While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
Etiquette. The interior of most native dwellings was
without complete partitions, yet each member of the family had a distinct space,
which was as inviolable as a separate apartment enclosed by walls. In this space
the personal articles of the occupant were stored in packs and baskets, and here
his bed was spread at night. Children played together in their own spaces and
ran in and out of that belonging to the mother, but they were forbid den to
intrude elsewhere and were never allowed to meddle with anyone's possessions.
When more than one family occupied a dwelling, as the earth lodge, the long bark
house, or the large wooden structure of the N. W., every family had its
well-known limits, within which each member had a place. A space was generally
set apart for guests, to which, on entering, a visitor made his way. Among the
Plains tribes this place was at the back part of the dwelling, facing the en
trance, and the visitor when entering a lodge and going to this place must not
pass between his host and the fire. Among many tribes the place of honor was at
the w., facing the entrance. If he was a familiar friend, greetings were at once
exchanged, but if he had come on a formal mission, he entered in silence, which
was unbroken for some little time after he was seated. On such occasions
conversation was opened by reference to trivial matters, the serious purpose of
the visit not being mentioned until consider able time had elapsed. When a
delegation was received, only the older men of the party or of the tribe spoke;
the younger members kept silent unless called on to say something. Among all the
tribes haste was a mark of ill breeding, particularly during official or
ceremonial proceedings. No visitor could leave the dwelling of his host without
some parting words to show that his visit was at an end.
Among many tribes etiquette required that when speaking to a person a term of
relationship rather than the personal name should be used. An elderly man or
woman was usually addressed as grandfather or grandmother, and a similar title
was also applied to a man of distinction. Uncle or aunt might be used for
persons of about the same age as the speaker, but to a younger man or woman the
term of address would signify younger brother or sister. A friendly visitor from
outside the tribe was addressed by a term meaning "friend." A member of the
tribe, although of a different clan or gens, was spoken to by a term of
relationship; among the Iroquois, for example, one of the opposite phratry was
greeted as "my father s clansman," or "my cousin."
When the bearer of an invitation entered a lodge, the person invited did not
respond if a relative or friend was present, who would accept for him, saying,
"Your uncle (or aunt) has heard." Among the Hopi, in entering a kiva, ac cording
to Dr Fewkes, one must ask, "Am I welcome?" before his left foot leaves the
lowest rung of the ladder. He must always approach the altar on the right and
leave it on the left. Among the Zuñi a
person, whether friend or stranger, on appearing at a doorway is invited to
enter and sit; if at meal time, and often at other times, he is offered food.
Among a number of tribes etiquette required that there should be no direct
speech between a woman and her son-in-law, and in some instances a similar
restriction was placed on a woman ad dressing her father-in-law. In many tribes
also the names of the dead were not likely to be mentioned, and with some
Indians, for a space of time, a word was substituted for the name of a deceased
person, especially if the latter were prominent. In some tribes men and women
used different forms of speech, and the distinction was carefully observed. A
conventional tone was observed by men and women on formal occasions which
differed from that employed in everyday life.
Etiquette between the sexes demanded that the man should precede the woman while
walking or in entering a lodge "to make the way safe for her." Familiar
conversation could take place only between relatives; reserve characterized the
general behavior of men and women toward each other.
Respect must be shown to elders in both speech and behavior. No one could be
interrupted when speaking or forced to speak when inclined to be silent, nor
could personal questions be asked or private matters mentioned. During certain
ceremonies no one may speak above a whisper. If it was necessary to pass between
a person and the lire permission must be asked, and if one brushed against
another, or trod upon his foot, an apology must be made. At meal time, if one
could not eat all that had been put upon his dish, he must excuse himself to
show that it was through no dislike of the food, and when he had finished he
must not push away his dish but return it to the woman, speaking a term of
relationship, as mother, aunt, wife, which was equivalent to thanks. Among some
tribes, if a cooking vessel had been borrowed, it must be returned with a
portion of what had been cooked in it to show the owner the use that had been
made of the utensil, and also, in courtesy, to share the food.
There was an etiquette in standing and sitting that was carefully observed by
the women. They stood with the feet straight and close together, and if the
hands were free, the arms hung down, a little toward the front, the fingers
extended and the palms lightly pressed against the dress. Women sat with both
feet under them, turned to one side. Men usually sat cross-legged.
The training of children in tribal etiquette and grammatical speech began at an
early age, and the strict observance of etiquette and the correct use of
language indicated the rank and standing of a man s family. Class distinctions
were everywhere more or less observed. On the N. Pacific coast the difference
between high caste and low caste was strongly marked. Certain lines of con duct,
such as being a too frequent guest, were denounced as of low caste. So, too,
among the Haida, it was of low caste to lean backward; one must sit on the for
ward part of the seat in an alert attitude to observe good form. Lolling in
company was considered a mark of bad manners among the tribes; and among the
Hopi one would not sit with legs extended during a ceremony. Smoking, whether
social or ceremonial, had its etiquette; much form was used in exchanging
smoking materials and in passing the pipe in smoking and in returning it. In
certain societies, when a feast was served, particular parts of the animal
belonged by etiquette to the noted warriors present, and these were presented by
the server with ceremonial speech and movements. Among some tribes when a feast
was given a pinch of each kind of food was sacrificed in the fire before eating.
Ceremonial visitors usually made their approach known according to the local
custom. Among some of the Plains tribes the visitors dispatched a runner bearing
a little bunch of tobacco to apprise their host of their intended visit; should
their coming prove to be ill timed, the tobacco could be re turned with an
accompanying gift, and the visit would be postponed without any hard feeling.
There was much and varied detail in the etiquette of family life, social
gatherings, and the ceremonies of the various tribes living N. of Mexico. See
Child life, Ethics and Morals, Hospitality, Salutation. (A. C. F. )
This site
includes some historical materials that may imply negative stereotypes
reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. These
items are presented as part of the historical record and should not be
interpreted to mean that the WebMasters in any way endorse the stereotypes
implied .
Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico, Frederick Webb Hodge, 1906
