Just Too Generlized

People oppress people all over the world, but few have felt the oppression like the American Indians. Stereotypes have plagued them since the first Europeans came over who wrapped false beliefs the native people. Some of these ideas may be true for certain tribes, but there are far too many tribes and cultures to lump them all into one. Tribes from one part of the country will eat, dress, and celebrate in much different ways than tribes from another part. Though the Native Americans are a diverse group, their core beliefs in the Earth, creation, and peace are consistent throughout the people.

Every person holds an idea about something much grander than they are. Whether it is Mother Earth, God, or the cosmos, man clings to something bigger. The Native Americans hold Mother Earth as closer to them than anything. Everything they do they revolve around the earth. The Iroquois Constitution even makes a special mention to, “make an address and offer thanks for the earth where men dwell,” as well as making offerings to lakes, fruits, forest, and animals (Dekanawida 56). This love can cause conflicts with the western world where production trumps any value of natural beauty. In Lame Deer, Montana, the Northern Cheyenne are fighting their love of the earth and poverty. Coal mines are trying to be placed on their reservation where the tribe must decide between their love for the land or economical prosperity (Keen). Native Americans in turn thank and love the source that provides all their necessities even when it may not be in their best interest.

How we got here and where we came from is one of the oldest questions known to man. We as humans have been trying to answer these fundamental questions since the dawn of time with each cultu...

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...vast group of people does have is core beliefs in loving the earth, their creation stories, and peace. Sadly, many of the more definitive parts of tribes culture is gone with time.

Works Cited

Bruchac, Joseph. "The Sky Tree." Glencoe American Literature, Student Edition, Grade 11. New York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 1999. 51-51. Print.

De Vaca, Alvar Nunez Cabeza. "La Relacion." Glencoe American Literature, Student Edition, Grade 11. New York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 1999. 62-65. Print.

Dekanawida. "The Iroquois Constitution." Glencoe American Literature, Student Edition, Grade 11. New York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 1999. 55-57. Print.

Keen, Judy. "For tribes, economic need is colliding with tradition." USA Today. Print.

Mooney, James. "How the World Was Made." Glencoe American Literature, Student Edition, Grade 11. New York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 1999. 48-49. Print.