Running head: AMERICAN INDIAN CULTURE 1

American Indian Culture

Robert B. Roberts Jr.

Immersion Project Part 3

Coun 504-D01

Liberty University

December, 2018
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Share some of the backgrounds of your interviewee (or couple). What is this

person’s/couple’s story?

The American Indian I interviewed was Chief Jim “White Could” Hill is part of the tribe

once known as the Delaware Native Americans, which the tribe was renamed Lenape Cherokee

American Indian tribe. Jim was born in 1943 to a white man and an American Indian lady in

America.

Jim said he knew early he was an American Indian which was because of his two

Grandmother Sarah (Hentsin) and Grandmother Cagle. Grand Mother Sarah said told her

daughter and grandmother the Indian has arrived. Is father would not tell anyone that Jim was an

American Indian he would tell then he was of Italy blood. Jim says because he was embarrassed

by the color of Jim skin and the attack on the American Indian. He said he felt that his dad in a

way was being racist told his heritage to protect him and his family. He also did not tell anyone

that he was of Indian because they would have got deported. Jim struggled with a white father

who was an alcoholic and Jim remembers his dad getting drunk every major Holiday. What I

understand the interview with Jim is that his great Aunts took care of him when this would

happen. His great Aunts would continue to teach him the American Indian and culture like his

grandmother did. Jim told me that his Grandmother taking him at elementary grade age to the

mountains and they would chant for hours. This statement reminded me of when Jesus went to

the garden to pray for hours and his discipline when to sleep. The scripture Matt 6:4 states that

thine alms may be in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee

openly. Maybe the grandmothers had to chant or pray in secret so there creative would reward

them openly. One thing I did learn from Chief Jim was that the language of the American Indians
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and they do not teach it to no one that is not part of that tribe and if you are a member of that

tribe you or forbidden to teach the language to anyone that’s not of the tribe also.

How open was this person/couple? Why do you think this was?

Jim was very open about his personal life and his interactions with his tribe the

Lenape American Indians. Jim seemed to really like the idea that I wanted to learn about his

culture and his personal history. He stated he wish all would learn the American Indian history so

there could be greater respect for American Indians and their culture. Which the American

Indians fight very hard even in the current time to keep their culture and traditions because he

stated that he has to separate myth and true out the stories which are passed down.

I feel Jim was open because he is truly proud of his American Indian culture and personal

history. And it warmed his heart that I wanted to learn about the American Indian and culture

without trying to convert him to Christianity. He thanked me for learning about the culture and

his personal history many times during the phone interview.

What were some key cultural events (interactions with the majority culture, experiences of

racism, positive experiences with the majority culture, etc.) for this person/couple?

Jim’s attitude toward the majority culture a person does not ask to be born in the majority

culture. As long they respect their culture and honor the culture. I am ok until they say there of

American Indian descent and they are not. So one of the interactions Jim stated is that when he

meets someone they see his color and many say that they have American Indian and they have an

American Indian Grandmother as a princess I know that they’re lying. In a article by Jamie K
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Oxendine, 2011 discuss the statement my Grandmother is a Cherokee Indian Princess this

statement in the interview was brought to me as only those that are not of Indian decent say

however the article says this is something that is even stated by American Indian tribes

(Oxendine, 2011) para 1. So does this mean that myth that Jim had spoken of as made it into the

American Indian tribes?

In the first question, we mention Chief Jim father and the way he treated him when he

was younger. The racism from his blood father still happen he said all the way through

adulthood. He stated even though his father was a drunk and treated him wrong he still loved him

and would do anything for him and he did. Jim did not say if his father was still alive or passed

but he said every time his Dad needed something he always comes to the Indian and not his

brother who did not have the dark skin as he does. If Jim dad would have embraced his son's

heritage he would have taught him to respect and have a better understanding of his culture.

However because of his Grandmothers and Aunts of the American Indian descent he learned and

had a good understanding of his American Indian culture. “Children will have a better

understanding and appreciation for their own race, ethnicity and overall identity” (APA, 2018)

para, 4. These remind me of a statement that I came up with during a sermon which is “Racism is

learned and not inherited’. This is backed up from an article from Penn States Applied Social

Psychology department which states that racism is learned at an early age (ASP, 2018) para 2.

Also, the Boston Globe states “New research suggests prejudices may form at a much earlier

age, but also offers hope that biases can be unlearned (Boston Globe, 2012).”

What were some key cultural events (interactions with the majority culture, experiences of

racism, positive experiences with the majority culture, etc.) for this person/couple?
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Jim’s attitude toward the majority culture a person does not ask to be born in the majority

culture. As long they respect their culture and honor the culture. I am ok until they say there of

American Indian descent and they are not. So one of the interactions Jim stated is that when he

meets someone they see his color and many say that they have American Indian and they have an

American Indian Grandmother as a princess I know that they’re lying. In a article by Jamie K

Oxendine, 2011 discuss the statement my Grandmother is a Cherokee Indian Princess this

statement in the interview was brought to me as only those that are not of Indian decent say

however the article says this is something that is even stated by American Indian tribes

(Oxendine, 2011) para 1. So does this mean that myth that Jim had spoken of as made it into the

American Indian tribes?

In the first question, we mention Chief Jim father and the way he treated him when he

was younger. The racism from his blood father still happen he said all the way through

adulthood. He stated even though his father was a drunk and treated him wrong he still loved him

and would do anything for him and he did. Jim did not say if his father was still alive or passed

but he said every time his Dad needed something he always comes to the Indian and not his

brother who did not have the dark skin as he does. If Jim dad would have embraced his son's

heritage he would have taught him to respect and have a better understanding of his culture.

However because of his Grandmothers and Aunts of the American Indian descent he learned and

had a good understanding of his American Indian culture. “Children will have a better

understanding and appreciation for their own race, ethnicity and overall identity” (APA, 2018)

para, 4. These remind me of a statement that I came up with during a sermon which is “Racism is

learned and not inherited’. This is backed up from an article from Penn States Applied Social
AMERICAN INDIAN CULTURE 6

Psychology department which states that racism is learned at an early age (ASP, 2018) para 2.

Also, the Boston Globe states “New research suggests prejudices may form at a much earlier

age, but also offers hope that biases can be unlearned (Boston Globe, 2012).”

What were your sense of this person’s/couple’s acculturation level and racial/cultural

identity development? Why do you think this is the case?

I feel out of 5 levels of acculturation in the model by Choney et al. (1995) and the level out of the

5 would Chief Jim’s would fall in to is an acculturation level is level three bicultural. According

to the NCIBI, 2014 “A bicultural orientation: The individual is equally comfortable with and

knowledgeable of both traditional and mainstream culture” p.1 Because Chief Jim is worked in

the USA for many years as a truck driver and has embraced the American Culture. However, he

as not let his traditional heritage fall by the waist side. He understands the American culture and

also the American Indian culture very well.

I believe because Jim was raised as a white man and his grandmothers and Great Aunts

taught him the Indian ways this help establish a bridge between both cultures. Jim also stated in

the interview when he went into the military there were other American Indians there in the

military that befriended him and even taught him more about his culture then he learned from his

great Aunts and Grandmothers. He stated that was the first time he felt like he belonged because

he had others final in his adult life that understood the struggles of being an American Indian in

America. With that being said I feel Chief Jim has achieved the level if culture Identity knows as

Integrative Awareness which is where he has become multi-culture while maintaining pride in is

own culture (NICBI, 2014) para. 5

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Based on the interview experience, what knowledge about this cultural group was added

that you did not get from the previous parts of this assignment?

The knowledge I got from this interview that was not obtained from the previous parts of

this assignments was that the American Indians was forced to change their name from Native

Americans to American Indians. I also learned that the right to vote was given in 1957 but no

American Indian was allowed to vote till 1958. I learned from Chief Jim there is a proud group

and he states so proudly no tribe or American Indian will help another American Indian. He

stated to me that he feels that there are more hatred and jealousies among the American Indian

tribes. And the only time you really see them come together is at a Pow Wow which explained to

me the circle is formed and it is sacred or Holy Ground during the grand entry is their time for

their church. I got confirmation on that the Grandmother is the most important part of the family

tree and I learned from that you must be able to track you Grandmother to obtain the American

Indian card which gives you the rights of the American Indians through the government. I

learned that there the only ethnicity that is an American Citizen that needs a card to prove that

there an American Indian. Any other ethnicity as to do is to check a box and there that race.

Remind yourself of the biblical worldview lens material considered in this course (see the

presentation titled “Interpreting Culture” in the Module/Week 1 Reading & Study folder).

What are some strengths or elements of common grace that you see operating in this

cultural group? How can individuals pray for people in this cultural group?
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When we look through the biblical worldview lens we have a potential to be good and a

great potential to be evil because of the fall of Adam and Eve. We know that the bible says we all

fall short of the grace of God. This means we all have failures and that is where the grace of God

shows up. The culture of American Indians have strengths in their family ties to each other they

listen to their grandmother’s advice and take it to heart before action is taken. Some elements of

grace I see operating in the American Indian culture is forgiveness because the settlers had done

them so wrong but they still seem to care and help others that are not even in their ethnicity.

When you look through the eyes of God you can see beautiful people who have been hated by

many others and a rich and pour culture. I see that God loves the American Indian and would

love for all of them to come and know Jesus but that going to take someone looking at all the

views and building a trusting relationship with them. Because they have been hurt by Christians

settlers and the stories have been passed down from generation to generation. When looking at

this through their eyes why would I even trust a Man of God that believes in Christ when they’re

the ones that destroyed their culture and took their land.

When it comes to praying for this person I would suggest to ask them first due to the fact

they do not believe in Jesus but they do believe in the creator. If I had to pray for an American

Indian I would pray in the name of the Creator and in my heart I would be praying to Jesus for

them if there are present. If they're not I would pay that Jesus reveals himself to them.

Which part of this immersion experience (Part 1, 2, or 3) was most helpful to you in

learning about this cultural group? Why do you think this was?
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I feel the most helpful was the interview with the person of the culture we explored. In

my case this was Chief Jim this gave me knowledge and wisdom about the culture through the

eyes of someone of that culture. And after the hour and a half phone interview I gained a friend

of a different culture that I can witness to and maybe even one day lead him to Jesus. I believe

the reason I feel the part 3 of the immersion project was most helpful in learning about this

culture group is that it made me feel more connected to the American Indian culture because I

have a friend know that is an American Indian and is name is Chief Jim “White Could” Hill.
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References

American Psychology Association (n.d.). Defining Racial and Ethnic Socialization (RES).

Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/res/about/racial-ethnic-socialization.aspx

James H. Burnett III Globe Staff. (2012, June 10). Harvard researcher says children learn racism

quickly – The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 25, 2017,

from https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2012/06/09/harvard- researcher-says-

children-learn-racism-quickly/gWuN1ZG3M40WihER2kAfdK/story.html

Schneider, Frank W., Gruman, Jamie A., Coutts, Larry. M. (2011). Applied Social: Intervention

And Evaluation (Second Edition., PP. 7).

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (US). Improving Cultural Competence. Rockville,

MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US)(2014).

(Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 59.) 1, Introduction to Cultural

Competence.Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK248431/