AgrAbility 2003: Working with Diverse Cultures
Native Americans
Diversity
 Native American peoples are diverse themselves.
o Sioux
South Dakota
o Ute
Eastern Utah
o Navajo
Northern Arizona & New Mexico
o Hopi
Northwestern Arizona
o Pueblo
Central Arizona
o Choctaw
Mississippi
o And many more
AgrAbility 2003: Working with Diverse Cultures
Native Americans
Customs / Culture / Language
 Each tribe has its own customs / culture / language
o Navajo’s:
 Make beautiful rugs & jewelry
(picture of Native American couple with
beaded jewelry)
 Death is taboo
o Pueblo (one of them)
 If you leave your wife, she gets everything.
AgrAbility 2003: Working with Diverse Cultures
Native Americans
Tribal Government
 Each tribe has its own government.
 Tribal government interfaces with federal government to
provide services to Native American people.
AgrAbility 2003: Working with Diverse Cultures
Native Americans
Economics
 Many Native Americans were born & raised and live on
reservations (many others leave).
 Historically, Native Americans were not given the
choicest lands.
 Many reservations have high rates of unemployment and
poverty.
 Farming and ranching are one of the few ways to make a
living on many reservations.
AgrAbility 2003: Working with Diverse Cultures
Native Americans
Tips for Working with Native Americans (any culture)
 Introduce yourself to tribal government; get their
sanction (Utah laying this ground work now with the Ute
tribe.
 Hire (or otherwise hook up with) a member of the tribe,
someone who knows the culture, customs, and language.
 Send time with the people; attend church and community
meetings and explain your program.
 Break bread.
 Start with a few people and do an excellent job.
 Build a reputation by word of mouth.