Worldview and implications
By: Marah Rice
Although there is not one definite worldview for Native Americans, many Native people have a lot of the same beliefs, morals, and values. In order to understand their worldview today, we also have to look at their history.
"In terms of economics, the Native peoples tend to have communal property, subsistence production, barter systems, high-impact technology, and competitive production. In terms of political relations, Native people have consensual processes, direct “participatory” democracy, and laws embedded in oral traditions. On the other hand, modern society has centralized executive authorities, representative democracy, and written laws. In respect to their social relations, they differ, generally, in terms of matrilineality versus patriarchy, extended versus nuclear families, and low versus high population density. Finally, regarding differences in world view, the Native peoples are polytheistic, derive an understanding of the world from the natural order’s rhythms and cycles of life, and include animals and plants as well as other natural features in their conceptions of spirituality, which the cultural anthropologists call animism and totemism." (1995, 275) (Native American Worldview Emerges).
We see many things repeated throughout time in their culture; a participating democracy, strong religious values for nature and sacred life, and strong extended family. A Native Americans worldview is deep and is not easily understand by people of other culture. Everything in their culture ties in to their belief system and their love for their land and people.
This stanza from the poem "The Delight Song of Tsoai-taleeby" N. Scott Momaday, a Native American, helps to summarize the views of a Native American:
"You see, I am alive.
You see, I stand in good relation to the earth.
You see, I stand in good relation to the gods.
You see, I stand in good relation to all that is beautiful.
You see, I stand in good relation to you.
You see, I am alive."
Momaday’s positive outlook on his people and their place in America centers around several concepts, place, the sacred, the beautiful, and humanity. "In regard to the Indian relationship to 'the landscape,' Momaday feels the Indian has always 'centered his life in the natural world. He is deeply invested in the earth, committed to it both in his consciousness and in his instinct. In him the sense of place is paramount. Only in reference to the earth can he persist in his true identity'”.
While this may not be the complete view of Native Americans they look at their life and the things around them as beautiful and as a blessing from the gods. Momaday is just one example of a Native American's worldview but his voice does speak for many others. Most Native Americans share his values and love for earth and center their lives around their relationship with the beauty among them and over them.
"In terms of economics, the Native peoples tend to have communal property, subsistence production, barter systems, high-impact technology, and competitive production. In terms of political relations, Native people have consensual processes, direct “participatory” democracy, and laws embedded in oral traditions. On the other hand, modern society has centralized executive authorities, representative democracy, and written laws. In respect to their social relations, they differ, generally, in terms of matrilineality versus patriarchy, extended versus nuclear families, and low versus high population density. Finally, regarding differences in world view, the Native peoples are polytheistic, derive an understanding of the world from the natural order’s rhythms and cycles of life, and include animals and plants as well as other natural features in their conceptions of spirituality, which the cultural anthropologists call animism and totemism." (1995, 275) (Native American Worldview Emerges).
We see many things repeated throughout time in their culture; a participating democracy, strong religious values for nature and sacred life, and strong extended family. A Native Americans worldview is deep and is not easily understand by people of other culture. Everything in their culture ties in to their belief system and their love for their land and people.
This stanza from the poem "The Delight Song of Tsoai-taleeby" N. Scott Momaday, a Native American, helps to summarize the views of a Native American:
"You see, I am alive.
You see, I stand in good relation to the earth.
You see, I stand in good relation to the gods.
You see, I stand in good relation to all that is beautiful.
You see, I stand in good relation to you.
You see, I am alive."
Momaday’s positive outlook on his people and their place in America centers around several concepts, place, the sacred, the beautiful, and humanity. "In regard to the Indian relationship to 'the landscape,' Momaday feels the Indian has always 'centered his life in the natural world. He is deeply invested in the earth, committed to it both in his consciousness and in his instinct. In him the sense of place is paramount. Only in reference to the earth can he persist in his true identity'”.
While this may not be the complete view of Native Americans they look at their life and the things around them as beautiful and as a blessing from the gods. Momaday is just one example of a Native American's worldview but his voice does speak for many others. Most Native Americans share his values and love for earth and center their lives around their relationship with the beauty among them and over them.