Rosa Hak

Native American Ethnic Studies

Compare and Contrast Essay

After learning a fraction about Native life and culture, I have identified many differences

between my own upbringing and life from that of a Native. I am a consumer. As much as I hate

it, I tend to buy way too much of things that I truly do not need. My mother was raised in a

Catholic family, however, she did not pass along her religious upbringing to me. I was not raised

with a creation story. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a stress-case about time. Not

only am I always on time, I am five minutes early. A lot of that has to do with being raised by a

mother from New Jersey, where everything is much more fast paced. I grew up in the heart of

downtown Salt Lake City; I know every alleyway and shortcut around. I cannot begin to fathom

life on a rural reservation. I think that the history of discrimination and oppression of the Natives

has been deeply ingrained into their way of living. Although, a strong historical culture and

belief system, the younger generations face challenges of identity in the world. I was fortunate

enough to live a privileged life where I faced very little hardship.

On the other hand, I have recognized that I do have some similarities with the Native way

of-life. My immediate family is very small. It is me, my mom, and my older brother. In contrast,

my extended family is huge. I have nearly thirty cousins, fifteen second cousins, and fourteen

aunts and uncles. I have been strongly influenced by them all, and I would like to think of them

as a tribe. The Hak Tribe. Another similarity is that I personally have a deep spiritual connection

to Mother Nature. This essay will further explore and discuss the comparison of my own culture

and life to those who identify as Native American.

Let me begin by comparing my consumeristic nature, versus a Natives creative nature.

At times I feel myself needing to fill a void inside myself. I feel anxious about parts of life, or
uncomfortable in my skin. Occasionally, when I feel this void, my first thought is to go buy

something; maybe a little retail therapy. A new pair of shoes, or a new outfit will make that

empty feeling go away, right? I have learned time and time again that a new, inanimate object

cannot and will not make me feel more valuable. From my understanding, a Native who may feel

similar feelings, such as sadness or loneliness, would turn to a much more fulfilling therapy.

Although unsure of what actually would occur, I can guess that it would be a form of creation.

Maybe create a plan, a new piece of jewelry, or even a gift for an elder in the tribe. Something of

value that does not require a monetary exchange. I think that the Native culture regarding

spirituality is an incredibly powerful difference between an Americans self-worth and a

Natives. It is hard for me to imagine a Native worrying about a new pair of shoes and believing

it would actually fulfill them.

As a young child, I was not raised with religion. My grandfather, who has since passed,

was the one figure in my life who taught me the most about the Catholic religion. I spent Easter

Sunday with him at mass, and we always attended Midnight Mass of Christmas Eve. Personally,

I believe that because I was not forced to believe in any creation story, it allowed for me to have

a true faith for my higher power. I was raised to love and respect nature. I have spent countless

weekends and school breaks camping under the stars, hiking in the mountains, and swimming in

the natural waters. My eariliest memories of spirituality was in nature, and throughout the last

few years of my life, I have gained faith in God. It is an unwavering faith, however I still do not

have a creation story to explain why I am here on this planet. Regardless of my road to faith, I

believe that mine and a Natives understanding for life and its flaws could be similar. I do not

sweat the small stuff. I believe that the universe is ever-changing and will not slow down for
anyone or anything. It is a matter of trusting in the changes and maintaining the strength,

courage, and understanding for lifes surprises.

Another trait of mine that I can directly thank my mother for is my sense of urgency. At

times it can definitely be a blessing and a curse. A blessing because I can get ready faster than

any person I have ever met. I am a incredibly low-maintenance female, which is something I like

about myself. I think that being on time shows that you value someones time, which is

irreplaceable, while looking nice and being late shows that you care more about personal

appearance than someones time. Even when I try to be on-time, or casually late, I end up being

five to ten minutes early. It can be frustrating sometimes because I then end up waiting on

everyone else. Being so punctual can be a curse because I have the inability to chill. I am

always on the go. After gaining some perspective about the Native culture and their relationship

with time, I became slightly envious. I think it would be wonderful to be able to spend my

mornings enjoying the birds chirping, with a nice cup of coffee and a homemade breakfast.

Being on Indian Time sounds like a great way of life. The lack of urgency can allow for the

real appreciation of our surroundings and opportunities. In addition to my mothers influence,

growing up in the city has had a strong effect on how I live my life. I drive aggressively, I talk

fast, and I do whatever I can to sleep in a bit longer. I think that growing up on a reservation

would relieve some of the stresses I encounter in my days. I could, most likely, slow down much

easier.

A big part of my life that I sometimes forget about is the privileges I have. Even though I

may not have the same opportunities as a son of a wealthy, whiteman, I definitely have many

more privileges in this country a Native. I have access to jobs, good education, diversity through

food, music, and arts. In this country, it is very important to be well-rounded in order to be the
American definition of successful. The struggles of a Native to leave a reservation and adapt to

American life would likely be immensely difficult.

The last point I would like to discuss is my tribe. The Hak Tribe. My extended family is

exceptionally large. Maybe not for Utah standards, but on a nationwide level, the number of

family members is impressive. Growing up with a single mom was not always easy, but we were

fortunate to have the support of her brothers and sisters. I have been strongly influenced by each

member of my family. Each member has had a hand in raising me and shaping me to be the

human I am today. I understand that my Hak Tribe is not the same as a traditional, Native tribe.

There are plenty of differences. However, I do value the opinions and needs of my family. We

have an unbreakable bond. We once all lived in the same city and spent most days together.

Eating, playing, working, and exploring. In the city of Richmond, VA. my family was well-

known because of our numbers and our characteristics. Since then, we have spread out

throughout the U.S. and my cousins have had children of their own; creating their own smaller

tribes. Even though distant in miles, my family remains very close.

This essay has given me a great opportunity to do some self-reflection. I have many

things in life to appreciate and be humble about. Also, I have many parts of my life that I now

know could use some improvement. I would like to practice more gratitude. Id like to make

more time to connect with Mother Nature. I would like to stop worrying about time too much.