Products of Native American Culture - Essay Example

?Re-Writing History with Native American Text Introduction The products of Native American culture are often looked at as separate from the United States history and are considered secondary aspects that belong to a minority group. However, when examining the texts that are a part of the culture, it can be seen that there is intertwining with both cultures. More important, there is a part of the Native American culture which continues to dominate over American history and into the current day. While this is often ignored in traditional American history and is set as a stereotype and boundary, there are implications which show the importance of defining and understanding the history and beliefs of Native Americans as a part of the American culture. The text which is used as a product of Native American culture is one which shows a different identity that belongs to America and which once was the main association with the United States, as opposed to the changes which occurred after the land was conquered by the American government. Text as a Product of Native American Culture The text that is a part of culture and history is first defined as a product of Native American culture. The different types of text are able to describe the culture, history, family and the lifestyle that was a part of a given time frame. This traced the history of the Native Americans back into the ancient ways of living while showing how the dominant culture in America was lost through the war. The defining of these elements make the text as a main product of Native American culture, specifically because it is able to define and describe different parts of the culture as well as provide examples that have caused the religious, ceremonial, cultural and historical aspects to be engrained with those who are a part of the Native American tradition. When reading the text, there is the ability to understand the entire society. The intertwining of traditions, ranging from the societal hierarchy to the concepts of religion are in each of the text, making it all a significant basis to understanding the history, beliefs and lifestyles of Native Americans. An example of the text as a part of Native American culture is defined with “Black Elk Speaks.” This particular text is important in defining the ceremonies and cultures of the Sioux while combining this with the historical events taking place when America began to attack the Native Americans. Descriptions such as The Dog Vision, Heyoka Ceremony and the Powers of the Bison and Elk are able to describe elements of the culture and how this related to the changes in America from the past of Native Americans. “Under the tree that never bloomed I stood and cried because it had withered away. With tears on my face I asked the Great Spirit to give it life and leaves and singing birds, as in my vision” (Neihardt, 193). This is one of several examples that show the intertwining of cultures in the text. The product comes from the connection to nature, prayers that are a part of the practice of Native Americans, and as read through the “Great Spirit” and which associates with the context of the time. The particular culture is also defined as the narrator is describing the attacks of the Native Americans and how the family is lost because of the American attacks, showing how the culture known is lost because of the historical events taking place at the time. Another representation which shows the text as the Native American culture is through “Ceremony” by Leslie Silko. Similar to “Black Elk Speaks,” this book is able to combine the elements of the Native American culture with religion, ceremony and the beliefs that are upheld through generations. However, there is also an understanding of how this has changed because of the divisions which occurred in America over time. “An old sensitivity had descended in her, surviving thousands of years from the oldest times, when the people shared a single clan name and they told each other who they were… the people shared the same consciousness. The people had known, with the simple certainty of the world they saw, how everything should be. But the fifth world had become entangled with European names” (Silko, 68). This example is one which shows the product of the Native American culture. The thousands of years of culture, sharing of a clan name and consciousness and the knowing of the world all relate to the Native American culture. There is an intimate understanding of religion, culture and beliefs that come from this statement and the description of the characters. However, the changes from Europe are also significant in telling the history as a part of the Native American history, making it a reflection and product of the culture. Text as American Culture The same text that is used as a Native American product is also a part of the American culture. This is one which is often disregarded or considered as a minority part of the culture and history of America. However, the text describes the historical events of America that are often not portrayed by history classes and other aspects of the classroom. They are also misinterpreted in other representations of Native American culture. When moving beyond the stereotypes and marginalization of the Native American culture, the text that is used becomes as important in describing American culture and history as it does in being a Native American product. The different text is able to describe the parts of America which are often not referred to within society. An example of how the story is based on the American culture is seen with the story of “Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee.” This book recounts the details that are associated with the American history, specifically with the largest massacre which occurred between the Native Americans and those which took over the states and territories of the time. Not only does this recount the massacres, but also shows the intimate complications which occurred with battles and which led to both success and failure by the Native Americans, showing a well – rounded understanding of what occurred when America decide to expand territories throughout the United States. “The thunder of six hundred galloping horses made the earth tremble, but White Bird calmly posted his warriors in front of the camp. As the first wave of pony soldiers swept down upon them, the Nez Perce warriors opened with deadly accurate fire. In a matter of seconds they killed twenty – four soldiers” (Brown, 327). Instances like this show how the making of America wasn’t defined by the expanding of territories that is often referred to. Battles over land, associations with Native Americans and the fight over different areas were also associated with this. The making of American history, from this perspective, is one which is often not accounted for. The text that is available through the Native American details shows how there is a direct association with the wars that occurred during this time and how this created changes that were often not given in American history. The making of American text as a part of the Native American text not only describes the fight over the land and the making of America. When looking closely at the text, one is able to redefine how America used to be and what the real history was before taken over by the United States government. For instance, the descriptions in “Black Elk Speaks” are defined by landmarks, significant areas and time frames in which each of the Native Americans were under. The camps, such as Minneconjous, as well as the Missouri River (Neihardt, 125) are some of the several descriptions that are used to show the Native American relationship to the land. When one reads these specific descriptions, the ideology of the United States, land marks and the significance of each area is redefined. The map of the United States begins to change and there is a different interpretation of the landscape and how it works and is defined in Native American terms. Similar to the defining of the 50 states, is an interpretation of what America looks like in terms of the natural elements that were known by the Native Americans. The American elements of the text then define a different geographical and historical lesson that is outside of the interpretation given in US history. Understanding Native American Religion When reading and interpreting these different texts, there is also a close association with the Native American religion. Without understanding this aspect, even at a basic level, there isn’t the ability to gain knowledge through the text. The Native American religion is one which is known to intertwine with all aspects of life. The natural elements, respect and worship through ceremonies and the different expressions used in religion are considered a part of life in the Native American tradition. In each of the text, there are different descriptions, all which define the religion of the Native Americans and how this was associated with the making of history. One is able to understand the past, current culture and the functions in society that were associated with the religious beliefs that were written in the books. There are several examples of how the religion intertwines with the making of history and the understanding of culture through the text. For instance, when Black Elk is speaking about the wars that are occurring, there is not only an association with the battles and the need to survive. There are also aspects of how this relates to religion and how this has changed the path taken by those involved in the war. “I knew better than ever now that I really had power, for I had prayed for help from the Grandfathers and they had heard me and sent thunder beings to hide us and watch over us while we fled” (Neihardt, 125). This particular concept is one which intertwines the religion and prayer with the historical battles occurring at the time. When one understands this religion, there is also the ability to understand the culture, mentality, society and the responses which occurred with the battles over land with the Native Americans. Even in more contemporary aspects, the concept of religion as a part of life continues to persuade and define the text. In “Ceremony” there is an understanding that the loss of life through the historical events also led to a loss of the religious expressions as a part of the Native American culture. This becomes the defining point of the plot and the text and redefines the characters hardships. “He lay there and hated them. Not for what they wanted to do with him, but for what they did to the earth with their machines, and to the animals with their packs of dogs and their guns. It happened again and again, and the people had to watch, unable to save or protect any of the things that were so important to them” (Silko, 203). The concept of going back to the natural and understanding that the earth was lost also creates an understanding that history had ruined the religion, culture and beliefs of the Native Americans. The text is able to define the religion from a subtle point of view while showing how the loss of this has also created the main conflict. When one can read into the religious aspects of this phrase, for instance, then there is an understanding that the loss of land was also a loss of religion and a loss of life that could no longer be protected. The religion becomes important to understand because it is a part of the historical and cultural elements which become defined as a part of the identity in each of the stories. Conclusion The concept of products of Native American culture is often considered as secondary in the American traditions. However, the Native Americans are the real area of the United States which existed before the massacres and invasions over the land. When looking at the text there is an understanding of the ancient traditions, religion, beliefs, culture and society. These are each important in defining the traditional beliefs as well as the loss which occurred in history. There is also a relationship to the history from the viewpoint of the Native Americans, which places a different perspective on what has occurred within the tradition. The concept of history then becomes an important element not only in Native American tradition but also in the American history, specifically because it provides the true geographical and historical perspective of how America was formed. These different perspectives are able to redefine history while showing the complexities which occurred and that are often considered secondary in American history. Works Cited Brown, Dee. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Henry Holt and Company: New York, 2000. Neihardt, John. Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux. State University of New York Press: New York, 1972. Silko, Leslie Marmon. Ceremony. Penguin Books: New York, 1977. Read More