Tribal counter-culture

For as long as I can remember tribal cultures have held a fascination and draw for me. As a young boy my mother would take me to American Indian gatherings where I was able to observe and participate in the arts and ceremonies of the culture. Juliana and I now find ourselves moving to North Carolina, which has one of the highest populations of American Indians of any state, to live out a more simple existence. A life more in tune with some of the aspects and spirit of tribal culture such as living in greater harmony with the land.

I recently picked up a copy of "The People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn. Over the first chapter Zinn explores a lesser told tale of tribal society as it existed among North Americans before the onslaught of European settlers. Zinn paints a picture of an egalitarian society whose members lived in harmony with their natural surroundings, avoided gender discrimination, fought but never exterminated, and avoided defining them selves through material possession. They had no word for poor. Only members of a group working toward a common livelihood. It is sad to think how far we as a society have come in the opposing direction. Now nearly all is defined by material wealth and the average American thinks of casino owners and baseball teams when considering a modern American Indian.