ALL NATIVE AMERICAN PLACED THE WELFARE OF THEIR COMMUNITIES FIRST, NOT THEMSELVES. THEY SOUGHT LONGEVITY AND HEALTH BY OBSERVING COMMON RITUALS. THERE VALUES AND BELIEFS WERE ROOTED IN THEIR MYTHOLOGIES. LEADERSHIP BECAME A FUNCTION WITH AGE IN MOST COMMUNITIES. KINSHIP SHAPED THE LIFE OF AN ADULT INDIAN - IT WAS THE BASIS OF THEIR SOCIAL ORGANIZATION. KINSHIP DETERMINED CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS - SUCH AS WHO ONE COULD MARRY, WHO LIVED TOGETHER IN HOUSES, THE RIGHTS TO PERFORM CEREMONIES, WHERE YOUR FIELDS MIGHT BE, HUNTING AND FISHING AREAS.
THE HIDATSA LANDS WERE LINKED THROUGH FEMALE ANCESTRY. THERE WERE STRICT DIVISIONS OF LABOR BETWEEN THE SEXES IN ALL TRIBES. IN THE SOUTHWEST, THE MEN DID MOST OF THE FARMING. HOWEVER, THE WOMEN FARMED ON THE PRAIRIES AND IN THE EAST.
CERTAIN PEOPLE DEVELOPED EXPERTISE IN CRAFTS AND TRADES ALL THEIR LIFE. SOME PEOPLE PAID THEM FOR THEIR SKILLS. IN MOST CULTURES ONLY FULL TIME SPECIALISTS WERE THOSE KNOWN AS SHAMANS, PRIESTS, MEDICINE MEN - THOSE WHO COULD COMMUNICATE WITH THE SHAMANS. EVERYONE TOOK PART IN COMMUNAL CEREMONIES OF THE YEAR SO THAT LIFE WAS INFUSED WITH SPIRITUALITY.
FOR MANY WOMEN MOTHERHOOD WAS CONSIDERED THE HIGHEST GOOD, WHICH MEANT THAT SHE BECAME A GOOD COOK, CARETAKER, AND HAD DOMESTIC SKILLS.
VIRGINIA ALEXANDER
VIRGINIA ALEXANDRIA
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