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Native American culture
Native Americans the story of their culture
Native Americans the story of their culture
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This past week SUU’s native American student association (NASA), hosted their 38th annual powwow. Our club, the SUU Polynesian club was invited to dance for thirty minutes between their activities and we happily accepted. After we danced we were invited to come back so that we could watch and experience the native American culture. I was surprised to see how similar their culture was to ours! Going to the powwow I didn’t know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. After our performance, a few of us decided to come back, and we were surprised by many of the sights and sounds. When we arrived, there was a group of men known as bird singers who were chanting and singing traditional songs. Some of the older women were doing simple dances
in front of where they were performing. The men chanted and sang for over an hour, all of us were shocked at how long the men were able to continue singing. After the men finished an eagle dancer lead a procession of men and women onto the dance floor. An elder was then invited to pray and he prayed first in his native language then English. After the opening ceremony miss native SUU presented her elders with gift baskets filled with soda and snacks. After giving each of them a gift she attempted to deliver a speech about her gratitude towards them but became super emotional. All of my friends and I also became emotional because we have all been in similar situations with our families. One of the biggest differences I noticed between our cultures was the dances. Ours tend to be more fluid and we have to be very graceful and normally smiley. On the other hand, theirs was very abrupt and everyone’s face tended to stay very serious. Their costumes were extremely intricate and every stitch represented something. Where our costumes have slowly become more modernized I don’t think that theirs’ have. I was amazed by the sights, sounds, and colors of the native American culture. Their culture is one full of laughter and beauty, I would recommend the powwow to anyone at SUU!
After reading the play “Songcatcher”, by Darby Fitzgerald, as well as looking at an interview done with Evie Mark, their stories revealed the same key concepts; the dilemmas they face while trying to revive Native American Music. Both of these men felt as if they needed to prove who they were to everyone around them. Making the journey to find the music from inside them a very personal one. The prime focuses in each are the struggles they face to revive the music passed down through their cultures history. They also show the persistence they have to “rekindle the fire” or the love music, within today’s younger Native generation. Both stories are inspirational to the identity crisis within these nations.
"American Native Spirituality." American Native Spirituality. Tahtonka, 28 Feb. 1998. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. .
The concept of a Powwow has changed over time due to cultural shifts within Native American communities and the introduction of European settlers. In the modern era of the Powwow, the event is used for all Plains tribes to come together and celebrate their pride and culture. The event itself is extremely
Eucalyptus Grove comes alive with the beat of the drums, sending chills of power trickling down your spine. All around you are people, over 30,000 weaving in and out of over 100 booths. Despite the tickle of your nose from the dust kicked up by the passionate dancers in the arena, you are greeted by the smell of foods representative of different tribes. The crowd is colorful in dress, face and purpose; the songs represent and evoke different emotions. You have just entered the Stanford American Indian Organization’s Annual Pow Wow.
For my ethnography project, I decided to observe Native American culture. More specifically, I decided to observe Native American powwows, and how they unite the different tribes participating from across the country and how they unite people within a tribe. Powwows are an event where Native American people gather to sing, dance, participate in contests, have food, and ultimately bond with one another throughout the occasion. The powwow that I attended was Utah State University’s 44th annual powwow, which occurred on Saturday March 4, 2017 at noon. In order to learn more about the powwow from an insider’s perspective, I talked to a girl who looked to be a young adult, and participated in the dancing throughout the event. Although
The Powhatons were a ceremonious tribe who greeted important visitors formally with a large feast and festive dancing. However, it was not uncommon...
Students will partake in a seven week and seven lesson series on marginalized groups in America, these groups include- Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, African Americans, Native Americans, Women, Arab Americans, and Children. Lessons will take place the last two months of school, once we reach the 1960’s in American history. This is in an effort to have students realize that there is not merely one group that has seen racism, discrimination, and a near destruction of their culture. The following lesson will be on Native American portion of the unit. The goal of this lesson is for students to understand that each period from colonization to self- determination had causes of historical context and can still be felt today by many Native Americans.
"Native American Youth 101." Aspen Institue. Aspen Institues, 24 July 11. Web. 8 Apr. 2014.
Even more importantly, however, she shows that Native American cultural traditions also provide an alternative, and in Silko's opinion, superior view of what America's future could look like if it will chose to be more spiritually sensitive, multi-culturally respectful, and environmentally responsible. In this sense, Ceremony adds an important and potentially healing voice to the on-going debate of what it means to be an American.
Like many Americans I initially grouped all Native Americans into one melting pot. During the Haskell Indian Nations cultural day, on June 21,st 2010, the speakers talked about how different tribes are not the same; they have different beliefs...
... Michael Anhorn. "The Way of the Two Spirited People: Native American Concepts of Gender and Sexual Orientation” Dancing to Eagle Spirit Society. N.p., 2008. Web. 03 May 2014.
Hawai'i is a land full of diverse people and ideas, starting from the Polynesians who decided to cross the ocean to settle and form the traditions practiced today by the Hawaiians. Unlike many other states, the beliefs of Hawai'i have managed to stay alive. Its unique culture is what attracts tourists most. Many people see it as a vacation spot, full of fun attractions and say, “When I go to Hawai'i I'm going to get some Hawaiian tattoos, they look so cool!” or “I'm going to buy a hula skirt, they're really pretty!” But all those hula dances and tattoos are not just for show. People do not know that there is more to it than ink or hip swaying; behind every hula skirt and every tattoo there is a story. Hawai’i’s culture consists of the significance of its dances, tattoos, and traditions that give Hawaiians their unique lifestyle.
The Navajo take pride in their family life and the events that surround them. Their seclusion from society is the base of their customs and activities they treasure used to entertain their People. The Navajo culture is rich in past heritage, ceremonies, and rituals. In everything they do whether it be the birth of a child, planting crops, or healing the sick, some type of ritual is done. These rituals and ceremonies can last fro...
Prior to my ASB, I had little to no experience with Native Americans and their culture. As soon as we arrived in Hoonah, the community welcomed us with open arms. On top of their never-ending generosity, Hoonah - its Tlingit community, specifically - introduced us to their culture
Attending a cultural event outside of your own culture can be a daunting task. First one must find an event that welcomes people outside of the culture, and secondly be willing to step out of your comfort zone to try something new. For the cultural experience project, I decided to attend a Native American cultural event, Santa Fe Days. During the event, I was able to witness a few different cultural dances, try traditional food, make crafts, and learn about agriculture.