Comments on: Working with cultural differences

By: mike

mike — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 18:36:35 +0000

It is interesting to me the difference between teaching by a direct as aopposed to an indirect approach. For example, in my work with Indigenous Youth, I use a story , fable, or legend to illustrate the reasons for the rules of the house that are in place concerning everyone’s wellbeing. Other staff use a more direct tact which I notice most youth react to negatively. The home is in Sto:lo territory and some of the staff are “Spirit” Dancers. I find that some of the “scolding” that i have also seen used in Smokehouses seems to be a residule of Residential School experiences passed down to new dancers. I think it is fine to be firm and direct and imparative that this is carried out with kindness and explanation. Simply saying, “We dont do that here!” gives no life to learning and to me is abuse which is not an Ideal I can find rooted in any Culture. To me correction should come first as a lesson then if the student performs an act that s/he knows better not to do, then sterness is most appropiate. so it is also with the spirit that corrects one through folly when one knowingly goes against the best interests of the people.

Mitakue Oyasin

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 19:56:07 +0000

thanks for these subtle insights and guidance.

By: Chris Corrigan

Chris Corrigan — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:10:01 +0000

Thanks Dustin…always great to get the deep context from you. The idea of witnessing is really interesting, and when I’ve worked with Lyla Brown in the past we actually made that a formal part o fthe work.

By: Dustin Rivers

Dustin Rivers — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:52:20 +0000

You know that I know what your talking about. At the same time, it’s things like these that will be lost for some native communities too with current assimilation. My Coast Salish community has lost a lot of these nuances of community life. So when it comes down to it, the elders can’t teach what they don’t know. Then what used to be normalcy or a custom within culture is over-rided by a new culture of Euro-Canadian nuances.

The only thing I know of, which is more formal, but probably would blend in like how it is with the Kwakwakwa’wakw (the community you referenced in your post) is that when asked to “ut’sam” or “witness”, you also speak on only what you are asked to speak on. It’s not the time to grandstand or limelight around, but offer wisdom, teachings, and insight for the family as a recorder of the events taking place. If someone was out of line, the family could walk up and give your your “quarters” in the middle of your speech, saying “You are speaking out of line, and thank you that is enough”.

Even the overused and misunderstood term of “huy chexw a” is similar. In modern context, it’s been used as a phrase for the modern term of “Thank You”. In a sense it means thank you, but there’s a very specific usage and context. When the family member is pouring the soup into your at a potlatch or feast, you could say “huy chexw”, meaning “Thank you that’s enough now”, because the term is more of a command then a term of gratitude or endearment. Interesting eh?

I would have to conclude by saying the nuances of Coast Salish culture, akin to what your speaking about here, is that the apart of respect is doing what is asked of you, and no more.