Native Americans and Deaf, an analogy
A parallel of socio-cultural beliefs from Pre-Europeans Indians (the Indigenous peoples of the Americas) and Deaf people.
Native Americans recognize themselves as “the People.”
Deaf people take pride in their own collective identity and self-regulation as Deaf people.
Native Americans adapt to a worldview perspective of themselves and their surroundings through observation and experience.
Deaf people adapt to similar worldview - basing their judgments on what they have seen and experienced.
Native Americans tribes do not have written history so they tend to teach the next generation through storytelling of their customs and traditions.
Customs and traditions are passed down to the next generation through storytelling. As of late they are writing ASL through books, blogs, vlogs, and films.
Native Americans believe in the “Sacred Hoop”, a circular pendent with 4 leaves representing North, South, East, and West, which means that all life happens with the circle and outside the circle and everything is interconnected and balanced.
Deaf people’s “sacred hoop” is ASL Deaf culture involving sign language, communities, schools, and history.
The five senses represent, Sight, Sound, Taste, Touching, and Smell. The extra sixth sense is Imagination.
Deaf people rely on most senses. Sound may either be in absence or amplified. ASL produces an avenue of wonderful imagination.
Native Americans sign in Indian Sign Language (ISL) when greeting another tribe that differs than their native dialect.
Deaf people either sign in ASL or use gestures when meeting other deaf people. Almost everyone can communicate with each other at the Deaf Olympics.
Native Americans do not worship many Gods connected with nature as Europeans assume they do. They believe everything has a spirit and is interconnected with each other to keep balance.
Deaf culture is a melting pot of diverse deaf beings and is evolving still.
Native Americans’ belief system is evolutionary developed through trial and error.
Deaf people’s belief system is the same - promoting what is right and what is wrong over time.
Native Americans believe in ritual, ceremony, and continuity. They enforce it through storytelling so the passed down laws are more powerful than written laws. They know there are things to do and things not to do and will suffer consequences if not follow.
Deaf people carry some of the same traditions above. Storytelling are passed on to inform others of shared experiences. Deaf people conform to passed down stories rather than written laws because Deaf people already know the consequences.
One flaw of Sacred Hoop is that once it is penetrated or broken, it cannot be put back together.
Today, Native Americans are scattered across the land. Some lead lives in society and some remain on reservations. Some tribes involves themselves into state mandated gambling and other tribes prefer to advocate. Native Americans continue to be the highest risk group for alcoholism.
Today, Deaf culture is somewhat fractured, but is still picking up the pieces. Deaf people still struggle with discrimination, prejudice, and stigma. C.I. philosophy has come into question. Deaf Bilingual Coalition is formed.
ASL continues to soar like an eagle.
And so does the lessons and spirit of The People.
(Inspired from recently finding my American History notes from my UG days. The professor is an American Indian.)
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9 comments:
Like I say Hearing are like KKK damage to any of people's true image!
great analogy!
This was very well done. Kudos! I have a special affinity for Native American Culture. My father, though blonde and blue eyed, considered himself Native American a heart. I was raised with many Native American cultural beliefs as a result. It was quite a mix with my mom's Catholicism. Ha. Maybe I'll share some photos of my dad's Native American crafts. He's passed away, but his spirit is still in those objects. Good vlog, Mike.
~ LaRonda
Thank you for the comments. This is my rare blog - it's something I did for fun. Interesting upbringing, Laronda.
Great Blog-- I loved the analogies between Deaf culture and Native American.
I am part Chippewa and Huron(Wendat) from my dad's side. You wouldn't know this from looking at me, but the N.A is obvious in one of my sons. Anyway-- it's interesting. My dad passed on a love of nature to me. We camped and hiked all through my childhood and he could name almost every plant, bird, creature and he knew hundreds of facts about all of it.
He passed all of this on to me, as well as a disdain for racists and racial prejudices-- due to the fact that my family/ancestors were victimized since they were Indians.
Anyway-- I learned a love for the beauty of nature and also for quiet. My N.A. roots have helped my adjustment to deafness.
There is so much more I'd like to write about this. you've inspired me.
yes native americans and deaf have many similiaries in many ways. ISL and ASL are not the same as some lead to believe. native americans seem more toleratable toward us deaf. i never have bad vibes from them unlike some white hearies.
Kim, thanks for sharing your interesting upbringing. U seem very connected to mother earth. I appreciate this ongoing mention of fathers as role models. I wish I had more of that opportunity to connect with nature considering I live in the suburbs. Spring is coming and it's time to get out!
I omitted one fact that Europeans calls the Native Americans, "savages." Just like culturally Deaf people have to contend with labels of "deaf and dumb", "hearing-impaired", "militant", or "terrorist." Culturally Deaf know their identity and the consequences for being Deaf. It is OK to be Deaf and signing. We do not agree there is a better way beyond that.
Very nice analogy.
To drmzz,
The word, "savage" must be understood in a historical/descriptive context, not as a negative, stereotyping term. When the Europeans, chiefly the Spanish explorers, encountered the natives in the New World, they considered them as "uncivilized" and "primitive" due to the vast difference of standards between a more advanced European civilization and a smaller, concentrated society or a tribal nation in the New World. In the eyes of the European explorers (and consequentially, the later writers who documented various accounts of the explorers for historic/academic or religious purposes), an indigenous society of the New World is viewed as primitive by European standards. The Europeans were not used to seeing natives doing things that would be too uncivilized or inappropriate in any European society.
Remember the old TV series, "The Odd Couple"? Two men of contrasting lifestyles and standards. If you like having a sophisticated, clean, well-to-do and civilized lifestyle, would you room with someone who like to do things so unsophisticated, so messy and uncivilized, as to which might make you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed to be with? Pretty much the same thing with the Europeans and the natives.
Anon, it seems that they see the skills you have is more important than your level of hearing loss.
Under the hill, you are correct in explaining the historical premise behind such a label for the Native people. Two wholly different cultures had clashed. Who are they (Spanish) to decide anyway? It’s pure arrogance. Humanity redesigned the New World based on false ideologies. Just like there is a population today that thinks deaf people cannot be "functional" unless they receive a cochlear implant. I like your “Odd Couple” analogy, however, it taught us that there could be friendship and love despite such polarization of being. :)
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