Understanding Native Americans: A Brief Talk
| Who am I? |
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| Native American Images |
| Famous Native Americans |
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"stuck in history" |
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stereotypes (Western tribes) |
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| Background |
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500+ tribes |
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200+ languages |
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300+ reservations |
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trends - more and more like me (non-reservation, cultural conflicts) |
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Treaties ------- distrust of non-native authority |
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Assimilation ------- protection of culture
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| Seeing through Native eyes |
| ex. $20 bill |
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| What should I be called? |
| Native American |
| American Indian (Indian) |
| Chippewa (Ojibwe, Ojibway) |
| Ottawa (Odawa) |
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Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians (Little Traverse Bay Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians) |
Anishinabe (UH-NEESH-UH-NAH-BEE) (Uh-NEESH-NAH-BAY) |
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| How do American Indians view the world? |
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1. History (time) is spatial
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centered around place
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"this happened here, that happened there"
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chronology isn't critical, importance of the event is |
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(when and in what order is not important,
that it happened and where it happened is) |
in terms of time, promptness isn't essential
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that it happens is more important than when it happens
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lazy? unreliable?
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2. Unity between the individual/community and the natural world
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working in harmony with, not to control or conquer (a connectedness)
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(can lead to the idea that we must accept things the way they are)
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however, there are no accidents, everything happens for a purpose
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the future is not seen as a motivating factor unless it has an affect on today
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"seeing" the world differently English - 60% nouns (object oriented) Annishanaabemowin - 80% verbs (about process, relationships) a living language
a "visual" way of knowing |
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visual learners (learn by seeing things done repeatedly)
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| 3. Consensus and community |
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decision making emphasizes cooperation/conformity instead of competition
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group needs > individual needs
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Elders are important
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| 4. Spirituality and health |
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illness is often seen as serving a purpose (which can be generational/historical in nature)
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holistic approach
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what can I learn from being sick?
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the treatment is not simply physical
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spiritual purification will often be seen as more important than physical purification
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smudging ceremonies (burning herbs, wood, sage, tobacco and praying for cleansing)
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sweat lodges
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these ceremonies are private
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conducted by healers
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medicine bundles - collection of objects believed to heal disease and ward off enemies (herbs, stones, bones, feathers)
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Communication implications of these four ideas:
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1. verbal or written explanations are usually not enough
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2. time issues need clarification
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3. focusing solely on the medical condition will not work
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4. exploring the larger implications of illness is critical
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5. individual guilt often fails to motivate (appeals to communal implications are often better)
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from a poster advocating that Natives seek help for gambling addiction "A gambling problem can impact an entire family. And an entire community. To take care of the next generation, you must first take care of yourself. Call for help. You are not alone"
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6. communal decision making may lead to large groups of visitors
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7. patients may need privacy for ceremony (is this possible?)
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8. distrust and assimilation issues may arise as well
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ex. cutting hair |
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ex. sitting in silence |
| Mashkiki Waakaaigan Pharmacy |