Learning About a Culture Different
from Our Own
Purpose
We choose to be culturally literate.
We want to be multicultural people.
We want our students to be multicultural
people.
We are articulate about who we are
Seven Characteristics of Culture
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History
Seven Characteristics of Culture
Ways of Knowing
Seven Characteristics of Culture
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Traditions, customs, spirituality
Seven Characteristics of Culture
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Relationship to U.S. dominant culture
Seven Characteristics of Culture
Unique skills and
behavior
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Seven Characteristics of Culture
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Cognitive style
Seven Characteristics of Culture
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Language and Communication
Cherokee: One (Un) Sagwu Two (Deux) Ta'li Three (Trois)
Tso'i Four (Quatre) Nvgi Five (Cinq) Hisgi Man
(Homme) Asgaya Woman (Femme) Agehya Dog
(Chien) Gihli Sun (Soleil) Nvda Moon (Lune) Nvda
Water (Eau) Ama
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70+ other Native American languages!
Identity Issues for the American Indian
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Changing identification to some other racial category
Being generically “Indian” discounts a specific culture
Individualism and capitalism are alienating to
traditional cultural values and ways
Alcoholism, suicide, and homicide are leading causes of
death
Static and museum nature for “people of the past”
Invisible contemporary images
20-30 Minute Quick Write

Describe your cultural self. Who are you?
What are your characteristics of culture? Refer
back to seven characteristics of culture.