Urgent Responses Needed - 5 Hours

· Describe the generalized system of values which is said to characterize North American Indigenous peoples?

-Inherently Collectivistic- This means they place the betterment of the group over the individual. For example, it could be better for a particular individual to leave the tribe and pursue their interests, but they may choose to stay and work their intended or inherited role within the tribe to keep peace and harmony.

-Family takes precedence- This means the opinions and values of the family weigh on the individual's decisions and needs. Major family events such as: death, marriages, and reunions will require the full attention of the individual and time must be taken off in the non-Native world, which can be difficult under certain circumstances. 

-Time orientation or "Indian time"- Native Americans view time in a different way then non-Natives. They believe time is circular rather than linear. They do not believe in scheduling or planning certain things, they believe it will happen when it is supposed to happen. They live for the moment or present and do not plan their lives ahead with much emohasis.To non-Natives this can be seen as Indians are always late and the future will care for itself. For non-Natives, time is seen as linear and as something we can possess and possibly control what happens with it. 

The lesson is Native-Americans possess cultural differences and their cultural differences should be respected as much as others. It is up to the counselor to acknowledge, assess, and understand these differences and values, because they shape the individual's decisions, lifestyle, and understanding and learning processes. A counselor can better help in times of difficulty with this understanding.