The Greatest Spirit, Part 2

Welcome back!  We are all running life's distance through... hopefully with heart!  Let's continue with a clean glimpse of the virtue of the utility, relationship and survival the North American Indian lived with through untold millennium.  Let's make this simple... 

Every thought, every action and every tool they had was utilitarian. It had a specific and tangible use. Their thoughts did, their actions did and their tools did. Ours do not. Because they (just as we) were designed as artistic beings, these artistic expressions laced themselves throughout.

Every thought and every action was connected to relationship TO others.  The life they had was supported and revolved around the support they could give others.  The support and encouragement of others was their primary thought.  In American Material Culture never chooses this "way" first.  The North American Indian held the better portion in these regards.

Lastly, the North American Indian had a constant and daily focus on living... on surviving. They accepted ardent, difficult conditions and moved forward resolute that the Great Spirit would provide and supply. Many times, modern man does not.  They, in these demands, were constantly a people of faith. It was demanded of them.  We had rather trust in materialism, industry and technology. I still think they might have had the better portion.

Good thoughts to know who They were!  Be well! 

The Greatest Spirit, Part 1

The strength of our modern environment has effected our insight.  Our perceptions naturally have conformed to the "force" of our social environment.  As it would be, in any environment a child matures in, the influence of that environment will become the reality of their own perceptions.  Whether good or bad, one will be a product of their environment. 

The social influence of our lives is happening immediately and it is usually not perceivable by us. These contrasts and influences MUST be considered when we approach the anthropology of the North American Indian. Our society has grown incredibly fast.  The United States solid social foundation of materialism, industry and technology has been our conditioning. The North American Indian's society was based solidly on utility, relationship an survival.

I must note here that this does NOT make the North American Indian a lessor people than we. Many have believed this.  The very thought of this is a product of our sociology.  The ERROR is to think of any people, "If they do not have what we have, or can do things the way we can or have the ability to manage both, then these are obviously less important people."  Tragically less valuable, less worthy or less deserving.  This mind frame is the cancer of the human race.

Our lives with the North American Indian is a huge unquestionable contrast!  If anyone is interested in understanding the great past race of the North American Indian there is a beginning. The treasure we should daily seek before all things is an ancient mind frame. More appropriately the SPIRIT they were compelled by their environment to live with and through.  It is a treasure within to see the way they saw and interpret life as they did.  To find the real appreciation in humanity requires this.  Can we?