Native American concepts and beliefs provide valuable insights. Their culture emphasizes living in harmony with nature, perceiving the Earth as a spiritual presence to be honored. They see themselves as children of the Earth and students of nature. Their worldview values silence, generosity, friendship, and using resources reverently rather than wastefully. Their justice system serves their needs through informal decision making respected by the community. High context communication and storytelling builds trust. Many Native American teachings can address modern issues like stress, environmentalism, and economic issues.

1. “Every Citizen of the planet Earth can gain value from the words and insights of the Native Americans.Shakti GawainConcepts in Native American CultureBy Linda Kaniasty

2. Table of Contents IntroductionDefinition of Culture……………………………………………….3Background………………………………………………………4-5Thesis………………………………………………………………..6Concepts……………………………………………………………………7-21Closing…………………………………………………………………….22-23Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………24

3. Culture is all of these things:LanguageTraditionSocialActivityValueSystemPerceptionSpiritualityartThoughtsExpression

4. Who are the Native American People ?Many tribes had inhabited the North American continent for centuries before Christopher Columbus mistakenly called them “Indians”Columbus: “This must be the East Indies!!”

5. Native Americans enjoyed different……Languages

6. Customs

7. DressBut they shared one common belief, contrary to the Western Europeans who settled North America, that… The Earth was a spiritual presence to be honored, not mastered.

8. Exploring the Native American Concepts of:Perceptions

9. Beliefs

10. Values

11. Attitudes

12. Gender Roles

13. Recreation

14. Justice

15. CommunicationPerceptionWe see the world and the world sees us through the perception of our cultures.Native Americans consider themselves to be:Children of the Earth

16. Students of natureTheir worldview of absolute harmony with nature is completely contrary to the American European view of dominance over nature.“I want no blood upon my land to stain the grass. I wish that all who come through among my people may find it peaceful when they come, and leave peacefully when they go.”Ten BearsYamparikaComanchi

17. PerceptionSilence = StrengthSilence = ReverenceSilence = TruthPeople outside of the Native American culture may erroneously perceive them as dumb, stoic, or uncaring due to the importance they place on the serenity of silence.

18. Values: The important things in life.TREATY OF LANCASTER“Several of our young people were brought up in your colleges. They were instructed in all your sciences, but when they came back to us, they were bad runners, ignorant of every means of living in the woods, unable to bear either cold or hunger. They didn’t know how to build a cabin, take a deer, or kill an enemy. They spoke language imperfectly. They were unfit to be hunters, warriors or counselors. They were good for nothing.We are, however, not the less obliged for your kind offer, though we decline accepting it. To show our gratefulness, if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we will take great care with their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them.” Canassatego

19. ValuesFriendship is valued as the highest test of character. It is easy to be loyal to family, whom you are bound by blood. It is easy to be loyal to a mate, whom you are bound by love.But a friend who remains a friend through any and all trials is the mark of true character.Generosity is highly valued.The love of possessions is a weakness to overcome.“It is an honor to be selected for service. To ask for any reward would be shameful. Let the person I serve express his thanks according to his own bringing up and his sense of honor.”OhiyesaSantee Sioux

20. Beliefs Subjective ideas that influence behavior.The Great Spirit sees and hears everything. The Great Spirit never forgets.There exists a great unifying life force flowing in and through all things – flowers, plants, wind, rock, animals. The same force breathes through man.Thus all things are kindred and were brought together by the same Great Mystery.Plains Indian praying to the Sun

21. BeliefsThese truths, as believed by the Native American people, influence everything they do in their lives.Kachina dolls used in dance & prayer for rain, crops, or health.

22. Attitudes Beliefs and values create our attitudes or feelings about things.All the creatures of the Earth are our brothers.Many stories found in Native American folklore include talking animals who assist humans.

23. AttitudesThe Earth’s resources are to be reverently used, not wasted.Animal skins and feathers are seen here being used for clothes, adornment, and shelter.“My reason teaches me that land cannot be sold. The Great Spirit gave it to his children to live upon and cultivate as far as necessary for their sustenance“BlackhawkSioux

24. Gender RolesAttitudes and tradition based on gender.Although adult gender roles are different, the Apache tribe traditionally trained both boys and girls to cook, track, skin, sew, ride horses and use weapons, because they realized that unforeseen circumstances might require gender roles to change over time.The Dene tribe are patriarchal and patrillineal, while the Puebloan tribes of Tanaons and Hopi are matrillineal, with property inherited through the maternal lines.Many tribes including the Navajo, Sioux and Puebloan , identify and acknowledge a third gender called “Two Spirit” which defines or limits homosexuality.