PROTOCOL FOR ADDRESSING NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN ELDERS

INTRODUCTION:

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE IS INTENDED To HELP NON-INDIANS UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN INDIAN (collectivist)/ EUROPEAN (individualist) CULTURES.

THESE DIFFERENCES CAN BE VERY REAL, VERY POWERFUL AND ARE OFTEN NOT RECOGNIZED, NOT APPRECIATED, MISUNDERSTOOD OR POORLY HANDLED.

It is IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE IS A FINE LINE BETWEEN DESCRIBING A CULTURE AND STEREOTYPING, IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE A MISTAKE TO ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU READ A DESCRIPTION THAT A GROUP OF PEOPLE HAVE A PARTICULAR CHARACTERISTIC, ANY PERSON EROM THAT GROUP YOU MEET WILL CERTAINLY HAVE THAT CHARACTERISTIC.

LEARING GENERALITIES ABOUT A CULTURE CAN SOMETIMES HELP US BE MORE SENSITIVE AND EFFECTIVE IN OUR INTERACTIONS, BUT IT DOESN’T RELIEVE US OF THE RESPONSIBILITY TO LEARN ABOUT INDIVIDUALS.

ADDRESSING AN ELDER PROTOCOLS:

DO NOT MAKE EYE TO EYE CONTACT WITH A SPIRITUAL ELDER, IT IS A SIGN OF DISRESPECT,

WHEN BEING INTRODUCED TO AN ELDER, SHAKE HIS/HER HAND. WHEN SOMEONE OFFERS A PRAYER, IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR YOU TO SHAKE HIS HAND AND THANK THEM FOR THE PRAYER.

DO NOT ASK QUESTIONS DIRECTLY TO AN ELDER OR SPIRITUAL LEADER ABOUT HIS POWER, A MEDICINE MAN'S SPIRITUAL POWER IS PRIVATE KNOWLEDGE AND THE STRENGTH OF ONE S POWER IS CONTINGENT UPON HIS ABILITY TO MAINTAIN THE MOST INTENSE SECRET OF THIS IMMENSE GIFT.

ELDERS ARE TREATED WITH RESPECT AND HONOR, AN ELDER IS GIVEN FIRST PRIORITY WHEN IN LINE FOR FOOD, SEATING, SPEAKING, ETC, .

A WOMAN DOES NOT SET IN A CROSS LEGGED POSITION. LEGS SHOULD BE HELD CLOSED AT ALL TIMES, WHEN BEING INTRODUCED TO AN ELDER, IF YOU KNOW YOUR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN AND ETHNIC AFFILIATION, STATE SO, Do NOT MENTION THAT YOU ARE A GREAT DESCENDANT OF SOME INDIAN PRINCESS, KINSHIP TIES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO TRADITIONAL ELDERS, WHERE ONE COMES FROM IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

TRADITIONAL ELDERS HAVE LONG PAUSE TIMES BETWEEN SENTENCES, WAIT AN EXTRA LONG PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE YOU SPEAK, IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THE ELDER HAS FINISHED SPEAKING.

HIGH STATUS COMES FROM THE SHARING OF FOOD, WEALTH IN THE NATIVE WAY IS ACHIEVED ONLY THROUGH THE GIVING OF IT, THE GREATEST SATISFACTION IN POTLUCKS IS SEEING EVERYBODY RECEIVE A PART OF YOU, WHICH GIVES ONE SELF-GRATIFICATION, WHICH IN TURN GIVES ONE A MORE PRESTIGIOUS STANDING FOR BEING OF A GENEROUS NATURE.

IN CEREMONY, PARTICIPANTS ARE EXPECTED TO “PAY” THE MEDICINE MAN FOR PERFORMING (PUTTING HIS LIFE ON THE LINE) FOR YOUR WELL-BEING, THE MOST COMMON METHOD FOR PAYMENT IS TO SHAKE THE MEDICINE (MAN'S HAND AFTER THE CEREMONY AND LEAVE YOUR PAYMENT. THE AMOUNT OF PAYMENT IS BASED ONYOUR “VALUE” OF HIS BLESSING. AGAIN, WEALTH IS ACHIEVED ONLY THROUGH THE GIVING OF IT.

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