Six Forces of Culture

The impact of various kinds of substances to cultural groups has historically been precipitated by the significance of particular substances on different cultural groups (Moore, 2010).This is mainly because the long term usage of these substances leads to the integration of the consumption of the substance into the cultural patterns of the given group. One such group that has been affected by the extensive usage of a particular substance is the Native American community. According to the Associated Press (2014, August 28), as noted on the MSNBC website, out of ten deaths among the Native American population, one is Alcohol related. Additionally, the prevalence of Alcohol consumption among the Native American population relates to

These days there are a number of social issues in the community, such as drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse is rampant in today’s society, Australian Drug Foundation states that, “Alcohol is the most widely used psychoactive, or mood-changing, recreational drug in Australia.”(Healey, 2002, p. 11). Underage drinking and binge drinking are some of the problems associated with alcohol abuse.

In Catholicism, Christians attend worship service to practice their faith. During church, they do a variety of traditions, which include, “prayers, scripture readings, the singing of pslams from the Old Testament, the consecration of bread and wine, [and] communion” (Quinlan 275). Evidently, the liturgy is organized on the basis of strengthening one’s faith, by practicing on a weekly basis. Even more so, the church exhibits its faith by involving the community to celebrate the Lord together. In comparison, a powwow is very similar to a weekly Christian worship service. During a powwow, the participants celebrate through song and dance, prayer, ceremonies, and acts of hospitality and unity (“The Powwow”). Similar to the Holy Communion, powwow end their ceremony with a feast as an act of honor. Moreover, powwows are a form of community and are considered social gatherings in the Native American culture. Thus, the Christian Worship Service and an Aboriginal powwow have common qualities. However, these ceremonies are not the only way they practice their religion

The first powwow that Sawaquat went to taught him that people viewed his heritage as a pastime. The powwow featured hobbyist who dressed up as Native Americans and acted like Native Americans would at a traditional powwow. This made Sawaquat feel ridiculous and it made it look like Native Americans were a joke. It was even harder for Sawaquat to see what the hobbyist were doing to his heritage because he was in a time of questioning and searching for his identity and this event was a step back for him. Sawaquat’s search for self-discovery led him down a path of disappointment.

In John Smith’s The General History of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles, his portrayal of the Native Americans is that of a tradition-driven people, who were willing to trade and occasionally aid the colonists, but were ultimately considered barbarians. The traditional aspect of the native’s culture can be found in their descriptions of fighting and dancing, with one of Smith’s first hostile encounters describing the Native Powhatan warriors being painted in different colors while “singing

“The Powwow at the End of the World” by Sherman Alexie appears to be a modern free verse poem with varying line length and no end rhyme. It is actually a ceremony to preserve and restore the Native American land and way of life. The repetition of the beginning of the lines and the strong rhythm suggest the drumbeat and dance of the apocalyptic powwow, or communal dance of Indians at the end of the world when all will be put right again. The speaker is an Indian answering the demand for forgiveness by the audience, who imply the Indians should forget four centuries of the atrocities committed by European settlers. He speaks in authoritative chant-like native rhetoric as though he can actually do what he says, like a medicine man. The poem in a few lines undoes the effects of modern civilization, destroying dams and allowing the waters to flow and the salmon to return.

Nichea Spillane argues that “Alcohol use among American Indians is perhaps the largest health concern in many American Indian communities” (8). Even with free medical clinics, known as Indian Health Services, many Native Americans who live in cities or have left their tribal lands find it difficult to receive the medical care that is needed. This could explain why, “Uninsured American Indians or Alaska Native Adults were more likely than uninsured adults in the general population to have binged on alcohol in the past month” (SAMHSA 6). Study after study show the disturbing effects of alcohol on the American Indians’ health. From minor health problems to alcohol-attributable deaths, to mental health and suicides, there is no way to document all the damage caused by excessive drinking. It is documented that “…excessive alcohol consumption is a leading cause of preventable death and years of lost life in this population. During 2001-2005, AmericanIndian/ AlaskaNatives were more than twice as likely to die from alcohol-related causes, compared with the U.S. general population (Naimi et al. 940).

Some reports say that the word powwow has its origin from the Pawnee word pa-wa, mean¬ing “to eat”, other sources say the word indicates a gathering of people for purpose of celebration or important event. The word Pow Wow, or pau wau, might also means a gathering of people coming together to trade. In any case, it is a special time for people to meet and rejoice, meet old friends and create new friendships. Explorers misinterpreted the ritual of dancing by medicine men, assuming that all natives gathered to sing and dance in this manner.

The term alcoholism is a substance that is obtains through the mouth into the stomach, giving the individual a sudden feel of the alcohol. It’s an addiction to the consumption of alcoholic liquor or to the metal illness and compulsive behavior resulting from alcohol dependency. Within the Navajo nation reservation, I’d say, alcoholism is a very huge concern in the reservation. Alcohol is obtain and use by Navajo men and women to teenagers of boys and girls. It may be sold a remote area that is call bootleggers. It’s a very complicated drug to make our past and future generation understand it is not a good source. Prevention conferences do their best to talk to the community. Many with the single homes of other families have experience

One of the traditions is the Ponca cemetery. The cemetery was established in 1880, and many people from the tribe are still buried there The top of the hill marks where the first repatriation first took place of their ancestors where they were in museums before they were buried prior to 1880. Their tribal museum is another piece of history that belongs to the Ponca Indians. The museum has history archives, a tribal library, community learning center, and culture department offices. In 1994 the Ponca held their first ever Pow-Wow after the tribes federal reinstatement in 1990. Traditionally, their Pow-Wow’s are a celebration for fall harvests, successful hunts, all births, deaths, weddings of tribal members over the last year, and a gathering place for other tribes, friends, and relatives to meet and celebrate. Dancing is one of the main traditions the Ponca Indian people

Native Americans celebrate a lot of traditions but one of the most popular celebration is Pow wows. Pow wows are also a time to extend native american culture and preserve the rich heritage of american indians. According to the article, What is a Pow wow, “A pow wow is gathering for many different communities”. Native americans have a diverse culture. Some say that Pow wows stand for an “American Indian medicine man”. Pow wows celebrate people’s way of meeting together, to join in dancing, singing, visiting, renewing old friendships, and making new ones.

The opening scene of the film demonstrates the Native Indians doing a "Pow-stunning" move, in the early hours of the morning generally as the sun is rising. It is an excellent setting with a blue sky and a tinted shade of light orange at the base of the skyline by the waking sun. These representations they to be otherworldly individuals that are joined with their way of life and those they carry on with an exceptionally straightforward life contrast with the way the "white Americans" live. Pow-wow move is about restoring contemplations of the old routes and

Upon my arrival, the Powwow was about to start. Before finding a seat I observed some other aspects of the Powwow. On the walkway of the Lloyd Noble Center were multiple vendors. These vendors were selling homemade art and other various crafts. Food was also being sold within this area and on one location on the floor. On the floor of the Lloyd Noble Center was an array of things. Tribal members, dancers, drummers, and singers were all located on the floor. A stage was also set up for the M.C. (Master of

The history of alcohol and drug abuse can be dated back for hundreds of years around the world; in addition, the side effects from abuse can last just as long. The extent of alcohol and drug abuse may change dramatically due to societal views and normality such as the Prohibition era and the legalization of medicinal marijuana. Understanding alcohol and drug abuse means that one must not examine the behavior of the drinker, but also the place, time, and context of the consumption of drugs and alcohol. Dating back to the Mayflower, the New World welcomed the brewing of beer and ale as a tradition of the early culture. The consumption of alcohol was excessive- it was consumed from the crack of dawn to the crack of dawn, at work, alone, together,

In the past powwows took place around seasonal changes. This changed as non-natives began to join in celebrating these Native American customs (Schultz, 2001). Native American powwows earliest record dates back to July 4th, 1900 in a Missoula, MT newspaper (Schultz, 2001).