Native American Societies - Essay Example

Native American Societies Introduction The Native Americans comprised of many tribes with the famously known ones including the Cheyenne, Blackfeet, Sioux, and the Apache. They were all led by their respective council of elders. Their type of governance made the earliest land inhabitants suppose that they hardly had any governments. However, that was not the case as their government structures were founded on principles that their predecessors had a hard time comprehending. From the Stone Age period through to the congregation with the Europeans, the North America original settlers survived majorly as hunters and gatherers. Ecological transformations resulted in the cultural alterations as well after some period of time. The various groups shared different cultures which were dependent on their environment as well as their surroundings. Religious traditional practices were still adhered to in spite of the transformation of culture and the changed manners of life. The various communities of Native America all possessed their individual different worldview, diverse myths, carried out their own sacraments and customs, and did act conforming to their primary values. This paper uncovers the various activities that the Native Americans engaged in, and elaborates their ways of lifestyle, religious practices, history as well as their beliefs. Aspects of worldview The complete story of the Native Americans is not possibly told as historical information is not whole and is wholly nonexistent. Looking at the American societies, there has been a drastic change in their attitudes from the past. The native tribes of America did not require stringent laws as the environment which was harsh compelled them to carry out their work together (Grounds et al, 298). Consequently, majority of the tribes had limited rules and regulations with the severest punishment that could be meted out being thrown out. Due to the plain environment that was harsh, banishment meant death. Members of the tribe had the responsibility to pray. Marriages too were easily manageable as the requirement was to look after and take care of the women as well as their children. In the struggle to survive, many men succumbed leaving behind an excess of women who required to taking care of. The American Indians lived their life falling in love with nature. In everything they engaged in, wisdom was exhibited as also shown from their capabilities for staying in harmony with their environment as well as the surroundings. The American Indians are viewed as the original environment conservationists as they exhibited close relationship with land leaving marks upon them. Whatever they wore, whatever they ate and the manner in which it was prepared, their creations, their beliefs and philosophies as well as acknowledging in their homes the significance of family, all these depicted acts of wisdom. The American society by extension has suddenly transformed their attitudes towards the American Indians even though a select few who are not American Indians, have not gotten it correctly. The American Indians were well equipped with survival techniques that could enable them carry on in the woods as they knew the ways of moving swiftly maintaining silence through a forest, adorning loincloths and staying in tepees. The American Indians have for a long time been short changed, frontal in doing so being the various organizations which cheat and utilize them for their own self gains (Maul, 233). Indians have for a long time lived dependent on the natural resources as well as in their natural habitat vegetation and fauna for their livelihoods, religious ways of life, cultural, and subsistence. It is therefore important for the non-American Indians to support the various conservation activities undertaken with the aim of preserving their culture and traditional customary activities. Our society greatly becomes enriched from the culture and heritage as it enables individuals to acknowledge and appreciate this richness. American Indians are complete with heritage resources in the structure of architectural designs, art, as well as other cultural expressions including dances, festivals, dramas, etc. These resources accompanied with heritage contribute to the American Indians’ cultural richness which continues to be a great attraction for the tourists in the lookout for cultural experiences. Orientations of conservatism The Native American religion has no single founder unlike the conventional religions. There exists not even a single religious explanation which is similar for all the famous current Native American communities’. The traditional Native Americans laid no boundary between the spiritual and no-religious people. Their belief was that everything was sacred and had a bearing with the Spirit. The Native Americans regarded the spirit world as well as the world of physical displays as very much related and having connections at numerous points. Through interactions, culture is best illustrated in the attitudes, values, and behavioral assumptions. Religious activities continue to be a major cornerstone in the cultures of the Native Americans. The women did not only exist to serve as child bearers and homemakers, but they also served as arbiters and diplomats as well. Shawnee held an exclusive female divinity known as kuhkoomtheyna or Our Grandmother, their highest maker (Maul, 235). An explanation in an attempt to unravel the possible reasons for recognizing Shawnee as possessing a highest female divinity, from the simple actuality that the Native Americans in general referred to the earth as the mother. In so doing, the Shawnee presumed great closeness with the earth thereby acquainting themselves to the strength of her Special Forces and powers. The concept of mother earth could have thus eventually emerged as our grandmother, Great Spirit or the Supreme Being (Voegelin, 1937). In the late twentieth century period, the Native American women have experienced major transformations regarding their gender responsibilities and societal positions. In the various movements agitating for the landscape reclamation as well as the cultural work of arts for all the Native Americans, women have taken part in these quests. Cultural Differentiation The native Indians had occupied America thousands of years before the white man showed up. The newcomers discovered a land full of rich resources that they could exploit. They saw the Indians as a source of slave labour as other viewed them as other human beings that had something to be learnt form their culture. The visitors brought with them domestic animals such as sheep horses and hogs, which was something the natives had not encountered in their lives. The horses came to be an immense asset to the Indians in their hunting big games. They used the horses in their hunting thus facilitated their chasing of wild animals such as the antelopes. This necessitated the way the native Indians changed their institutional ways of doing agriculture as they adopted new ways brought by the newcomers. Their agricultural institutions and culture was immensely changed has the new ways not only to improve productivity but also to ease their work (Wildenthal, 318). Institutional differentiation was also significant in the native Indians’ changes in health issues. When the newcomers arrived, they brought with them epidemic diseases such as smallpox, influenza and measles, something that was new to the natives. These diseases almost decimated the entire American Indians who depended on traditional medicine men to cure them. This led to the Native American Indians to adopt modern medicines provided by the white men for cure (Wildenthal, 301). In the beginning, the Indians resisted the intrusion of the English visitors in the new world through several revolution wars but the superiority of the Englishmen and their soldiers overcame the resistance. Interacting with the visitors led to cultural diversity and new policies developed through adopted treaties by the American people. Institutional Differentiations The worldview towards the Native American is that the Native Americans are exceptionally old-fashioned when it comes to their culture. For instance, in the economic term, the Native Americans property are communal, their production is subsistence, they trade through barter system, have high impact technology and their production is competitive. These they have practiced for centuries. The combination of the worldviews toward the Native Indian culture has a positive effect on the socio-economic because most people have an admiration for the cultural practices and the economic activities of the Native Americans. The Native Americans take culture to be very important hence they conserve their culture unlike the other societies where people get easily alienated. Moreover, the Native Americans consider their culture as their main aspect of life. This is very different from the outside society where culture is not so much valued; some people even despise their culture. Furthermore, the Native American culture is has strict ethics which are followed strictly by the natives. Failure to do that always results to a severe punishment or the person might be considered an outcast. In the outside society, however, not following the ethics of a culture may not result to any punishment (Maddox, 267). Conclusion The arguments concerning the conservatism of the culture of Native Americans is that some part of the culture is outdated and uncivilized. Another argument is that the culture conservation of the Native Americans is that the way it is conserved is perfect. The first argument is biased because the Native Americans are civilized in their own way; therefore, to them the culture is not outdated. The second argument is, however, true because the culture is still strong due to the way it is conserved. For someone to understand the American Indian society social change process the first argument may be very misleading since it is pessimistic. The other argument can, however, be applicable because it is optimistic hence understanding the social change is enhanced. The American Indians should be acknowledged regardless of their customary practices. Their rich culture should be preserved and promoted in any way possible. Critic This study on the Native Americans, has enabled me learn more about the historical past of our society. It is important that an effort is made so as to preserve the cultural practices of the few surviving Native Americans. The historical injustices suffered, especially by the Native American Indians, ought to be looked upon. They should be incorporated in various nation building activities, so that they may also feel part and parcel of the nation building process. It is important for each and every one of us to respect each other’s cultural practices as well as traditions without imposing non-preferred practices. Major transformations have occurred from the ancient timeline when the immigrants settled in the U.S. to date. Hunting and gathering activities are hardly performed. The religious actions and the customary practices too have shifted to the modern set up with its basis hard to explain. The environment too, has greatly been affected by the human behaviors unlike before when the environment was sacred. Works cited Grounds, Richard A, George E. Tinker, and David E. Wilkins. Native Voices. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2003. Print. Maddox, Lucy. Citizen Indians: Native American Intellectuals, Race, and Reform. Ithaca, N.Y: Cornell University Press, 2006. Print. (Maddox, 267) Maul, Kristina. The Role of Women in Native American Societies. Mu?nchen: GRIN Verlag, 2007. Print. Wildenthal, Bryan H. Native American Sovereignty on Trial: A Handbook with Cases, Laws, and Documents. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO, 2002. Print. Read More