What Do Native Cultures Have in Common?: Ep 6 of Crash Course Native American History

Key Concepts:

• Native American humor as "good medicine"
• Reciprocity and interdependence in Native worldview
• The story of Peacemaker and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy
• "All my relations" (Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ) and interconnectedness
• The honorable harvest
• Potlatch as a system of wealth redistribution
• Kinship and family ties in tribal structure

I. The Role of Humor in Native American Culture

• Humor as a Coping Mechanism: Native Americans have used humor for generations to cope with difficult situations, including colonization and persecution.
• Humor as "Good Medicine": Laughter is considered beneficial for the mind, body, and spirit.
• Types of Humor: Native humor is often dark, satirical, cheeky, and provocative.
• Examples:
  • Vine Deloria Jr.'s quote: "One of the best ways to understand a people is to know what makes them laugh… Laughter encompasses the limits of the soul.”
  • Tiffany Midge's book, "Bury My Heart at Chuck E. Cheese’s," stemming from a humorous conversation with her dying mother.
• Sacred Clowns (Koshares): The Pueblo people use Koshares in ceremonies to teach the community about negative behaviors through comedic acts. Koshares are believed to have natural powers, such as the ability to bring rain.
• Misinterpretation by Colonizers: Early Christian missionaries and anthropologists often failed to understand Native humor, especially when it satirized them.
• Modern Representation: Shows like "Reservation Dogs" and "Rutherford Falls," created by or with the help of Indigenous creators, accurately represent Native comedic traditions.
• Humor as Reclamation of Power: Dallas Goldtooth of the 1491s believes humor can reclaim power from oppressors by fueling action.

II. Reciprocity and Interdependence

• Definition: Reciprocity is the interdependence between people and all living and nonliving things, expressed as "I take care of you, and you take care of me."
• Diplomacy: Games like chunkey may have been used to establish diplomatic relationships between tribes.
• The Story of Peacemaker:
  • Five warring nations were united by Peacemaker and Hayo’wetha, who demonstrated the strength of unity by tying five arrows together.
  • Tadadaho, initially resistant, joined them under the Great Law of Peace.
  • The five nations formed the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy): Mohawk, Seneca, Oneida, Onondaga, and Cayuga, later joined by the Tuscarora.
  • The Haudenosaunee planted a Tree of Peace, burying their weapons beneath it.
• "All My Relations" (Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ): This Lakota phrase emphasizes that everything is part of the same great tapestry of the universe.
• Extension to Nature: Reciprocity extends to plants, animals, and natural elements.
• Practices:
  • Saying a prayer after a hunt.
  • Returning an animal's bones to the land.
  • Avoiding harmful practices like fracking.

III. Honorable Harvest and Potlatch

• Honorable Harvest:
  • A method of harvesting plants respectfully for medicinal, cultural, and food purposes.
  • Involves asking for permission before harvesting, taking only what is necessary, and leaving plenty behind.
  • Practices include saying a prayer or giving an offering after harvesting.
• Potlatch:
  • Originates from a chinuk wawa term meaning "to gift or give."
  • A gathering rooted in honoring relationships with humans and the earth through reciprocity.
  • An economic and legal system that redistributes material and intangible wealth to honor debts.
  • Maintains a system of existence based on honoring the whole above the self.

IV. Kinship and Tribal Structure

• Kinship: Family ties that structure many tribes.
• Cheyenne Example: The Cheyenne have a strict kinship structure where in-laws are expected to tease and joke with each other to maintain harmony.
• Influence on Tribal Health: The health and balance of the family unit directly influence the health and balance of the tribal band and the Cheyenne nation as a whole.

V. Conclusion

Native American worldviews, shaped by thousands of years of history and tradition, emphasize humor, reciprocity, and community. These values, expressed through games, ceremonies, and kinship systems, have built the foundation for tribal strength and perseverance. The ability to laugh, share, and respect all relations has allowed Native communities to endure and thrive despite historical challenges.