Learning About Respect Through Native American Traditions

By Tanjua Damon

Fifth graders at Middle Gate School sat on the gym floor listening to Maddi Cheers talk about why Native Americans started the practice of making corn dolls without faces.

Corn, beans, and squash were considered the three sisters. The way they were planted in the garden was that the corn was planted first, then the beans were planted at the base of the corn and would grow up around the stalk. The squash was planted in between to help keep the moisture in the garden to keep the weeds down, Ms Cheers said.

Of the three sisters corn was considered the most important. So each day corn would go out to visit the villages. Every day she was told how pretty she was. One day, corn stopped by the river and looked at her reflection in the river. She agreed that she had great beauty. But the Creator was not happy that corn did not spend the day going to the villages like she was supposed to. So the Creator told her that if she did it again that something would be taken away from her. Corn told the Creator she would go to all the villages the next day. After stopping by two villages, corn again went by the river. She stopped and began looking at her reflection. The Creator came and told corn she was not doing what she was supposed to and took her face away.

Many of the stories told by Native Americans were used to provide lessons to the children were tools to educate them about life and the skills needed to survive.

“It is much more important who you are on the inside than who you are on the outside,” she said.

Maddi Cheers is part of the Journeys into American Indian Territory Program that travels to schools educating children about the practices and culture of Native Americans. The program has been in place for about 12 years, she said. Children have the opportunity to hear stories and see firsthand many of the artifacts Native Americans used and still use to survive. A majority of the information is about Native Americans of New York and the Eastern Woodlands – Iroquois and Algonquian.

“Native people are great observers of nature,” she said. “Nature is not just for us to use, but also a guide for us.”

Snowshoes were invented by observing nature, Ms Cheers said. The snowshoe rabbit has large feet in proportion to its body.

Native Americans used the deer for many things including clothing and food. But Indians also were a people who were not wasteful.

“They do not waste anything,” Ms Cheers said. “The believed if an animal is willing to die for you, then you shouldn’t waste anything.”

Native American children received canoe toys so that they could play in the water and see how water moved, she said. When they became adults and had their own canoes they would be able to know the movement of the water with the canoes.

Decoy ducks were used to help catch ducks and special nets and spears to catch fish with, but the Indians were resourceful and only took what would be used.

“The never took more than they needed,” Ms Cheers said. “They didn’t have refrigerators. They would smoke their food.”

Native Americans invented lacrosse. It was a sport used to train boys to be men. They would play in a space that was one to two miles long. Adults also used the sport as a way to settle disputes.

“They trained boys to be men with lacrosse,” she said. “Strategy, working in groups, made their heart, lungs, and legs strong.”

Having the opportunity to provide education about Native Americans is something Ms Cheers enjoys. But it is also an experience for students to understand the importance of respect and responsibility.

“Because I think it is a culture based on respect,” she said. “I think it is a lesson the children need to hear today. We are getting away from the idea of community.”