Contact us at: whispernthunder1@gmail.comWINDS Scholar Narrative 2025
Native Culture
~ Sydnie Navaho, 2025 WINDS Scholar
Native culture brings out a part of the world's
humanity that has been lost. We as Native
Americans have a deep connection to the earth
and especially with all that’s happening in the
world right now there’s lots that can be taught
to those who want it. The gift of knowledge is what I think we can give those. We know the land and we know how everything has a purpose no matter how small it is. The amount of Fires, Rise in Heat and many other factors there’s something wrong and it’s due to the amount of Greenhouse Gases that are being emitted into the air cause for wildlife and plant life to perish at an astonishing rate. Natives also bring spiritual and holistic knowledge with traditional medicines or ceremonies. There’s lessons that are taught through ceremonies or songs. For example, one story that sticks with me is the Navajo Shoe Game story. The story is told in the winter but it brought up the concept of cheating and how it’s not good to cheat and you will never get your way taking the easy way out. The lessons that are taught aren’t to make you feel bad, rather just to guide you through life there’s consequences of your actions and later in your life it will start to show whether that is physical or mentally.
The concept of gift giving as well many people especially now are very greedy if we get a gift we’re expected in return to get something as well. We’re taught to be appreciative and not expect to get anything. Being greedy isn’t gonna help you either later in life, it'll only make you more prone to negative outcomes.
In the end we as people are very essential to everyday life and have a gift to bring to this world with not only ecological knowledge but lessons that life has to offer. Natives were put on this earth for a reason by a higher being and we aren’t going anywhere.