Native American culture

[Name of the Institute]

Native American culture

Introduction

The aim and objective of this research assignment is to discuss and analyze the culture of native Americans. This paper will discuss their cultural characteristics and their cultural background back from early days. A brief account of their history is discussed below.

Thesis Statement

The native Americans culture depicts the cultural characteristics of today's modern America.

Discussion

Native Americans also known as 'American Indians' were the Europeans who discovered North America. The term Native Americans refers specifically to the descendants of people living in what is now the contiguous United States prior to the mass arrival of settlers from other continents. . Other terms to refer to Native Americans include American Indian, Indian, Amerindian, Native, and Indigenous (Garroutte, 2003).

Throughout the course of these historical events, Native Americans in different parts of the country continued Giving Thanks at various times throughout the year as a part of their ceremonial traditions, many of which have survived and continue to flourish. Sports and Games Competition has always been very important and even sacred to the Native American tribes, and is a pa of their traditional way of life. Sport and games had many purposes in early, traditional Native life, including serving as a form of ceremony, settling disputes, teaching the skills necessary for survival, and symbolizing processes and cycles that occur in nature. Music, Dance, and Ceremony Music for Native Americans starts with the drum, either hand-held or large powwow drums (one large drum beat by several drummers simultaneously). Drumming is considered the heartbeat of Mother Earth Vocal sounds are combined with chants and the rattle and drums to form the basis of Native American music. Rocks in baskets, seeds in gourds, whistles, and reed flutes can also be used. The songs were usual in the tribal languages, with syllables used in harmonic rhythm, such as the Cherokee Corn Dance Song "Ho we ye lo ye, Ye go wa ,lu ye, Ho we lo ye." The sounds mimic planting work in the corn fields, much the sounds of work are used in other cultural songs. Steady beats are common in the music, with a lead singer starting the song and others following with voice and instruments. Dances were usually in circle patterns with lead male and female dancers. The dances were most often introduced with stories of animals in nature, children playing, putting children to sleep, playing games, sharing stories of memorable events. With traditional songs and modern instrumentation, such as a variety of flutes and amplification, there renewal of interest among young people that has brought these wonderful old sounds too many other listeners to enjoy (Tharp, 2006). In many places, annual powwow gatherings are open to the public, who can come and watch these traditional, celebratory, and sacred dances. There were even competitions among dance group that are judged by tribal leaders. Traditional ceremonies have also been revived by many tribes. Among those were the Green Corn and Egad dances, the Sun Dance, the Spirit Dance, and many other ...