An ethnographic essay is writing that gives the research of a particular culture, subculture or a group of people and a logical argument on the study is written. It involves a close observation, fieldwork and interviewing of the focused group. In this paper, the research is based on Native American culture. The inquiry question of this project is; how do the people of Native American culture see themselves and their way of living?
The Native American culture has over 500 federally recognized tribes. They were mostly the nomad people who steadily moved with their herds. Recently, the Native American tribe lives mainly in Chicago, Phoenix, Houston, New York City, and Los Angeles. The Native American theory says that they were first concentrated in the Southern part of Northern Carolina, western South Carolina, and Northern Georgia.
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In general, the Native Americans do not see themselves or other people as inferior or superior to different cultures, or dominating the creation and the world’s nature. In their culture, they believed that all animals were spiritually equal to human and each played a different role in the society. Most natives identify themselves with their specific sub-tribes like the Cherokee, Modoc, and Alaskan tribe among others. Although there has been discrimination from other Americans who saw the Native tribes be inferior, the Native American maintain their cultural practices.
Although the features of the culture vary from one tribe to another in the way of clothing, language, and their custom, the Native American culture has their societies dominated by clans. In the early age, the hunters and gatherers made stone tools, but later on, adopted more advanced tools. Research shows that most Native Americans use similar tools and weapons such as spear, war club, bow, and arrows. In their culture, the Native Americans utilized Horses which they were used as a measure of wealth.
Native tribes of America crafted items that were impressive and were mainly used during religious ceremonies. Others made belts and strings which were called wampum and had a dual function as they were used as a medium of exchange. The lines were used to tie knots that were designed for tribal stories and legends. Also, other sub-tribes of Native Americans specialized in maintaining the relationship with the spiritual world where they performed ceremonial acts. They made colors from sand, pollen, and coal which they used to color their faces.
Many tribes still practice the Traditional Native American ceremonies. Most of the native people still hold their theological belief system according to their faith. Some of the traditional practices of the tribes are the use of sacred herbs like sweetgrass and tobacco. Other traditions are sweatlodge ceremonies where they use it for purification. The celebrations are accompanied by fasting, praying and singing in the ancient languages while drumming.
In the Native tribes, both male and female have a certain degree in taking part in decision making within the tribe. In a tribe like the southern Muskogean, they have a clan mother system in which the property and leadership are passed over through maternal lines. In the Cherokee culture, the women own the family property. Also, the Native American participate in sports such as stickball and lacrosse which were used in settling disputes intend of going for civil war. Currently, the Native American crafts and arts industry bring more than a billion gross sales yearly.
References
Kuiper, K. (Ed.). (2010). Native American Culture. The Rosen Publishing Group.
Preissle, J., & Le Compte, M. D. (1984). Ethnography and qualitative design in educational research. Academic Press.
