Native American Culture vs. Western Culture (European)

1. Native American Culture vs. Western Culture (European) Native American Western • Emphasis on the circle • View life as a continuance, or series of repeating cycles • Example: seasons, circle of life (birth, death, rebirth) • Death is not an ending, continuance of the cycle • Unbreakable connection with natural world • World is much larger than simply the humans who dwell on it, we must recognize the relationship between all things • If everything is connected, every action produces a result • Emphasis on straight lines • Rather than continual return, we see continual departure • Humans are more important than nature • Humans can control nature • We focus on the future and are quick to forget the past • Life is focus on advance to the “top” or experiencing upward progress • Hierarchy

2. Native American Culture vs. Western Culture (European) Native American Social Dynamics Western Social Dynamics • There is no single being of power, or hierarchy • Females are the “head” of the community/family • Equal respect between adults and children • Correct “bad” behaviour through teaching a lesson, rather than “hitting” • What goes around, comes around • One being is in power (God, King, President, Teacher) • Male dominated society • Adults are to be respected always, children are of “lesser” value • “bad” behaviours are corrected through punishment---hitting/spanking • Leave childish things behind, leave parents, leave home in order to advance upward