In indigenous societies around the world, there is a web of intimate relationships. They don’t seem to have the needy attachment to family that we promote in the west. Their children don’t suffer from guilt and rejection that you see in our society, because they are raised by the community. Our society seems to sing the praises of “family values.” You hear those words from politicians and religious organizations. But indigenous people know that a family can’t come close to meeting the needs of children growing up. We have so many more damaged individuals as a result of a broken family. That doesn’t occur with indigenous people, because the community picks up the slack. Native Americans wonder when we will finally realize that we need a broader base of support from a community of people. Community is not something we can make happen. It emerges as we participate in life with those around us.
Helena Norbert-Hodge