Cherokee_Indian_Culture_and_United_States_Culture

There are many different cultures throughout the world. The two cultures that I chose to write about are the Cherokee Indians and the United States. I chose these cultures because I have personal connections with the Cherokee Indians and the United States. I believe the Cherokee Indians have a very interesting culture. Unlike the United States, children are treated differently from the time they are born. For example male infants were wrapped in cougar skins while females were wrapped in deer or bison skins. Also the babies were bathed everyday then they were rubbed down with bear fat. For the first year of their lives, infants spent most of their time bound to cradle boards. Infants were also allowed to nurse from their mothers for as long as they chose or until the mother become pregnant again. As infants grow into childhood their roles in their culture become more important. Children contributed to the work which had to be done by their families. They were an essential part of early Cherokee life, adored by everyone. The girls remained under the tutelage of their mother and her clan sisters, but the boys were taken in hand by the oldest uncle of the clan or clan group, who maintained a general oversight of the education of all the young men. Boys of about eight were expected with the clever use of the blowgun to bring in quail and rabbit to add to the family larder. His life was competitive. There were contests of archery, running, wrestling, weight-lifting, chunky, and ball play, with his 'uncle' insisting on both strength and courage. From childhood to their teens, women learn how to cook enough so that they could survive in the wilds, to work the animal hides and leather, and to make their own clothing and shoes. They also learn the rituals of "going to the water" and how not to offend the ever-present ghost-spirits. The boys learn how to make a canoe and a make-shift raft so that they could cross a river and how to become specialist in a trade or in war. They learned how to build a house by helping build one for a girl cousin who was getting married. From young boys to men, the young men learn how to plow land and hunt animals to feed their family. The husband is just a convenience to supply meat and father the children. Other than that he has no say in what else happens in the family. However in the past Cherokee men were allowed to have more than one wife. From young girls to women, the girls learn how to farm the lands that the men had already plowed. The women had to do this because the men were usually off to war. During the winter the women made baskets, clothes and pottery. Also even though they were female, the Cherokee women always had a say in their government. The culture of the United States has a lot of comparasons and a lot of contrasts to the Cherokee Indian culture. For example infants in the United States aren’t treated differently at birth. In most cases infants are raised by both parents in the United States. They are bathed everyday but are rubbed down in baby oil or baby lotion. They are taught how to roll over, crawl, and walk in their first year of age. Infants in the United States are normally taken off breast milk after they are a year old and put on whole milk. As infants grow into toddlers they learn many different skills. They learn how to talk, learn how to play with others, read, write, as well as many other things. Toddlers are taught to look forward to attending school and continuing their education. In these short years they learn how to do more than they will in their entire lives. In many different cultures, toddlers are being taught how to help their families by working. In the United States the main thing toddlers are taught is the importance of learning. When children start into their teenage years, is when they learn the importance of having a job. Teenagers can get a job at the age of sixteen. Unlike Cherokee Indians, teenagers in the United States don’t have to worry about hunting for the food or preparing for battle. The teenage years are when most young adults begin to grow into adults. They have more duties around the house and more is expected of them in school. As teenagers grow into adults, the reality of adult hood gets more strong. They have to learn how to be independent, work and pay their own bills. They also learn the importance of having a job. Adult women look forward to getting married and having children. Adult men are kind of the same, but they also think more about their jobs. Although times have changed, some Cherokee Indians still follow the same rules of their culture. Around where I live the Cherokee Culture is very strong. Not all Cherokee Indians have their children out hunting by the age of eight, but they are taught that their culture and history are most important. The United States culture has changed heavily throughout the years, but we make changes for the better every day. I love my country and my culture and I am glad to be a part of these two great cultures. References 1. Perdue, T. (2010, April 7). Cherokee Women. In Learning LC. Retrieved from http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-twoworlds/1882 2. Henderson, C. E. S. D. (n.d.). Cherokee Customs. In Manataka American Indian Council. Retrieved from http://www.manataka.org/page1969.html