Dominant Society Values |
Native-American Traditional Values |
| Self is the priority (Take care of #1) |
Tribe and extended family first, before self |
| Prepare for tomorrow |
Today (is a good day) |
| Time (linear; use every minute) |
Time - a right time/a right place/non-linear |
| Youth (value rich, young, beautiful) |
Age (knowledge, wisdom) |
| Compete to "get ahead" |
Cooperate |
| Be aggressive |
Be patient |
| Speak up |
Listen (and you'll learn) |
| Take and save |
Give and share |
| Conquer nature |
Live in harmony (with all things) |
| Skepticism and logical thinking are valued |
Great mystery - the intuitive honored |
| Self is more important than group |
Humility |
| Religion is a part of life |
A spiritual life (religion not "separate") |
| Be a critical thinker |
Don't criticize your people |
| Live with your mind |
Live with your hands - manual activity is sacred |
| Orient yourself to a house and job |
Orient yourself to the land |
| You're in America: speak English! |
Cherish your own language and speak it when possible |
| Discipline your own children |
Children are a gift of the Great Spirit to be shared with others |
| Have a rule for every contingency |
Few rules are best, loosely written and flexible |
| Have instruments judge for you |
Judge things for yourself |
