Learning from the Native American culture

Note: In the blog, I can only report what I'm learning. I won't be able to share anything of what my classmates are learning and saying since we have a confidential clause as part of our community norms. By the way, I'm no expert on any Native American cultures and tribes. I can only share what I am learning or have known from books and from Native people.

In my service learning online class, we are learning about compassion in what we do in our work, our service learning projects (volunteering) and our lives. Since we are living here in America, we can learn a lot about compassion and forgiveness from Indigenous North American Spiritual Traditions. My instructor Susan Carter said, "Since we are looking at compassion from various world religions, I thought it was also appropriate to honor the people on whose land we stand--the Native American peoples.In the Lakota worldview there is a phrase (which is also a prayer) with which you may be familiar--"Mitakuye Oyasin," which has been translated into English as "All My Relations." This prayer of oneness demonstrates a worldview which holds that all creatures, such as people, animals, and birds, as well as such "things" as water, grasses, and rocks are all considered "relations." If we apply this to our discussion of compassion, this extends compassion from the inner world of each individual outward to the outer world--to all others, the Earth, and the cosmos. If we are related (as in "relations" or "related to") then we are also not separate; we are all interconnected. Most (if not all) indigenous peoples hold such a worldview."

By the way, each native would want to call themselves differently as a whole group (outside of their tribe names); they are Native Americans, American Indians, and for the ones in Canada, they called themselves First Nations peoples. Before you identify someone, let them self-identified what they want to be called based on their individual preferences.

Here are two youtube clips named "All My Relations":

My instructor Susan Carter said about these videos, "you will be able to view two YouTube videos (which are short, a bit over 3 minutes each) that beautifully express compassion and forgiveness from a Native American/American Indian standpoint. You will note that they move from Native American/American Indian ancestors (past) to the present, and gradually include the larger world community (even the exterminators and oppressors)." How do I respond to these videos? What did I learn about compassion and forgiveness from this tribe?

From what I learned, the community is a huge part of a Native American cultural lifestyle. Many uses drumming, singing/chanting, and dancing to bring everyone together to celebrate or honor someone or something. From the title "All my Relations" and from the speaker addressing his/her audience, it's important to remember one's ancestors and love ones who has past away. These people has played a part to shaped an individual's and the community's identity. The people in your life currently play a big part in supporting and encouraging you in this life's journey. When we are connected with each other, we can relate with each other and in turn, we want to be there for each other which is where compassion comes in. It's hard to be compassionate with another human being if you can't relate to the other and have no connection. I believe a celebration or a community activity can help bridge people to connect with each other so when someone is in need or celebration support, you can be there for that someone. Basically a healthy community would need celebration and bonding time.