Native American Experiences

Words: 857
Pages: 4
Open Document
Volunteering at Native American Connections was a unique and unforgettable experience. I expected the children that I worked with to be educated, respectful, and likeable. These children absolutely exceeded these expectations which made me very proud of them. I chose this place because I felt like I could help and connect with Native American youth at a grass-roots level. The special, cultural connection I had shared with them surprisingly made processes and understandings easier when I needed to help them. By being Native American and working with kids who have lived a similar life as I have, I just felt more involved and also had a chance to connect with some of them on a personal and cultural level, as well.

My time this semester was spent …show more content…
A typical day would consist of helping setup the learning room, cleaning, tutoring, feeding the children and help closing up. Two of the workers were current students at college and volunteered for the Peace Corps. I could tell most of these workers were familiar with Native Americans and their culture by the way they talked and interacted with the kids. One experience that is distinct among my other experiences there, was a conversation with a child. He noticed I was Native American and asked about me. I found out he was Navajo and Hopi from the northern tribes in Arizona. He also mentioned that he was briefly homeless while living in northern Arizona. He said he moved into the provided housing by Native American Connections about a year ago. He spoke very little of why he was homeless but I remember I could feel and see his pain in his voice and face. This experience made me realize how important kids lives and futures are in these situations. It also made me understand that this serious issue of homelessness is not only present within local Native American communities but is a reoccurring issue within all Native American communities. This experience also inspired me to appreciate all resources provided to me and remember all the unfortunate that are currently struggling. Comparing the first day to the last, I was satisfied with my volunteer time and learned valuable experiences that I will always remember. I think the only negative experience that I encountered would be the timing and having room left in the day for homework and sports. By sharing the same struggles and culture, I feel even more connected with other Native Americans after this experience. I do not regret anything about this experience and would do it full time if I could. Witnessing struggles my fellow Native American youth encounter daily makes me feel awful inside but at the same time inspires me to go to extra
Show More

Related Documents: Native American Experiences

Native American Museum Experience

I have visited the National Museum Of The American Indian therefore, visiting the Charles N. Gorman museum wasn’t my first experience in American Indian culture. However, the Gorman was much smaller but it presented Native American artwork in variety of styles. There were paintings, photographs, pottery, textiles and so on. There are many forms of expression when it comes to the Native American culture which seems to be a main connection between the two online museums that I’ve found. The first…

Words 504 - Pages 3

The Native American Experience Analysis

The Native American Experience In this paragraph the reader learns about The Native American society that consisted of at least 60 million people who inhabited the Americas and 7 million that inhabited Mesoamerica. Although, Native American societies share some similarities their differences are displayed in some sort of hierarchy system. On one end you have the successful and powerful empires that ruled over millions of people and on another end you have the hunter gatherer clans who come together…

Words 1308 - Pages 6

The Totem Pole: My Native American Experience

The totem pole means a lot to me. It describe my life in a profound way . The Native American would use the totem pole to describe them and their life. The animals and colors will give you enough information what I have been through. It will also tell you how I overcome all those obstacles. A cougar describe me the most. It says that you are a leader. I always do the right thing and never the wrong. I try to motivate others to do better. The Beaver symbolize protector. I have a twin brother…

Words 444 - Pages 2

Pan-Native American Religion

foundation of what people consider a central “American religious experience” in the United States. However, as America is composed of dozens of cultural communities, it has become apparent that different communities relate to the unseen…

Words 1252 - Pages 6

Native American Paper

Recently, sociologists have taken a greater interest in Native Americans, perhaps because Native Americans have become increasingly visible in the diverse ethnic mosaic of American society. The position of Native Americans in the U.S. socioeconomic hierarchy: their numbers, where they live, and their social and economic well-being. The collapse and revitalization of the Native American population has been a central issue within Native American demography. The recent growth in the population has been…

Words 583 - Pages 3

Dust Bowl Migration

Steinbeck criticizes the socio-economic dynamic of the American Dream. Despite his progressive social commentary, Steinbeck leaves out African-Americans, despite the role they played along Route 66. In his critique on Grapes of Wrath, Grant Matthew Jenkins concludes that Steinbeck must have felt overwhelmed by the role of Black Americans and decided to refrain from including them in his narrative. Steinbeck also chooses to ignore Native American history in Oklahoma, signifying his purposeful exclusion…

Words 1054 - Pages 5

Captivity Narrative: The Scrooby Separatist

1608. They are significant to the American experience because they are the precursor to the Pilgrims, who would also eventually emigrate out of England and to the new world. Oliver Cromwell: Oliver Cromwell was an English officer and proclaimed and convince Puritan. He served in England as a paramilitary leader in the English civil war. Once the civil war ended, he became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth in 1653. He is significant to the American Experience because being a massive Puritan leader…

Words 1727 - Pages 7

Native American Storytelling Lit Paper

Native American Storytelling November 12, 2012 ENG/301 Native American Storytelling Native American literature is the root of cultural storytelling, which is told through oral tradition, this consist of stories and songs verbally. Native American literature use literary conventions in the root of myth and symbolic examples in storytelling. The book “Native American Literature: A Brief Introduction and Anthology” gives good insight into the Native American ways of life and how storytelling is…

Words 1219 - Pages 5

Native American Genocide Research Paper

describes the Native American Genocide as a ''systematic dehumanization of Native Americans and the destruction of Native American cultural identity'' (Keefe 1). United States Army officer Nelson A. Miles had gathered his own experiences from the American Indian wars to convey an outcome and a takeaway for future generations. He claims that ''If we consider the cause of this feeling we might more readily understand the result. ''(Miles 20). This means that one of the ways to help Native Americans gain vitality…

Words 1801 - Pages 8

Generational Trauma Research Paper

within Native American Families. Khalan Smart Black Hills State University PSYCH 202: Psychology Major Dr. Cheryl Anagnopoulos April 26, 2024 Abstract: What is Generational Trauma and How it Affects Native American Families? Generational trauma is the events passed down within a family, whether its repeated behaviors or actions. This trauma can be within behaviors, relationship consequences, environmental influences, and cultural associations (Colls 2022). Within Native Americans, generational…

Words 1829 - Pages 8