It can perhaps be said that unless you are born into the culture you cannot speak of Native American Ways.

If, however, one reads books by Native American Medicine Men, Medicine Women and/or Elders, and then reads a book by men and women of other cultures, one sees similarity of thought. You would also see that if you read something of Quantum Physics you would see similarity of thought as well.

When one looks at the teachings of the elders of the Native American Tradition, one will see that the Native American tradition is closely attuned to nature. This tradition teaches us to read all the signs given. Elders may for instance smell, breathe, feel, or see signs in the air that will inform them of the weather or other disturbances. There is a great respect for nature, animals, vegetables, and minerals. They will say “All my relations” when they speak to them in prayer or other ways.

The Native Americans are a people of stories, though now they are a part of the educational system and are educators and businessmen. They have taught within their culture through story telling. If we listened in and an elder came to the end of his story, we may well ask him “What is the meaning, what was the purpose in the telling?” He would simply say “what did you get out of it, what did it mean to you?” It would be for you to understand its meaning. The answer would be different for everyone.

What is Native American Tradition? It is respect for all things (people and other). We are all one. It is humility, perseverance, joy, happiness, and sadness. It is a place we all can learn from.