Most of the things that have been taught in class recently involve traditional beliefs and practices of indigenous nations. These teachings have been exciting because they have included an in-depth analysis of origins and traditions. Moreover, unlike other history-based studies, these teachings also involve oral narrations from experts. Some of these narrations have been quite captivating because of the authenticity of their narrators.
For instance, some narrators offer very realistic accounts of indigenous traditions. Some of the subjects that were covered in these classes include creation, cultures, and indigenous beliefs. This paper is a personal reaction to the classes on indigenous history and theories of settlement.
One of the things that I found interesting in these classes was the differences between the beliefs of most indigenous American and Canadian tribes. Previously, it was easy to assume that most indigenous tribes had substantial ‘similarities.’ However, after these classes it is clear that most tribes, even the ones that are found in one locality, have very different beliefs.
It is a common misconception that the beliefs of one indigenous tribe, apply to all indigenous tribes. For instance, in most feature films, the use of feathered hats and face markings by indigenous tribes is overemphasized. Some of these misconceptions are easily reinforced because today, movies are the most influential tools for transmitting culture. According to these studies, even in a single tribe, there might be differences in beliefs.
Some of these differences might be because different tribal factions could be living in separate localities. For example, the Mohawk Tribe residing in Ojibwe performs the feather dance clockwise while the Mohawk Tribe residing in Albany dances anticlockwise. The respect between the different indigenous tribes makes these differences unnoticeable to the rest of the population.
Another thing I found striking in these classes is the emphasis on creation stories. In most cultures, creation theories are usually simple and non-elaborate. However, among most indigenous tribes creation stories are elaborate and descriptive. For example, some indigenous nations have creation stories that take place in stages and sequences. For example, the Mi’kmaq teachings on creation include seven levels of creation.
These levels give descriptive and analytical accounts of how the nations and clans came to existence. The Mohawk also has an elaborate creation story that is divided into different levels. In my view, the emphasis on creation accounts by indigenous nations signifies the importance of the nations’ origin. On the other hand, emphasis on origin makes preservation necessary. Preservation is an important aspect of life for most indigenous tribes.
Because western education has infiltrated almost every aspect of life in America, it will be difficult for most indigenous nations to maintain their belief systems. Most indigenous tribes have customs that emphasize on the need to pay homage to spirits and perform crucial ceremonies. Western education is skeptical when it comes to beliefs in spirits and mythology.
Maintaining a belief system requires a perfect intergenerational passage of information. In the current world, it is hard to get young people to believe and pay homage to spirits as well as uphold ceremonies to please spirits and ancestors.
The commercial aspect of modern life also undermines the integrity of some of the beliefs and practices that were taught in this class. For instance, the Pikani Blackfoot teaches about ceremonies that go on for several days. The economic needs of modern life could make it hard for anyone to spare a few days without making any income.