had met
her.
That's pretty cool.

Mé·tis
/māˈtēs/
noun

1. (especially in western Canada) a person of mixed American Indian and Euro-American ancestry, in particular one of a group of such people who in the 19th century constituted the so-called Métis nation in the areas around the Red and Saskatchewan rivers.

 

[Twilight Hue]

It's a long shot, but are there any Seneca people here?

 

[metis]

It's been 25 years since I've been in the Far North and likely things have changed.
Glad to hear that.
I'm only about 20% or so dirty foot. Great Grandmother was a full blood. Wish I had met
her.
That's pretty cool.

Mé·tis
/māˈtēs/
noun

1. (especially in western Canada) a person of mixed American Indian and Euro-American ancestry, in particular one of a group of such people who in the 19th century constituted the so-called Métis nation in the areas around the Red and Saskatchewan rivers.

I wasn't brought up in the Me'tis tradition, plus my connection is out of Quebec where only a relatively small fraction live in the more traditional manner. There are three tribes that I have ancestry from, one is Pawnee out of Illinois, another is Canadian Cree out of Quebec, and the third also is out of Quebec but we don't know which tribe even though we do know it was about an hour's drive north of Hull.

 

[Quintessence]

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