Native American Family Practices, Beliefs and Traditions

Below: A diverse view of different Native American families




Native American Family Practices, Beliefs and Traditions

By Grace Tsai & Luisa Alanis

The family structure varies from tribe to tribe including gender roles, from the matriarchal structure seen in the Navajo to patriarchal structures. For example, among the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) people, women are regarded as powerful physical beings in their matriarchal family structure (George-Kanentiio, 2000).

Family practices within the Native American culture are as diverse as among the different Asian groups' family practices and traditions. Yet, despite this enormous diversity, there seems to be common core values and beliefs that characterize traditional Native American culture across tribal groups and geographic regions. Most Native American families are extended and often include mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. It is not uncommon to have adopted relatives in the household and all living in very close proximity to one another (Allison & Vining, 1999). Native Americans tend to have a high fertility rate, a large percentage of out-of-wedlock births, strong roles for women and families headed by a single mother or another family female adult (Sue & Sue, 2003).

Native Americans highly value traditional beliefs concerning relation, harmony, balance, spirituality, and wellness; as part of valuing "relation" all these beliefs are interrelated.

Relation. Central to Native American spiritual traditions is the importance of "relation" as a way of existing in the world. The power of relation is symbolized by the Circle of Life, represented throughout the traditions, customs and art forms of Native people (Dufrene, 1990). This Circle of Life is believed, in many tribal traditions, to consist of the basic elements of life: fire, earth, water and wind. These four points also denote, as for example in Cherokee tradition, spirit, nature, body and mind, referred to as the Four Winds (Dufrene, 1990). Brent Toadlena explained that the life of a person is a circle from childhood to childhood, and that there are important ceremonies that depict this (personal communication).

Also life, from a traditional Native American perspective, is viewed as a series of concentric circles. The first circle is the inner circle, representing our spirit. The next circle is family/clan. The third circle is the natural environment and all our relations. And the fourth circle consists of the spirit world. Considering the power of relation, all life exists in an involved system of interdependence in a dynamic state of harmony and balance (Garrett & Carroll, 2000).

Harmony and balance. Among the many aspects of Native American culture is the emphasis on unity through seeking harmony and balance both inwardly and outwardly. Generally, Native American traditional values reflect the importance placed upon community contribution, sharing, cooperation, being, noninterference, community and extended family, harmony with nature, a time orientation toward living in the present, preference for explanation of natural phenomena according to the spiritual, and a deep respect for elders (Garret, 1999). While visiting the Barona Mission Museum, many displays reflected the general practices of this beliefs and values of the Kumeyaay people. Displays illustrated their thoughts about the earth and the family's responsibility to value one another as well as their environment. For example, one display presented the use of the land and protecting it as well as utilizing its resources and the strength of oral traditions to perpetuate these practices.

Wellness. Traditional Native American views of healing and wellness emphasize seeking harmony within oneself, with others and with one's surroundings (Garrett & Carroll, 2000). In the traditional Native American way, medicine can consist of physical remedies, but medicine is also much more than a pill you take to cure illness or correct a physiological malfunction. Medicine is everywhere; it is the essence of their inner being that gives inner power (Garrett, 1999). The Native American elders often hold healing positions such as medicine men and other authoritative positions in the community due to their highly valued wisdom and experience.

Spirituality. Unlike Western spirituality, religion is a way of life (Atwood, 1991). In many Native American languages, there is no word for "religion" because spiritual practices are an integral part of every aspect of daily life; spirituality is necessary for the harmony and balance, or wellness, of the individual, family, clan and community (Locust, 1988).

Cultural identity. As in every culture, it is very important to consider the stage of personal identity development when looking at family practices, values, beliefs and attitudes. Although many Native American elders assist in encouraging the identity development of their children, there is still a growing disparity of identity development within the Native American people. Colonization greatly harmed the Native Americans' cultural identity adoption. Like most bi-cultural identity development, Native Americans are often living in two different cultures. Often, individuals intertwine the dominant culture and their Native American identity together. For example, Native American museums such as the Barona Native American Museums display the traditional ceremonies that were originally taught to colonize. However, current groups now recreate these original non-native traditions with their Native American influence. Native American identity development is also connected to their religious practices and spirituality. A Native American woman explained that her grandmother was raised as a Christian but still attends Long-house meetings and ceremonies. Today, Native American families may identify themselves as either traditional, bi cultural, or assimilated, which is largely based on the location of the household, language spoken at home, and the participation in religious events (Allison & Vining, 1999).