Navajo and American Culture Comparison

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Comparison between Navajo and American Culture
Conclusion
References List

Introduction

Every tribe under the universe is defined by the uniqueness of its culture. The changing times and lifestyles have however impacted negatively on the lives of many people making them drop some of their more conservative cultures. This has also been occasioned by globalization that has changed the way people go about their everyday business. Communities that are slow to adopt the changing lifestyle soon find themselves left behind in development matters. Many tribes are therefore dropping their old ways in favor of emerging cultures just to remain relevant in the society. Some tribes have however remained steadfast in their culture and any attempts to make them drop it has fallen into deaf ears. One such tribe is the Navajo. (Eck, 1998)

Comparison between Navajo and American Culture

The Navajo is an Indian American tribe living in America. This tribe is among one of the biggest tribes in America. The tribe had a population of about 270,000 people by the turn of the 21st century. Though living among the Americans, the Navajo has stuck to its traditional way of life making it one of the most unique tribes in America. One unique aspect of the Navajo culture is their way of life. Though America has one of the most fashionable homes ever built, the Navajos live in their traditional houses which are usually referred to as hogans. (Eck, 1998)

These houses are usually six-sided and built using locally available raw materials such as mud, stones, and poles. In most cases, these building structures have no electricity nor tapped water. This is unlike the palatial homes present in the American culture. Electricity and water are some of the key factors in any American homestead and lack of it brings life to a close standstill. (Immihelp.com, 1999)

Another notable aspect of the Navajo is their administration. Up to date, the Navajo is ruled by Tribal Council that has a leader elected by the tribesmen. This leader is highly valued by the whole community and together with the Tribal Council makes important laws governing the land. This is unlike the American culture that has a federal government with an autonomous justice system. (Immihelp.com, 1999)

Another major difference between the Navajo and the American culture is the religious aspect. The Navajo believe in the mountainous gods whom they pray to. During prayer time, the Navajos face the mountains where they perceive their god resides. The American culture on the other hand has well-defined houses of prayer at strategic points in the country. The Americans also believe in a God who stays in the heavens and who is the overall creator of the universe. (Eck, 1998)

The family administration is another different area that the Navajo and American cultures differ in. The Navajo believe that men and women are equal and that they need each other to survive. To them, both the man and woman are needed to bring up offspring’s and therefore they are both needed by society. This is unlike the American culture where women are usually negated to supporting roles in society. The American woman is not valued by his male counterpart making her less important in society. This phenomenon is unheard of in the Navajo tribe. Children among the Navajo belong to the clan. This means that the clan is responsible for their upbringing making them responsible citizens. This is unlike the American culture where children are strictly responsible to their parents only. (Immihelp.com, 1999)

Conclusion

Looking at the culture among the Navajo one would see the importance of maintaining one’s culture. The American culture has changed with the coming of globalization. The Navajo tribe insists that children belong to the whole clan. This makes the children responsible since they know their life is being watched by the whole clan. This is unlike children in the American culture who are only responsible to their parents. Since divorce has become a common occurrence in America today, many children have been left struggling to find their identity in a fast-moving society.

References List

Eck, P. (1998). NAVAJO INDIANS. Web.

Immihelp.com. (1999). American lifestyle. Web.

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Navajo and American Culture Comparison

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