Customs and Traditions
Native Americans have many unique customs and traditions many of which were spiritual. These customs and traditions are a key aspect of Native American culture, but during the 1800s-1900s many of the Native American children were no longer able to practice them. This was mainly because they were removed from their reservations, family and culture and placed into boarding institutions, many of which were off-reservation. The freedom to practice their own traditions and customs was taken away from them. Instead they had to adapt to American culture as well as Christianity. Anglo American were unfamiliar with what Native Americans customs and traditions signified. If they had a better understanding, they wouldn't have had to force their culture upon them.
Native Americans of all tribes were known for their different dances, singing, and chanters also known as (hatalil). They performed dances for various occasions’ special ceremonies including weddings. The dances consisted of celebrating the harvest (corn) and rain dances, which were chanters that will bring rain for their crops. While dancing the dancers painted their faces all white symbolizing happiness thanking their spirits for their harvest and rain.[1] In 1870, a movement known as the original Ghost Dance began; Native American Wovoka, a medicine man, created it. The Ghost Dance movement was a representation of fear and anger towards the White invaders. In 1890, the second Ghost Dance movement began symbolizing that Indian tribal life will return; and that the dead would come back to life including their animals, and their sacred buffalo. Wovoka stated that the dances performed were an expression of how to “treat one another justly.”[2] Traditional Ghost Dance photograph is shown above.
Indians believed that the earth was the greatest spirit that had power over everything; they referred to it as their Great Spirit. The sun was considered a good spirit that brought light and happiness to earth. They prayed to the earth and sun in groups or as individuals. Indians thought that dreams were visions that came from spirits. They contained dolls called Kaching Dolls they were thought to be spirits that once lived, they danced for them and chanted in masks asking them for rain so that their crops will grow and continue reproducing. Their medicine consisted of mostly natural herbs and spiritual process that were known to cure Native Americans. Some herbs and medicine were used and thought of as eliminating the evils and bad spirits that certain Indians contained, though in regards to certain illness herbs and spirits were not enough to cure them causing many deaths among one another. [3]
Legends and tale telling were highly popular for Native Americans to perform they were preferred in the evenings or during cold season. Their legends were “passed from generation to generation.” When telling their stories families will get together, different tribes and societies will gather around reminiscing when youth was prompt by their elders (usually grandparents).[4]
There jewelry was an important custom to their wardrobe that consisted of two different types some were made out of beadwork (shells, stones, wood, and bones) and the others of metalwork (copper). Women’s traditional attire consisted of long sleeved calico dresses, leather tooled heavy belts & pouches, and high top moccasins. While, men’s traditional attire consisted of modern tribal outfits, headbands, shirt with ribbon decoration, arm bands & cuffs, with high top moccasins. Both Native American women and men painted their faces as part of their tradition. [5]
When Native Americas entered boarding institutions they were forced to cut off all their hair, this was a very big change for the children. Their long hair was a tradition that signified their respect and there devotion for their tribal religions, they were only to cut their hair when they mourned the death of a close loved relative, otherwise they were disrespecting and going against their religions. [6]
Native Americans did not have the Freedom to express themselves through their customs and traditions, an aspect that we now see as a norm in our society. Student now have the freedom to practice any tradition and custom.
[1] Quoted in Native Heritage: Personal Accounts by American Indians, 790 to the Present, edited by Arlene Hirschfelder (New York: Macmillan, 1995), p.153.
[2] “Ghost Dance,” United States History, February 21, 2013. http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h3775
[3] “Native American Customs and Traditions,” Education Foundation, February 8, 2013. http://www.library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00019/id37.htm.
[4] Mary Regina Ulmer Galloway, Aunt Mary, Tell Me a Story: A Collection of Cherokee Legends and Tales as Told by Mary Ulmer Chiltoskey (Cherokee, N.C.: Cherokee Communications, 1990), p.3.
[5] Peter Nabokov, A Forest of Time: Rituals and History (Cambridge University Press, 2002).
[6] Ojibwa, “Long Hair,” Native American Netroots, February 8, 2013. http://www.nativeamericannetroots.net/dairy/601/long-hair
Native Americans of all tribes were known for their different dances, singing, and chanters also known as (hatalil). They performed dances for various occasions’ special ceremonies including weddings. The dances consisted of celebrating the harvest (corn) and rain dances, which were chanters that will bring rain for their crops. While dancing the dancers painted their faces all white symbolizing happiness thanking their spirits for their harvest and rain.[1] In 1870, a movement known as the original Ghost Dance began; Native American Wovoka, a medicine man, created it. The Ghost Dance movement was a representation of fear and anger towards the White invaders. In 1890, the second Ghost Dance movement began symbolizing that Indian tribal life will return; and that the dead would come back to life including their animals, and their sacred buffalo. Wovoka stated that the dances performed were an expression of how to “treat one another justly.”[2] Traditional Ghost Dance photograph is shown above.
Indians believed that the earth was the greatest spirit that had power over everything; they referred to it as their Great Spirit. The sun was considered a good spirit that brought light and happiness to earth. They prayed to the earth and sun in groups or as individuals. Indians thought that dreams were visions that came from spirits. They contained dolls called Kaching Dolls they were thought to be spirits that once lived, they danced for them and chanted in masks asking them for rain so that their crops will grow and continue reproducing. Their medicine consisted of mostly natural herbs and spiritual process that were known to cure Native Americans. Some herbs and medicine were used and thought of as eliminating the evils and bad spirits that certain Indians contained, though in regards to certain illness herbs and spirits were not enough to cure them causing many deaths among one another. [3]
Legends and tale telling were highly popular for Native Americans to perform they were preferred in the evenings or during cold season. Their legends were “passed from generation to generation.” When telling their stories families will get together, different tribes and societies will gather around reminiscing when youth was prompt by their elders (usually grandparents).[4]
There jewelry was an important custom to their wardrobe that consisted of two different types some were made out of beadwork (shells, stones, wood, and bones) and the others of metalwork (copper). Women’s traditional attire consisted of long sleeved calico dresses, leather tooled heavy belts & pouches, and high top moccasins. While, men’s traditional attire consisted of modern tribal outfits, headbands, shirt with ribbon decoration, arm bands & cuffs, with high top moccasins. Both Native American women and men painted their faces as part of their tradition. [5]
When Native Americas entered boarding institutions they were forced to cut off all their hair, this was a very big change for the children. Their long hair was a tradition that signified their respect and there devotion for their tribal religions, they were only to cut their hair when they mourned the death of a close loved relative, otherwise they were disrespecting and going against their religions. [6]
Native Americans did not have the Freedom to express themselves through their customs and traditions, an aspect that we now see as a norm in our society. Student now have the freedom to practice any tradition and custom.
[1] Quoted in Native Heritage: Personal Accounts by American Indians, 790 to the Present, edited by Arlene Hirschfelder (New York: Macmillan, 1995), p.153.
[2] “Ghost Dance,” United States History, February 21, 2013. http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h3775
[3] “Native American Customs and Traditions,” Education Foundation, February 8, 2013. http://www.library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00019/id37.htm.
[4] Mary Regina Ulmer Galloway, Aunt Mary, Tell Me a Story: A Collection of Cherokee Legends and Tales as Told by Mary Ulmer Chiltoskey (Cherokee, N.C.: Cherokee Communications, 1990), p.3.
[5] Peter Nabokov, A Forest of Time: Rituals and History (Cambridge University Press, 2002).
[6] Ojibwa, “Long Hair,” Native American Netroots, February 8, 2013. http://www.nativeamericannetroots.net/dairy/601/long-hair