Native Voice TV The significance of hair in Native American Culture
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 มิ.ย. 2010
- Cihuapilli Rose Amador interviews Pegge Lemke and grandson Adam Cervantes. They discuss a situation where hair was cut on the school playground. Pegge has a six year old grandson whose hair was cut on the school playground, by an older girl student. The hair wasn't cut because the boy was Native but this show brings up the subject of disrespect and the importance of hair in many cultures, specifically Native American culture.
I ASKED FOR HELP ON THIS SUBJECT...
BELOW ARE LETTERS I RECEIVED FROM TWO FRIENDS
That kid who has his hair clipped.
Hair is a sacred thing as you know Steve...contains extention of our spirit. Even when we die our hair continues to grow awhile. In Oglala culture hair is very important...more in the old days then it is nowdays, because alot of youth dont seem to recognise the importance. But Chubbs Thunderhawk (part family) told me that even when we brush our hair, any hair that is left in the brush should not be thrown away...but to mix it with sage and burn it, then offer it to the earth. That's how sacred hair is. When a person passes on, the hair is braided tight to the scalp and cut off...then kept by the family for one year (to keep the spirit near and so the spirit can adjust to the death), then after one year a ceremony (Wiping away of tears/releasing of spirit) is done, and the hair lock is burned with sage or sweetgrass and sacred song and prayers.
Hair is sacred to other people also, orthodox jews, muslims, etc. I think the youth should be taught these things so that repsect and understanding is born to them...
Steve, hi.
Insensitivity about culture is usually a callousness towards life in general. Your story reveals a target, but most insensitivity is displayed not because of a blatant disregard, but because of a blatant ignorance - an ignorance usually screaming for help. In this case the help could come in the form of explanation. The cultural, spiritual value of hair identity, not just for people but for a deeper knowledge, the power that turns the earth around sun and sun around a greater wonder still, might be expressed by mother or father or an Elder somewhere near the opening (foreshadowing) before the physical act of cutting happens.
Getting the hair back and having a ceremony because of the act is just as important. Some people burn it, others bury it, because if a bad medicine person gets it he/she can and will cause sickness or damage to the family the hair emerged from. Not long ago old people combed their hair and put any loose hairs immediately in the stove. To show the tender emotions and vivid fear hair creates is most important in this event. Seattle equated cutting hair to cutting down a entire forest.
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Steve Macias is one of the original founding members of the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps, a bass player, former jet dragster driver turned associate producer, director and editor for Native Voice TV in San Jose, California. We're trying to meet and help promote Indigenous people from the music, movie and entertainment industries as well as artists and craftsmen of Native art. We also keep the Native community up to date with local and national political issues that affect the Native community and interview guests who are active and involved with the issues of today.
A head " without hair is like a mouth with no tongue a body with no legs or legs with no feet". The hair is sacred,,, people need to stop touching it and respect it.
I have had many strangers (females) touch my hair in public and I feel its a invasion of my culture. and I have always thought of my hair as sacred even when I was made fun of by other non native children in school ! i have also had elderly men and women that are non native make comments that I should cut my hair and it offends me I glad this video was made to explain the signifigance of OUR hair!
It's so sad when I see a guy who had long hair cut it off.
Native American or not if ANYONE cut my hair or my child's they would be hurt, it's a criminal offence to cut someones hair that's assault.
I can relate with the comment below. I have long jet black wavy hair which comes down to the middle of my back. My parents especially my mum says why don't you cut your hair, what will people think, this that. Every one questions why I keep my hair long and why I dont cut it. It is infuriating. Is it so wrong for a guy to have long hair. I aint native, I'm half Arab, half Irish and I keep my hair long cos I BLOODY WELL WANT TO!
I follow Sikhism. And in my religion we also keep our hair. Its important in our spiritual lifestyle therefore we never cut it.
I'm Chippewa as well and I am very proud of my long hair, it's a part of my culture, of my life. I do get my hair cut, but it's long, long and beautiful my Grandmother says :)
My hair has always been long and thick. I remember when I was in 3rd grade this girl asked was my hair real. I told her yes it was and then she tried to cut one of my braids. I was very stunned. No has ever tried doing that to me. Thankfully I moved away from her before she chopped at it with her craft scissors lol! It made me feel upset and my mom was very angry when I told her. My hair has always been very sacred to me! I can never imagine having a haircut. I've never had one, just trims when needed. I love long hair in general but men with long hair are so hot! And I love when women have long hair too! Short hair is nice but long hair is what I prefer. Unfortunately most men in my area have short hair 😞
The little girl who did this should have been seriously reprimanded, I can't believe the teacher dismissed it so lightly. Such ignorance in a 'teacher' is absolutely despicable. If someone had cut a Sikh's hair they would have been prosecuted. It will take three years for the subtle antennae to grow back. That school needs a change of staff, I find their attitude pedantic, out of touch and downright disrespectful, they should respect and admire other people's culture. People need to be taught the Native American ways, look at where the white people's academia have got them, a destroyed and polluted planet. Am so sorry, Morning Star Man, these people you have to deal with at school are sophisticated barbarians. Idiots! Bless you! Bless you! Your grandma must be so proud of you, you're adorable! Grandma is beautiful too, well done Grandma for raising people's awareness. I totally agree with never cutting the hair, never cut mine either, not even a trim. Never cut the hair, it is sacred and acts like an antennae for subtle, spiritual energies. And besides, look what happened to Sampson!
my grandmother is Cherokee and she developed cancer and lost all of her long and beautiful hair but I still believe she is a strong, courageous and beautiful women even without it!~ <3
im a proud male member of the Aroostook Band Of Micmacs and i have long,thick,wavy, black hair, which i will wear proudly until the day i return back to mother earth.
im Chippewa (anishinabe) and my hair is very important too me and my culture. i think people should respect more of how we feel about our hair. lovely video thanka for posting here :)
I'm half Wicomico and I found this very interesting because I grew up detached from Native culture and I always felt it was wrong to cut my hair, good to trim it but cutting it is like removing branches from a tree, only unhealthy parts should be removed. A few times I have compulsively cut it short and always regretted it and a year ago I resolved not to cut it anymore, but to heal it and trim it.
This is so cool and beautiful. As an african American I find this so different. It's like we treat out hair the exact opposite, like it's not part of our body. 😋🌺💖
Woah! Morning Star man! Awesome! Long Hair SAMSON! Strength and Power!
Such a beautiful video, made me cry, so much tradition lost but I’m so thankful to those people that still hold the wisdom
There is something magical about native americans x
I'm Chippewa and I love my hair....sure I do have to cut it every once in a while so it stays healthy. Whenever it get's really long and starts to get nesty dead ends I cut it up to my shoulders and just let it grow :)
Ill be honest. I love being who I am. I'm African American with a background of Native American and Irish descent and I feel like those 3 cultures are very beautiful. My hair is like of my African descent culture. Nothing against my African American culture, because I love coming for a race that consists of very strong and beautiful people, but I wish my hair was more like my Native American culture and this is why I wear hair extensions.
Everyone asks if I'll ever cut my sons hair, his hair has been growing since he was born.