Native American Culture: What´s An Animal Totem?

A symbolic object is a powerful tool that helps communicate meaning. Symbolic objects are created and reused by us humans to help give value to our world. Creating culture and a sense of meaning for humans, a symbolic object is nothing without culture. In other words, culture is a sense of values created through history. This is important because symbolic objects can be used to explain untouched issues settlers of this land created with Indigenous people. Indigenous people are people whom originated from a land, such as Native Americans, that settlers from another country devalue. In the film “Smoke Signals” by Chris Eyre, he expresses how difficult it is being an Indigenous person in the 21st century. In this paper, I will explain how a

Ultimately, the totem pole is symbolic in the story because it represents the Indigenous people in Canada. In King’s short story, the museum workers are constantly trying to remove the totem pole from the museum as Walter states that, “” the totem pole is not part of the show, and we need to move it someplace else”” (King 14). This quote accurately demonstrates the controlling nature of the museum workers because they attempt to remove the totem pole numerous times, but each time is as unsuccessful as the last. This correlates to Canadian history with the settlers trying to eliminate the Indigenous people in Canadian Society which was also unsuccessful. Additionally, another example that proves the controlling nature of the workers is witnessed when Walter attempts to find the owner of the totem pole instead of just leaving it in the show. Considering this, the whole notion of ownership is very different in Indigenous and non–Indigenous cultures. Indigenous culture believes that everything is to be shared and no one is an owner of anything. This concept is complete and total opposite in non-Indigenous culture as everything belongs to someone.

Totem poles are ceremonial statues that were carved by many of the tribes in the Pacific Northwest. The animals and figures on the totem poles represent the history of the family that lived in that house. The figures on the totems had specific meaning, and told of the family's heritage, power, and place in the

The leaves can be used in money sachets, incenses, scrying and spells. Use in talismans for courage or strength. Use as a base for lust drinks. To ensure future riches, burn the leaves.

Human beings, desire to maintain a connection with the past is achieved through the languages spoken, the various cultures practiced, and sadly through acquiring of cultural property by the means of grave robbing. Native Americans wanted justice for these past mistreatments and control over their history. According to Chip Colwell, campaigning, repatriation of indigenous artifacts began in the 1960s by indigenous activism. Finally, on November 16, 1990, The United States Government passed The Native American Graves Protection and Reparation Act. NAGPRA summarizes that museums must conduct an inventory of all native American cultural artifacts and remains. (Native) In addition, Museums send the inventories to federally recognized tribes, in

The Southwest Native American and their culture is very unique.There art contained their symbols and signs to show what they believe in.This is important because it is a big part of their daily life and practices.They had dolls that represented the Kachina spirits.This is important because this is an important part of their culture and history.In our exhibit the little girl is holding one.They wore turquoise jewelry because it promotes wealth,happiness and fortune.In our exhibit the people are wearing the jewelry.The South West native american culture is very unique because they used dolls to represent spirits.

Knowing what a national bird represents is helpful to characterize a country because of the freedom wishes that it can symbolize. For instance, in Cuba, the Tocororo can not live inside a cage because it dies. Like Cubans the Tocororo can not live a prisoner, it needs to be free.

An artifact has been found that pushes the timeline of the arrival of Native Americans in North Carolina back 4,000 years.

Religion can be defined as inner beliefs of where one may have come from and beliefs in morals to help guide one through his or her life. As for the Cherokee, they put many of their beliefs in nature and did not believe in one single creator. These beliefs were used to teach stories and pass on the history of their people. Sometimes their beliefs were used to give hope to the people in times of trouble. Because the Cherokee did not believe in one single god with the credit of creating the earth and all of its living beings, they have found a way to create their own creation story relying heavily on the animals of nature.

Due to the fact that I am not Native American, I cannot completely understand their feelings toward the use of their people in places such as mascots, team names, or logos. I can however, make an educated guess as to why these practices might offend certain groups or individuals. I would like to hope that these people using Native Americans as a symbol, would be doing so in a non-stereotypical way, with the original intentions of trying to portray how they believed that these people were strong warriors. That being said, the Native American people become upset because these symbols and mascots often do not resemble their people in the slightest. The Natives designed are usually based off a stereotypical view of what a person believes an

Totems in Aboriginal culture are implemented as a family or tribal emblem and comprehend great importance to the Indigenous people because they symbolise the cultural identity of each individual or group, usually by imitating the image of an animal, plant or natural phenomena (shark, bird, snake, flame tree etc). They share a valued part in Aboriginal song, dance and as names for music as well as cultural performance. Each clan/tribe is different from another, however many of them have agreed to forbid individuals from eating the animal assigned to their totem, this is allowed in some other tribes but only at the exception of special occasions and ceremonies. All totems are believed to carry ceremonial responsibilities with them that are

Native Americans use many different ways of incorporating nature into their oral traditions. The respect for each creature is evident in the way they are portrayed.

Native American culture originated in some parts North America. These countries are known as the United States of America and some parts of Canada. In the United States, there are 6.6 million Native Americans, which form about 2.0 percent of the population (Bureau, 2016). Europe had realized there were about 50 million people already living the “new world” and these people were called Native Americans. Native Americans were originally called Indians, but later through history they formed a new name. These people were called this because of them being native to the “new world” and the American part came after the colonist named the United States. Throughout history, Native Americans believed that using raw material in nature was the best way to provide for their people. Their culture thought no part of an animal should go to waste. They would eat the meat, use the skin for clothing, and make jewelry from the bones. Over the years a lot of their culture and customs were lost due to conforming with society. Their languages were referred to as “Indigenous Languages” because of them being extremely complicated and diverse. Some important factors that help understand the foundation of Native American culture are their rituals/practices, death ceremonies, holidays, family, and stereotypes.

Have you ever wonder how the world was created from another culture’s perspective? Native Americans used creation myths to explained to their people how the world was developed overtime. Creation myths are a big part of the Native American culture. they have been passed down from generation to generation. In the creation myths, harmony with nature, rituals, and strong social values are shown in each myths. The purpose of having strong social value in these myths is to teach younger Native Americans valuable lesson if they ever do something bad. These myths reveals how the rituals were created and their intentions for doing it. Creation myths has harmony with nature in it to show a very close kinship between them

The pieces The Medicine Man by Cyrus Dallin, Manjushri on a Lion by Unknown and Untitled from Terminal Series by Larry Bell are have some sort of relation to animals. Both The Medicine Man and Manjushri on a Lion have an animal within the sculpture as but the Untitled from Terminal Series relates to animals slightly different.