Libby Ser
March 10, 2006
Cross Cultural Ethnography
Ethnography:
 Introduction: I went to the Native American Festival on March 4, 2006 from 11:30 am until
12:30 pm. It was held at the Francis Field behind Ketterlinus Elementary School.
 Setting: The day I went the weather was beautiful. The only problem was that when the wind
picked up it got very chilly and my papers would blow out of order. Most of the Native
Americans there were dressed in some sort of Native American attire. Many families
were also attending. There was a nice mix of Whites, Blacks, and various Latino in
attendance. There were tents set up selling items such as jewelry, paintings, dream
catchers, and food. I noticed two teepees were set up. The one I looked at had an
animal hide slung over a piece rope, and there was a raccoon inside the teepee. The
food being sold was along the lines of American style: tacos, chili dog, hot dog,
hamburger, fries, smoked sausage, pickles, and fried bread. Every hour a new show
began. The shows either had different dances or storytelling.
I watched how to do different dances and what the dances mean. The first dance I
watched was the Grass Dance. I learned that the Grass Dancers would push the tall
grass aside when they were dancing. I also learned that while doing the dance they
prayed. The costumes used to be made out of buffalo grass and cloth to create the
illusion of the grass blowing in the wind. Today they use colorful yarn and silk ribbon,
mainly to be seen during competition.
Ser
2
The second dance I watched was called the Fancy Shawl. It is a spring time dance.
The shawl was made to imitate butterfly wings. The dancers were also considered the
bringer of life. The third dance I watched was the War Dance. Only warriors and chiefs
were allowed to do this dance. Each feather the warrior used had to be earned. When
a warrior received a feather they chose whether to use it for their headdress, staffs, or
a small stick used to touch, but not harm, their enemy.
The fourth dance I watched was the Medicine Dance. The costume contained cones.
Each cone was said to hold a prayer. The only way this prayer would work is if the
dancer believed in their prayer.
I also watched an Iroquois War Dance and a Hoop dance. The Iroquois War Dance
was very different from the first war dance I watched. It had a faster pace.
 Discussion: I had fun attending this event. The dances were very entertaining. I liked learning
about the history of each dance. After a few dances they did audience participation time. I
participated in the Friendship Dance. Some Native Americans joined in amidst the audience
members. I also liked how they had some teepees set up. I was not happy with the food
choices. I really wanted to try buffalo stew, but they did not have any. I did not notice any
signs of prejudices while I was there. There are some similarities and differences that I
noticed between this event and my upbringing. A similarity is that they appeared to be
extremely family oriented. Another similarity I noticed was the strong pride they all had in
who they are and where they come from. A difference I noticed was the lack of cultural food.
I know if I ever go to a Jewish or Polish event, I can expect food that is typical of my culture.
Another difference I noticed was that the women were quiet and the males did all the talking.
In my family, the women typically run the show. The men are not allowed in the kitchen
because that is the woman’s domain and they might screw the meal up. There is also a lot
more interaction between the males and the females in my family.
Ser
3
 Conclusion: Attending this event made me realize that I might have a Native American student.
I must be careful not to assume what tribe they come from. Their customs and stories are very
different from my own, which will be very different from the rest of my students. When I discuss
Thanksgiving, for example, what a White student in my class will talk about will most likely differ
from what my Native American student will say. A great activity for my class would be to have
each student research their heritage and tell the class what they learned. I think it will give
every student a better appreciation of not just who they are, but who the other students are as
well. They will learn that each of them have a commonality of some sort.
 Appendices: Attached at the end of my ethnography you will find my field notes and a CD
containing a slide show of the pictures I took.
Reflection
Attending the Native American Festival was an interesting experience. It provided me a
chance to learn and embrace a culture unlike my own. I learned that there is still a
hierarchy within tribes. I also learned that even though times have changed, the customs
have remained consistent. The dances I watched depicted stories. The stories ranged from
the bringing of spring and life to various battles.
Doing this artifact was useful because it made me learn about another culture that I was
not truly introduced to. The schools I attended were diverse, but I never encountered the
Native American culture. The typical stereotypes one hears in a school environment were
not present at the festival. What I learned at the festival can be implemented in my
classroom. For instance, we can discuss ways different cultures tell stories. Some cultures
use music and songs, whereas others have a story teller tell the tales to the young
children.