The Old Ways
Some people don't realize just how much the Native Way's have been changed over the years. Changes to the traditional ways have been changed for different reasons, one being that this is the twenty century and with all the changes the world has undergone over the years, unfortunately the way's of the Natives had to change with the times. Some of these changes in my opinion are acceptable, while others are not. But "people" have changed. They have become much more "worldly" and use to the "worldly things in life". Here I'm going to attempt to explain some of the things that have changed, that in my opinion should have been left alone and left traditional as they were suppose to be. I realize that not every one (even some Native American's) will agree with me, but at the same time thee are a lot of Native American's who do, but as I said this is just my own opinion. I do realize that now people have to work (on a time clock) which didn't exit back then, unfortunately, we live in a world that require money. Although I wish t were different, unfortunately it's not. But some of the old ways have been changed simply because" some people would not have liked the way things were done". This is where I have a problem. Here I'm going to try to explain some of the "Old Ways" that COULD have and SHOULD have been left as they were. Things that didn't change because of peoples daily schedules, but because they simply didn't like the way the were to be done.
A lot of this has a lot to do with" women's lib" and being equal . I am a woman myself, and I still believe that things should have been left alone, but there are those who don't agree as I have already stated.
The first thing that has changed that I would like to address is "The women's job". Here is where I'm sure to upset some people, but if you truly walk the Native Path, this is how it was done and how it is suppose to be done!
Women worked VERY hard and never complained about it. They were responsible for preparing the animals that the men had hunted and killed for food, taking the hides and cleaning them to make their family's clothing. Every part of the animal was used for something, wasting nothing! And the women did it all. they taught their children, took care of their children. Worked the fields for harvest, all the way form preparing the fields to gathering the crops. They cooked, cleaned, waited on their husbands and children's every need . When it was time to move camp, they took down and put back up their shelter(tipi's,log houses,etc.) made sure everything was packed and unpacked.
Not only did they do their own they would also help others. EVERYTHING done was for" The People". The widowed ,the elderly and the orphaned children were taken care of first. Their lodges were put up first, they were given food first. It was the ways of the people to care for these in this manner without any complaint.
