Indigenous People

For the first two weeks of my class, I had no idea where I was headed in terms of my learning experience but I soon found out. During the first week we had to define “indigenous identity” which by the way was a foreign language to me. After I determined the meaning of it (because there were so many choices) I settled on the meaning “that what connects a person or people by their culture, race, beliefs and way of life”. I never considered or included myself a part of that definition because I thought it only pertained to people of other nations or countries. Eventually my thoughts and understanding changed. As I stated before my reading “Thinking Like an Anthropologist” Chapter Five, “What was This Practice or Idea Like in the past - The Temporal Question (2008, Omohundro, J.T. ), will be an excellent and informative guide for my research (in which it was). Also having to use Syncretism as a tool allowed me the opportunity to not only research the past but present rituals, beliefs, etc. of African Americans and how much they have changed over the years. Looking through this research as a critic allowed me to broaden my horizons not only about my culture but other cultures that are included in this identity. We were first introduced to two articles: The “Gebusi” and “Body Ritual of the Nacerima”. And I thought their rituals and beliefs were somewhat extreme, but then I realized if they looked at our society and our practices, they could consider the same thing about us. Having said that I decided that as an African-American woman, I was prepared to take that journey into the unknown, to investigate my culture, our accomplishments, and therefore have the ability to share my findings and observations with others. Week after week we w...

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...w subjects, but there were two statements that I shall forever play over and over in my mind. She said: “It takes a village to raise a child” and the second statement she made:”When we recognize our talents we need to share them with our communities and the country.” We also discussed my African ancestors, and I shared with her that because of this research, I would not only like to have my DNA tested to see where my roots began but I would like to conduct research of my family tree. Everyone should know not only where they come from but who they come from.

In closing, I have found this class to be much more than I could have imaged. It has been an experience I shall never forget. Undeniably I understand that not only are we all a part of “indigenous people”, we are a part of history who have contributed so much to the world, and shall continue to strive to do so