Indigenous (Native American) Behaviour Ethics

It is no question that Native American culture is very different from the culture that the European's brought over to our land and tried to instill within the Indigenous people. What the "White Man" failed to understand was how the two culture's differentiate. Below I have outlined 6 major behaviour ethics defining the Native American culture. This is not particular to specific bands/tribes/villages but an overall scope.

(1) Non-interference - Non interference means respecting each and every person’s independence. Restricting a person’s personal freedom is regarded as undesirable behaviour. This is why many Native children have the freedom to do as they please - most Native children get to choose whether or not to do homework and decide when they should go home. The child understands what is expected of them and knows what is in their best interest to do but it is ultimately up to the child to make their own decision. This value is continued throughout by life by not judging other people’s decisions or advising them in a different direction but rather just simply acknowledging their decision and understanding why. There is always reason behind action.

People with European values tend to regard this as being over-permissive as certain behaviours can conflict so called “accepted” practices in today’s society. For an example, while a native child might choose not to go to school however this goes against modern laws requiring children to attend school. Likewise in Adulthood in many European societies, if one man says he is going to buy a BMW, another man will advise him to get an Audi instead, rather than just leaving the first man to happily make his decision without another advisory comment.

(2) Non-Competitiveness - This ethic promotes humility as nobody feels pressured to win, rather just compete to the best of their ability. A non-competitive atmosphere also promotes the suppression of internal conflicts within a group, which could be of grave value\ when it came to smaller tribes.

Emotional Restraint(3) - Having control over the expression of your emotions is an important ethic in Aboriginal cultures. On the positive side, it promotes self-control and discourages the expression of strong or violent feelings. However, emotions such as joyfulness and enthusiasm are suppressed along with anger and impulses to destructiveness. High displays of emotional outbursts made one more vulnerable to being disturbed by bad medicine men or witches.

Unfortunately, with a culture who has lost so much after European contact, this ethic tends to cause oppressed hostility displacement. This is why 95% of violent acts by Native American’s occur under the influence of alcohol. Repressed hostility coincides with the high rate of grief reactions, such as depression and anxiety. In the aboriginal community over 44% of psychiatrists are sought due to grief reaction versus a mere 19% within the white community. This also why 60% of Native American’s who make it into post-secondary, return home by Christmas - they can not tolerate loneliness and the separation feels like loss.

(4) Sharing - Aboriginal people often join together with their community/tribe/village for feasts and celebrations and everyone brings something to share with the attendees. Sharing encourages equality among the people and is expected in Aboriginal cultures. This principle is extended to not only sharing with other people but with the nature and animals too. You shan't take more than what you need from mother Earth, taking more is being greedy and wasteful. If you leave what you do not need, a wandering hunter or gatherer may come across that much needed resource and take advantage of it to the extent that they need as well.

Native American’s are not interested the white man’s principle of individual success and acquisitiveness. They do not want to rise above unless they can bring the rest of their community with them. This is because when European’s began their attempt to conform the ‘savage’ Native American people, they would pluck out the talented, good looking and highly skilled then send them away to work in the white world or if they were young enough, to residential schools so that Indigenous people would eventually mix in with the rest of the ‘civilized’ society the Europeans had established, relinquishing their cultural roots.

(5) Indian Time - This ethic is one of the biggest challenges found facing conforming culture to society. In Native culture, time is meant to be enjoyed and used freely. You do not need to move onto another task until you complete the first. Indigenous people are infamous for being late. This is because Native American activities are based on seasons, the sun, migratory patterns of game and living in harmony with nature.

While European societies tend to perceive this concept as a “I will do it when I feel like it” style of thinking, Natives really just function on a “It will happen when the timing is right” calendar. Indian timing is not a motivation killer or means of being lazy but a way of moving in harmony with one’s own self and the environment around them.

(6) Conservative Gratitude - In Indian culture, you are not praised for being good in your line of work nor for your efforts as a parent. For you are doing what is expected of you, therefore you are expected to be good at what you do and there is no need for reward. Doing good is it’s own intrinsic reward.

This is not the same for European culture, where the white man thrives off of praise, reward and reinforcement. In school, Native children will often deliberately screw up if they are constantly given praise for doing well in school by the teacher because they know they have not done a good job but rather what is expected of them.

Resources;

http://www.ajic.mb.ca/volumel/chapter2.html#3

https://www.cbu.ca/indigenous-affairs/unamaki-college/mikmaq-resource-centre/essays/native-ethics-principles/