Personal Summary Of The Article 'Revitalizing Native American Cultures'

Keeping the culture alive
Morals and values are passed down and taught to one through traditions, customs, and beliefs. However as these traditions, customs, and beliefs are passed down they are altered through each generation. Native americans and other cultures lose a bit of themselves every year through the influence of western culture. Western culture not only influences traditions and customs but also devalues the importance of the cultures. Through the ignorance of today’s American society that we live in, the respect held for Native Americans and other cultures are fading day-by-day disrespecting them through selfish benefits. However, disregarding the loss of culture through the western culture, Native Americans put the effort to preserve
I recognized that if I cannot converse with another Indian, how am I suppose to be close to them in general if western culture is so influential. Culture defines one’s identity, because it is the only way one can connect with another by sharing the same language, stories, traditions, songs, beliefs and most importantly morals. In the PBS article, “Revitalizing Native American Cultures” it states, “Language is really a key to the soul of the culture." I was never taught Hindi properly because I have always lived in the United States; I have always spoken broken Hindi blended with English unlike my parents who were taught the knowledge to speak Hindi fluently because they were taught by parents as they grew up in India. In We Are Still Here by Leigh Podgorski, Katherine states, “When you know your language, you know who you are. But now, today many of my people are in great danger of forgetting who they are.” Because I do not know my language properly, I feel like I am out of place when I go to places where my Indian culture is highly present. I feel as if I do not know who I am. For instance in
Riley called, “Sucking the Quileute Dry” discusses about the disrespect and insensitivity the Native American tribe called Quileute had to endure as they encountered MSN.com and Nordstroms use their tribe name and land for commercial benefits. MSN.com disrespected the culture of the Quileute tribe by making and publishing a virtual tour video of “Twilight”, and Nordstroms designed and sold items such as hoodies, and accessories that were related and named after the Quileute tribe. MSN.com trespassed onto the reservation cemetery of the Quileute’s that is considered sacred for a virtual tour video of “Twilight”. Instead of asking the Quileute tribe for permission to enter the sacred grounds, MSN.com asked the Chamber of Commerce for permission to able to go on the grounds of the Quileute’s. By doing so, it displays the respect MSN.com held for the Native American tribe, none. As MSN.com videotaped graves of past chiefs that were displayed on the sacred grounds, presenting the images in the video with chilling music in the background not only shows the ignorance of the American culture in today’s society, but also the disrespect towards the Native American culture. As soon as the Quileute tribe discovered this video, they persuaded MSN.com to remove the video off of the Internet. Later on, MSN.com realized that trespassing the great sacred parts of the reservations was wrong because it holds such great significance to the tribe; causing them