Native American Culture

American Indians: The Native Way of Life

Before our nation became known as America, an indigenous group of people were centered here. These people can be classified as either Native Americans or American Indians. Some of them are Christians while they mix their traditional beliefs into Christianity. ""Earth-divers"" would usually take place in the form of an animal who dives into a water covered planet and comes up through the soil to make life happen. Today, Native Americans reside in sovereign nations where they can conduct their traditional way of life.
These individuals belong to various tribes and bands. For instance, Native Americans who reside in the Eastern Woodland regions belong to

tribes including the Iroquois, Mound Builders, Algonquian, and Shawnee. Majority of their resources including clothings, tools, weapons, etc all come from forests (Herrington). Also, Woodland tribes reside in wigwams or long houses. Wigwams are huts or tents that are constructed from mats and poles and can house usually only one family. long houses are made with the same material, but they are not round and can usually house multiple families (Herrington). Likewise with other Native American tribes, the Eastern Woodland tribes also practiced hunting and gathering. These tribes are skilled at growing squash, melons, and pumpkins (Herrington). When a tribe member passes away, the tribe conducts a Cry Ceremony that would last 5 days. The chief would sing and dance around a sacred fire as a gesture of honor and remembrance. Each day one of the 5 tied knots placed inside a milkweed would be untied (Herrington). Their clothing consists of animal skin. For example, the Iroquois wear moccasins that come from buckskin (Herrington). Women clothing is carved out of wild grass and contains animal fur as well. Kids weren't decorated with clothes.
Now let's look at the Northwest Bands. These bands include Tlingit, Coast Salish, Chinook and Tillamook. Similar to tribes of the Eastlands, Northwest bands also rely on resources from the forest. An interesting thing that I learned in class is the Northwest Indians symbolism of totem poles. These objects would be placed in front of houses to represent family lineages and social rank. Moreover, these tribes consumed a lot from oceans such as fish. Their traditional Potlatch Ceremony involves gift - giving and many dances (Herrington). Dancers would be covered in paint and feathers and would wear animal masks throughout the potlatch. This ceremony can be considered as a way to reveal a family's wealth.
Californian tribes consisted of the Pomo, Chumash, Miwok, and Yurok bands. It's amazing that Californian Indians live in communes that could consist of over 1500 people. They hunted and gathered nuts, berries, roots, etc. In general cases, only the women would wear clothing. Only the tribal leaders were allowed to smoke from the peace pipe. Ironically, these same pipes were indicated war. As a whole, all of the Native American tribes share ideas, beliefs, rituals, etc that together create the ideal of the Native way of life.
Native American Powwows' are social gatherings of many Indian tribes over the course of a weekend.

At a Powwow, you would get a seat around the sacred 4-sided circle. You would often come across vendors who would attempt to sell religious products, flutes, etc. The head singer conducts the dance (sets the pace of the song). The dancers try to listen for the lead, 2nd lead, 2nd chores, and honor beats. Honor beats serve as a remembrance of Native American ancestors. Evidently, Powwows' are for socialization, however, alcohol and drugs are prohibited at these traditional gatherings. Dancers practice traditional style and fancy style dances before the actual performance. One of the purposes for traditional dancing is to increase self-esteem. It is a way to "give" and "share" with others. Powwows kick off with the grand Entry, perhaps a prayer. Flags are brought out during the Grand Entry. The concept of a "giveaway" in American Indian Powwow context refers to the idea of sometimes dancing for others rather than ourselves. Their costumes are classified as regalia. The Master of ceremonies (MC) is in charge of keeping the performers as well as the occurring updated on what is occurring. Contests containing many cool prizes are also part of this event. In fact, most Powwows are considered sacred so that a person can't take videos or pictures. If you want to ask a question during the event, you are suppose to provide a patch of tobacco to the person you are asking. Also, most

of the songs played are actually war songs. The songs are either categorized as Northern style or Southern style. Keep in mind that the drumming is the same in both techniques. Northern style music is high pitched. Southern style songs contain both lexical and non-lexical texts. During earlier days, men were the only singers at Powwows' while there are current women singers as well.
The Sioux Grass dance is the most popular Native American style. During the early 1900's when colonists were first exposed to this brand of music, they thought of Native Americans as "noble wild men unspoiled by civilization" (Titon). The Grass dance songs could perhaps contain non-lexical texts for an entire course of a song (Titon). Remember that Native American music comes from the emotions. Another interesting thing that I learned is that there instruments are usually made from trees, wood, turtle shells, etc. Also, an intriguing part of Indian music is the usage of the water drum. Navajo and Apache Indians make their own water drums; these are the only types of music they use. In order to make a water drum, you simply need to add water inside a large open-ended can and wrap the open part with a rubber strip. You can apply a hard drumstick made out of wood for exceptional sound. The peyote drum is a more complex instrument. Aluminum replica can be used to assemble it. The water drum also serves as a cultural element in the Native American Church.
Now that we've discussed some of the musical elements of American Indians, let's examine the Navajo way of life. The Navajo tribe is the largest - containing over 200,000 people. They call themselves Dine' (People). They descend from athabaskan-speaking nomadic hunters who had arrived in the Southwest around 700 years ago (Titon). Currently, most of them reside in parts of New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah (Titon). They still apply the traditional hunting and gathering method to everyday life. Farming, raising stock, and silversmithing are key techniques in the Navajo way of life. However, their $110 million annual income is mostly accumulated from coal, natural gas, oil, uranium and lumber (Titon). Since the 1868 treaty between Navajos and the United States Army, Navajos have been able to receive educational and health care funds (Titon). Contrasting to the idea of being unspoiled by modernization, Navajos, are actually open to new opportunities for success. They provide scholarships to college students such as those who are planning to attend Navajo community College. On Navajo Reservations, you will notice the same things you would notice in any globalists town. Motels, banks, restaurants, malls, etc are all of life on Navajo Reservations. Men usually wear western style clothes, while women women wear skirts and blouses. The Navajo Tribe is indeed modernistic.
Navajos see music and nature as healing forces. Nightway ceremonies occur throughout a period of 18-20 weeks and take approximately 9 days each. They are primarily for healing an ill person. Also, they do attempt to balance the relationships between the Navajo world. Prayers are included to purify the sick person. The sick person is placed inside special rooms so he or she can sweat. The Yeibichai songs are the premier kinds of music you will hear at a Nightway Ceremony. Shouting, ornamentation, and falsetto voices all make up Yeibichai songs (Titon). Keep in mind that this is an intensive ceremony that asks for energy. Almost all Yeibichai songs contain the calling of Yei or calling to the Gods.
Another healing ceremony if known as the Enemyway ceremony. The idea of this prestigious ceremony is to purify a Navajo from exposure to outside forces. It is often for the ones who have returned from the United States Armed Forces or the hospital. There are two groups whom take part in an Enemyway ceremony. The "stick receivers" camp contains people for represent the enemy. The "home" camp brings them a decorated stick along with gifts; they also sing and dance (Titon). There are various ceremonies that bind Native Americans together as one whole community.
The Native American Church was initially established in America during the 1800's and the Navajo territories in the 1930's.

However, the Church's songs are distinguished from typical Navajo music. I think it's cool that these songs are actually prayers. Native American Church hymns can relate to Christian hymnody (Titon). The Church holds meeting on large Plains Indian Tepees (Titon). Church leaders go to places where their services are called for. The Church usually uses water drums. Fires are made by Cedar Chiefs for spiritual purposes. The Cedar Chief also brings peyote (cactus). When a person consumes peyote, they tend to obtain a "happy" sense of well-being and experience hallucinogens. Peyote is consumed as a sacrament because the religion sees Father Peyote as a deity (Titon). A crescent is placed west of the sacred fire and the peyote cactus is placed at the center of the crescent during the Peyote ceremony (Titon). The Peyote ceremony is considered to be a "Spiritualized spiritual Journey" and held all night. Also, the Church is respectful and open to other

beliefs.
Theoretically, the Native American Flute Revival took place over the decade beginning in 1970. It was sparked by "Doc Tate" Nevaquaya when he made an album which only contained the Plains courting flute. The flute involved the idea of "courtship" which meant "wooing" a partner. Flute players would often go on vision quests which required them to fast and gain oneness with the planet. Indeed, the flute serves as entertainment and relaxation for the Native Americans. The most influential Native American flute player was R.Carlos Nakai. He made his debut album in 1982, and went on to release 19 more, including one in Japan and Germany (Titon). He encouraged others to be Eco-friendly and practice the Navajo way of life.
To sum everything up, Native Americans practice a rich in-depth culture. Tribes are adapting new technology and ideas from outsiders in the modern era. However, the pure traditional aspects of the culture remain present. American Indians were the first group of people to arrive on our land and playing a vital role in making it great.