Culture Vs Native American Culture

Dan Brown once stated: “History is always written by the winners. When two cultures clash, the loser is obliterated, and the winner writes the history books-books which glorify their own cause and disparage the conquered foe…” (“Quotable Quote”, 2015). The white settlers traveled over to the “new world” to begin anew and to write their own history. However, the land had been settled for thousands of years before the white settlers invaded. Native Americans wanted to handle the situations at hand with peace and fairness, but the whites wanted it their way or no way at all. As a result, violence uproared with battles and massacres. It seemed like no matter how hard the Native Americans fought to protect their material culture, they would always …show more content…
People grow up and learn many different values and beliefs, but are not always exposed to other societies. Culture is a maintainer of boundaries. Standing in the Light A Lakota Way of Seeing was written not only to expose to those of Native American descent, but those of other cultures to learn about the “Lakota ways”. Many times, Americans pass judgment on those of Native American descent. Calling them derogatory names and making fun of their customs. If Americans were to fully understand their culture, then there would be no judgements or conflicts. Most Americans, believe that the wealthy are the most powerful and are not afraid of stepping on others to get there; an individualistic society. Whereas, Native Americans live in a collectivist society where “...the chief was often the poorest member of [the] band because he always shared what he had. Yet he was the wealthiest man in the way he took care of his people and the status the prayers of his people gave him” (Bear & Theisz, 1994, p. 115). Americans may look at that and think they are nuts for believing in it! It is a foreign custom to Americans! However, once their purpose behind the belief was exposed, there was a reason to attempt to understand their values; cultural relativism. Standing in the Light A Lakota Way of Seeing explains most of the Lakota customs and traditions, (dancing, singing, the importance of naming, etc) and why they believe what they believe. One of the traditions brought up was the “four circles”, a concept that surfaces at every pow wow or Sun Dance (Bear & Theisz, 1994). There is the center of the circle, the brightest part where they dance around the fire and the tribe leaders are dressed in their tribes best traditional dress (Bear & Theisz, 1994). The next outer circle is people dancing and singing. In this circle there are very few people that actually wear their family’s “costumes” and colors because they adopt