Tribalism
Tribalism refers to the social and cultural systems that emphasize the importance of ancestry, kinship, language, and shared cultural practices within Indigenous American societies. This concept highlights the distinctiveness of each tribe, with many tribes internally identifying as "the people" or "the real people," while often using dismissive terms for outsiders. In the 2020s, the U.S. government recognizes 574 unique tribes, each with its own cultural identity and historical context. Tribal societies prioritize the collective good over individual rights, leading to a communal ethic where virtues such as respect and generosity play a vital role. Generosity is viewed as a fundamental principle, where sharing resources and supporting community welfare take precedence over personal accumulation. This approach can frequently clash with broader American societal values that prioritize individual freedoms, leading to tensions between tribal governance and federal policies. Overall, tribalism illustrates a complex relationship between community responsibilities and individual rights, reflecting the rich diversity of Indigenous cultures across North America.
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Tribalism
Tribalism is a defining characteristic of American Indian societies. Stress is placed on the concept of the oneness and distinctiveness of ancestry, kinship, language, and culture shared by a tribe or group of people. This can be illustrated by the ubiquity of indigenous tribes throughout history whose names for themselves translate as “the people” or “the real people,” while their names for outside tribes or groups are often dismissive if not pejorative.
Many Americans may not have familiarity with the diverse nature of Indigenous American tribes. Many of their perceptions may be informed by stereotypes, caricatures, or renditions in popular media. In the 2020s, the US government formally recognized 574 North American tribes or Nations. Each nation is culturally unique, with its engagement with the outside world shaped by its own historical experiences. Among these communities, approximately 170 different languages are spoken. Nonetheless, all but two are projected to be extinct by 2050. The highest concentration of tribes is in Alaska with 229. California is second with 109. In terms of territory, the Navajo Nation, with members in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, inhabits a territory roughly the size of West Virginia.
Tribalism emphasizes group good, which means that an individual’s responsibility to the community is always more important than any individual’s rights or privileges. In tribal societies, achieving and maintaining harmony within the group is an overriding concern. In order to achieve harmony, virtues such as respect and generosity are stressed. As a tribal ethic, generosity means sharing all that a person has or possesses with others who are in need. The goal of an individual is not to accumulate items but to provide for others by distributing acquired goods. In this way, the welfare of the group is preserved.
Tribalism, with its stress on group good, is often in opposition to basic principles in American society that stress individual rights and freedoms, and as a result, tribal groups are often at odds with federal legislation and policies. For example, many tribes view the American Indian Civil Rights Act (1968) as an abridgment of tribal rights and obligations because it emphasizes individual rights and freedoms.
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