Indian U.S. American
Identity Search
I struggle with my cultural identity. I do not know most of my family background, and the people I do have do not know much about our background either. I associate myself with my grandparents Cherokee and Choctaw Indian but also with the American culture I was raised in. I was raised in the American culture of today’s advantages. Having family spread across the country and not meeting most of them. Not sitting down and eating as a family at meal times or spending quality time together.
To this day in my mid 20’s I am still searching and asking questions about my family history. By looking into having genealogy testing done and being willing to have someone look into my family history I feel is going to be able to answer many questions I have has since I was young.
I struggle with my cultural identity. I do not know most of my family background, and the people I do have do not know much about our background either. I associate myself with my grandparents Cherokee and Choctaw Indian but also with the American culture I was raised in. I was raised in the American culture of today’s advantages. Having family spread across the country and not meeting most of them. Not sitting down and eating as a family at meal times or spending quality time together.
To this day in my mid 20’s I am still searching and asking questions about my family history. By looking into having genealogy testing done and being willing to have someone look into my family history I feel is going to be able to answer many questions I have has since I was young.
Belief
I believe in ACCOUNTABILITY. What we do is based on how we do it. As human being we are judged on everything we say and do. Everyone is responsible for their selves in the adult world. As children our parents are held accountable for our actions to a point and certain age. It is our elder’s job to teach each new generation to be accountable for their selves. It is also the duty of older siblings to teach and set a positive example for the younger siblings. Without accountability each generation would wither away. No one would be willing to lead, so accountability is a crucial belief to me and my family.
Accountability helps me communicate by accepting my responsibilities and do my part in my culture.
PERSEVERANCE is really important in my culture. When you fail try try again. To persevere means to never give up. No matter how hard things get, no matter how many obstacles are thrown in front of you if you keep trying and keep going you can accomplish anything. In my culture we never give up no matter how many odds are against us. I never allow anything to make me quit. My culture thrives on perseverance.
Perseverance helps me communicate pushing myself to learn how to effectively accomplish what I need. If it is a language barrier than ill learn that language, if it’s a physical matter it will help me by allowing tome overcome the issue.
I believe in ACCOUNTABILITY. What we do is based on how we do it. As human being we are judged on everything we say and do. Everyone is responsible for their selves in the adult world. As children our parents are held accountable for our actions to a point and certain age. It is our elder’s job to teach each new generation to be accountable for their selves. It is also the duty of older siblings to teach and set a positive example for the younger siblings. Without accountability each generation would wither away. No one would be willing to lead, so accountability is a crucial belief to me and my family.
Accountability helps me communicate by accepting my responsibilities and do my part in my culture.
PERSEVERANCE is really important in my culture. When you fail try try again. To persevere means to never give up. No matter how hard things get, no matter how many obstacles are thrown in front of you if you keep trying and keep going you can accomplish anything. In my culture we never give up no matter how many odds are against us. I never allow anything to make me quit. My culture thrives on perseverance.
Perseverance helps me communicate pushing myself to learn how to effectively accomplish what I need. If it is a language barrier than ill learn that language, if it’s a physical matter it will help me by allowing tome overcome the issue.
Values
A really big value of mine is RESPECT. If you respect yourself and others you can make it very far in the world. With respect you can accomplish many obstacles in life. When using manners while talking or doing something is a really good way to show respect. When talking to another person you show them respect by keeping eye contact and doing small gestures to assure them you are paying attention. When asked to do something by and elder you do it. Children ask permission for things. With respect you create boundaries and lines for others to follow.
My culture values EQUALITY. In my culture I am lucky enough to be in men and women are equally treated. In many other cultures someone like me a women would have less respect and right than men. I am allowed to do anything a man can do. I can where what I want, I do not need to cover all the areas of my body unless I want to. I can go out in public anytime and anywhere I want to. I can say what I want and what I feel. This helps me communicate because if I have something to say I can say it. If I want to voice an opinion I am allowed to and my opinion is considered and herd.
A really big value of mine is RESPECT. If you respect yourself and others you can make it very far in the world. With respect you can accomplish many obstacles in life. When using manners while talking or doing something is a really good way to show respect. When talking to another person you show them respect by keeping eye contact and doing small gestures to assure them you are paying attention. When asked to do something by and elder you do it. Children ask permission for things. With respect you create boundaries and lines for others to follow.
My culture values EQUALITY. In my culture I am lucky enough to be in men and women are equally treated. In many other cultures someone like me a women would have less respect and right than men. I am allowed to do anything a man can do. I can where what I want, I do not need to cover all the areas of my body unless I want to. I can go out in public anytime and anywhere I want to. I can say what I want and what I feel. This helps me communicate because if I have something to say I can say it. If I want to voice an opinion I am allowed to and my opinion is considered and herd.
Norms
Civility is a big thing. I feel it goes along with my belief in respect. Civility means to be polite and well mannered even in difficult positions. In the American culture and many other cultures as well there are large family and friend gatherings; wither it be social or religious event. With large crowds of family and friends not everyone agrees upon the same things all the time. That’s when the respect for civility comes in. To be able to except someone else’s point of view even if you do not agree with it, that is showing civility. Civility is important in my culture because being polite is the main social norm that gets the wrong attention when breached.
Personal space is very important in my culture. Staying in our own “bubble” allows us to effectively communicate. With the exception of an occasional hug we mainly greet with eye contact and shaking of hands. This allows us to connect with the other person on a slight physical level without feeling too invaded. To maintain good eye contact with someone you should have a good distance between you and the other person, but not so much that you may make the other person feel as if you are un interested in what they are saying or not paying attention.
Civility is a big thing. I feel it goes along with my belief in respect. Civility means to be polite and well mannered even in difficult positions. In the American culture and many other cultures as well there are large family and friend gatherings; wither it be social or religious event. With large crowds of family and friends not everyone agrees upon the same things all the time. That’s when the respect for civility comes in. To be able to except someone else’s point of view even if you do not agree with it, that is showing civility. Civility is important in my culture because being polite is the main social norm that gets the wrong attention when breached.
Personal space is very important in my culture. Staying in our own “bubble” allows us to effectively communicate. With the exception of an occasional hug we mainly greet with eye contact and shaking of hands. This allows us to connect with the other person on a slight physical level without feeling too invaded. To maintain good eye contact with someone you should have a good distance between you and the other person, but not so much that you may make the other person feel as if you are un interested in what they are saying or not paying attention.