The American Indian and the Problem of Culture Essay

The Native Americans be perhaps the most culturally storied and richly diversified market-gardening in the America. Indeed, the historical narrations of the Indian culture, way of life and lifestyle are narrated as rich in strife, struggle as well as triumph. In fact, a legal age of the modern ways of life and lifestyle in the United States are directly or indirectly inherited or borrowed from the ancient Indian cultures of centuries ago. Yet, most Americans take for granted the many familiar figures that trace their blood line from the Native Indian Americans. The purpose of this paper is to describe the culture of the American Indians.The American Indians used various symbols that interwove the tapestry of their lifestyle. Integral symbols such(prenominal) as the totem pole, the teepee, the moccasins and the peace pipe formed a finical cultural sign of the American Indians life (Barrett, 2004). Native animals and plants as houses and weather had a special cultural relationsh ip with the American Indians. For instance, the American Indians revered animals for spiritual believes and ties in spite of their hunting practices. Animal hides and skins do drums and clothes while the fondness was preserved and never wasted to nourish the community. The American Indians believed that the spirit of the animals k lighted stand firmd by dint of the community by inhabiting the tribes minds.The American Indians cultivated and posterior harvested various plants for different reasons and seasons such as making blankets and dyes (Biolsi & Martin, 1989). Weather elements tidal bore cultural meanings, attachments and endearments to the community, as well. For instance, the American Indians believed that the sun and the rain were supernatural powers and equal a change in the Indians seasons.Totem poles formed a special part of the America Indians culture (Hallowell, 1957). For instance, they believed that every(prenominal) persons spirit in the community was attached to fact animals spirit. Therefore, the community believed that, at death, a persons spirit was absorbed by his or her attached animal to live on or regenerate as another person at birth. As a tall and large wooden carving, the totem pole was border to represent various animals with a certain animal representing a hold dear but deceased member of the family.Today, it is easy to observe a dangle dream catcher hanged from rearview mirrors on cars driving in the United States roads. However, tidy sum rarely know or acknowledge the significance of the dream catchers. Indeed, this symbol traces back to the Lakota tribes legendary stories (Hallowell, 1957). It is a symbol of holding onto dearest things in a persons life. In addition, the pierced holes in a dream catcher serve to filter ill feelings and thoughts. Another Interesting aspect of the American Indians culture is smoke signaling. The American Indians used smoke signals to send and relay messages everyplace long distances and bore a proud heritage amongst the American Indians.The American Indians also believed in spirits and depended on them for the well being and fodder of the society (Barrett, 2004). Spirits were tied to various outcomes in the society such as bumper harvest, natural disasters and tragedies and community health. As a result, the spirits were kept pleased to see to the survival and good harvest in the tribe. Sacrifices and offerings were made at sacred places to the spirits. For instance, the Pueblo tribes regarded various plants as sacred while the Aztecs offered homo sacrifices to appease the spirits.ReferencesBarrett, C. A. (2004). American Indian culture. Pasadena, Calif. Salem Press.Biolsi, T., & Martin, C. (1989). The American Indian and the hassle of Culture. American Indian Quarterly, 13(3), 261.Hallowell, A. I. (1957). The Impact of the American Indian on American Culture. American Anthropologist, 59(2), 201-217.Source document