The best approach to be applied in understanding the concept and meaning of community is the fluid concept. This is the case because the meanings and definitions attached to a community by different people are different, and vary from one community setup to another. However for any individual interest in working with or within a community that may involve defining the given community; one must first develop a clear portrait of the unit they are making efforts to address. The importance of developing a clear understanding of the dimensions that come into play in the concept of community is, that it enables individuals studying the given community to better focus their exertion on focusing on individuals who can provide the most realistic information; and enable the individual studying the given community apply the most suitable engagement stratagems (Derienzo 45-56).
A community can be defined from two different perspectives; one from a wider sociological systemic approach; and the second from an individualized perspective but in both definitions, emphasis is given on who is included in the definition and who is not. A given individual can qualify to be a member of a given community by choice, where he willfully decides to associate himself with the given community. An individual may also belong to a given community based on the fact that they possess some innate distinctive features like age, ethnicity, race or gender. This gives the idea that an individual may belong to a number of communities, at any given time. This aspect, therefore, creates the need of being able to make out these complex associations, in choosing how and where to learn the communication channels and practices within a given community (Derienzo 45-56).
From a sociological viewpoint, the concept of community implies a grouping of people unified by at least one distinguishing aspect. This distinguishing characteristic could refer to the location or geography they inhabit; shared values, experiences, interests or customs. In general, the concept of community is very wide to an extent that if one is to define a community in a single simple way, they would not establish any. The reason there is no single straight definition of a community is that some individuals express themselves as members of a given community through relationships, other places, other institutions, and still to some others the feelings they associate with being members of the given community (Derienzo 45-56).
In understanding the communication within and in a community, it is important to look at the community as a structure composed of individual associates and compartments that have varied distinctive traits and interrelations. These compartments are formed by the collection of persons who symbolize specialized roles, activities or interests within the community structure. Further, each and every one of these compartments that have distinctive boundaries operate in harmony with the other sectors, in the pursuit of meeting the needs of its members; and those of the individuals the sector is designed to benefit. An example, in this case, is the emphasis schools give to scholar education; and economic institutions to employment and enterprise development. From this, it is evident that for the smooth transition of the different members of these compartments and the individuals within society; there is a characteristic need for the community communicative role (Derienzo 45-56).
A community can also be looked at as an organism with life or a perfectly working machine. It is also worth noting that for any given community, each segment has its specific function whose failure to accomplish brings overall failure to the successful running of the machine. From a system perspective healthy communities can be looked at as those in which, the interdependent compartments are well integrated; shares the accountability to resolve troubles and augment the wellbeing of the given community. This successful solution to the complex societal problems; further creates the need for better incorporation, teamwork, and coordination of energies; efforts and resources from the various compartments. This, therefore, shows the essentiality of communication between the different sectors regarding the different roles, and collaborative performance in promoting the soundness of the community (Derienzo 45-56).
Conclusively from a systemic view of the community, the concept of community can be explained as composed of four distinct branches. The first is the people, who reflect the socioeconomic, health standing, risk outline, demographics, ethnic and cultural definitions of what they embrace. The location comprises the area enfolded by the geographical/ physical boundaries that define the given community; the connectors that bind the different sectors and individuals together including shared interests, values and motivational drives. The other aspect that defines a community is the power structure adhered to within the given community that includes; formal and informal channels of power/ influence, partner association; resource distribution and flow; then lastly the communication patterns in operation (Derienzo 45-56).
Communication on the other hand is the process through which individuals assign and express meaning to different phenomena and associations; with the effort to creating a shared comprehension or understanding of the different phenomena. The process of communication requires the investment of varied skills in interpersonal and intrapersonal dispensation, listening, observance, talking, questioning, securitizing, and evaluating. The usage of these procedures is extensional and moves to the different areas of life including work, school, socialization, and home going to other larger spheres. This coverage and development of these; is achieved through the collaborative and coo operational roles of the communication that pronounces the ways these processes workout. Communication can also be viewed as the unifying theme, which cuts across all disciplines and acts as the window to the creation of basic literacy and academic excellence. It also acts as the mastery of languages and expression of ideas, therefore marking the achievability of different individuals and the community at large (Kester 34-56).
Community communication projects: These are the constant attempts by communities in discovering better ways for communal interaction, information sharing, and enhanced communicative processes. Ideally, these are usually the attempts to discover new models or structural principle constructions, which best fit the given community in question. The process also seeks to identify the most effective modalities of problem-solving, which are to be implemented using comprehensive communication to help unify who the given people are, and where they are not to talk of improving the community’s content distribution (Kester 34-56).
The major role of this paper is to point out the means and ways in which communication and communication relationships between conservative American-Indians and their non-Indian neighbors have both supported and deterred the concept of community within this unique cultural identity. This study will be important in that, it will be a helpful tool in solving the problems that have always existed between the American-Indian people and the neighboring American natives; which include the construction of a road to the interior ‘Mdewankanton Sioux reservation’. To start with, the American Indians have sustained a lawful nation-nation association with the U.S central government, based on treaties and court prescription. This relationship of perpetuated sovereignty has brewed questions, as the U.S administration provides for tribal sovereignty but the U.S legislative body is bestowed with powers to limit the sovereignty of tribes lawfully. However, the defense, in this case, is that the congress’ limiting function is limited to explicit terms, and not through implication (Kester 34-56).
The lack of a strong sense of community between the American Indians and the neighboring tribes, in this case, can be attributed to the fact that these tribes conduct their governance business and communication with the U.S federal government and not the neighboring communities. This relationship with the federal administration is much based on their aboriginal status, rather than the racial background they possess. Further, the American Indian tribes operate on a limited political governmental associations and basis, with the neighboring states. As a result, there are no established formal channels for these tribes to work with local, city and county authorities. Further, there are no communication instances regarding issues between the two entities, unless in the case where there is a crisis therefore the communication is based on the event of crisis solution or corrective measures. Further, there are no informal channels of communication between the American Indian and the non-Indian communities, due to numerous political and historical-based reasons. One of the reasons, in this case, is the lack of historical, political and legal information regarding the American Indians within the U.S system of education (Kester 34-56).
In this study; two informal focus group discussions were conducted and the final group was given the work of conducting an observation-based survey, across the different groups regarding the information on the extent and levels of communication that exists between the American Indian and the Non-Indians. For logistical reasons, this group was comprised of a mixed-race representation of both American Indian and non-Indian individuals, as a view to collect the most accurate information by avoiding language-based misunderstandings among other ethnically based prejudices. Due to the fact that there were no direct interviews carried out on any individuals or groups, the need for completing a CBU did not arise and this was a move geared towards reducing the time taken to carry out the study (Kester 34-56).
The informal discussions were carried out during regular local interactions and all members were chosen based on local contacts and relations. One of the informal focuses group discussions; comprised of three American Indian tribal members and three non-Indian participants. The other informal discussion group; consisted of five tribal members and both discussions were about one and a half-hour in length. The observation survey on the other hand was carried out on individuals during regular day-to-day activities, especially those sensitive to the communication problem between the two groups (Kester 34-56).
From the informal focus group discussion; the barriers to the formation of a unified sense of community between the two entities were a higher level impact of the communication barriers between the two groups. Among the commonly identified communication barriers was the generational labeling of racism and racist behaviors targeted towards the American Indian tribes, by the non-Indian groups and individuals. As a response to this treatment; the Indian American individuals resolved to break any interaction and communication between them and the non-Indian tribes, as a way to cut out the segregate associations and dealings based on prejudice over the years. The other factor leading to the lack of community due to the broken communication phenomena was; the fact that interactions between the two groups only played the role of affirming the distinctions and variations between the two groups. In this case, the non-Indians overlooked increased interaction and information regarding the other group based on the view that; they perceived the American-Indians as foreigners, and inferior personalities (Kester 34-56).
The other strongly felt problem evident from the mixed culture focus group was that; the varied cultural models, dissimilar cultural patterns of interaction, varied communication and problem resolution styles, resulted in the much-felt misunderstandings and frustrations among the entities. This, therefore, resulted in the lack of communication that would help provide for neutral grounds; with regard to the different cultural variations. The other side of this problem that barred the development of the concept of community among these two entities was that; the Non-Indians from their cultural orientation had a solution-oriented problem-resolution attitude, towards the problem of racism and related behaviors. On the other hand, the non-Indian side showed no sign of being sensitive to the problem and the difficulties associated with seeking a solution (Kester 34-56).
Trust that forms an important aspect of the associations involved in any given community; was an area of the general concern in the evident lack of communication and sense of community among the different entities involved in this case. The lack of trust was much based on historical issues and encounters rather than just the present distrust between the two. This, therefore, meant that any attempts to instill the aspects of communication and community had to first deal with the issues surrounding the historical distrust before the trust needed for the development of communication and a sense of community is built. From the informal discussions, it was much evidence that the idea of racism played much of the role in modeling the lack of communication; that, in turn, led to the lack of development of a sense of community between the two entities (Patterson 23-100).
From the information attained from the informal discussions; it was also evident that for the concept of community communication to develop and the sense of community to grow, there is a strongly felt need for the ability to listen to one another without preconceived ideas and notions. In this case, the American Indian tribes expressed that the solution that would lead to the development of community would be found; if and only when the Americans were ready to listen to them without preconceived ideas and notions about them or their differences (Patterson 23-100).
Another important aspect in the development of a community is that; the communicative aspect of the dealings between community members results in a growing understanding, of the culture among other variations between the different entities as a way of achieving association and shared interest that are primary aspects in the development of the community. From the case under study; it was clear and overt that the non-Indians did not understand the culture, history, morality, traditions, and guiding principles of the American-Indian people. It was also evident that there was a lack of the sense of respect and regard towards the American-Indians by the non-Indian tribes, and due to the fact that this is an important aspect in the development of the concept of community, then the opposite was present from the division between the two groups (Patterson 23-100).
From the communication within the focus groups; it was evident that a sense of community was starting to develop among the participants because; the underlying factors that were leading to the lack of communication and a sense of community were documented as the following. One was that there was segregation between the two groups within the childhood elementary school age, especially within sixth grade where individuals were affirmed of their identity and inability to mix vividly. From the discussion the importance of functional locations like third places that include coffee shops, pubs and clubs was brought into the picture, as important grounds for informal communication. This was the case as the informal communication could create a basic understanding of the different entities, and therefore a possibility of imposing the development of community between the two (Patterson 23-100).
From the discussion, it was also evident that for any community there must be a unifying factor, player or authority that is revered by the parties who are to be bound together to form a community. In this case, this voice or authority was lacking and therefore the persistent failure to unite and identify as one community. From the case, it was also evident that the sense of community which would develop from the disregard of the vice of racism, was not a phenomenon that would be eliminated overnight creating the lively association within a community or feelings of being part of the community; as it had to develop over time and not capable of being realized through mere anticipation or mention (Kester 34-56).
From the case study; it was also evident that communication challenges within the basic units of the community, leading to the development of negative characteristics and perspectives within the larger community. This could be explained by the phenomenon that as much the American Indians were facing challenges outside their culture, the challenges went far as to affect their intra-cultural association. This showed the evident fact that one importance of communication within the development of the community is that, internal conflicts further affected the possibility of developing better external relationships and therefore had to be dealt with, as a starting point in addressing the problem (Kester 34-56).
From the survey; it was evident that lack of understanding between the two entities and racism were the main causes for the communication breakdown, which resulted in the lack of developing a sense and concept of community. However, the survey showed that some sense of understanding had been developed in the areas of cultural values, lifestyles and traditions but areas of major concern included employment, tax, crime and housing. From the survey, it was also evident that communication tools were being employed, in the attempt to establish a sense of community between the two entities. The tools of communication being employed in this case include; participation in committees and group functions towards building intercultural communication. Other tools employed include teaching cultural diversity, workshops and attending special cultural events. Other forms of communication adopted to improve the situation included parental associations and groups, hosting cultural activities and events on radio and television talks; as regarding the view that these channels would develop an intercultural dialogue that was lacking in governmental structures (Patterson 23-100).
From the study, it was also evident that education formed a substantial aspect of communication as it would overcome the ignorance within the different entities, thus improve the understanding and level of tolerance from one another; which would, in turn, lead to the development of the community. Other communication channels that were viewed as having the potential to improve the interrelations were collective working, development of inter-racial relationships and general socialization (Derienzo 45-56).
Works cited
Derienzo, Harold. “The concept of community”.Ipoc Di Pietro Condemi Press. (2008): 45-56.
Kester, Grant. “Conversation pieces”: Community and communication in modern art. California: University of California Press. (2004): 34-56.
Patterson, Marie. “Early American Indian tribes”. Teacher Created Resources. (2008); 23-100