Native and contemporary American values: considerations on obesity

Personally, I find the Western trend towards diseases of excess disgusting. The obesity epidemic is powerful social commentary in and of itself... people are literally eating themselves to death. In a way, I think global capitalism in the age of technology fosters obesity. People can work in a cubicle all day to make money that can be spent with the click of a mouse to purchase foods, travel, entertainment, etc. Whereas physical activity was once a necessary component in survival (to obtain foodstuffs, among other purposes), for many people it has become a purely recreational endeavor.

This week, I was assigned to leading a discussion following a screening of Dances with Wolves in which Native American culture is glorified and the U.S. value system is undermined. The film makes powerful social commentary that caused me to re-evaluate contemporary American values. In my research, I came across a fascinating article by Native American Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston entitled: “From Medicine Man to Marx: The Coming Shift in Native Theology.” Chaleston suggests that the Native peoples are a colonized people whose worldviews contrasted with that of the foreign culture and colonizing power. He argues that Native Americans in conglomeration with other minority voices should cry out against technological consumerism (prevailing value system/ worldview). He argues for a Native alternative called ‘commonality,’ with six principles that form the basis of the Native People’s Liberation theology.

A personal consideration of this ‘alternative’ has called into question the global capitalism and technological consumerism that has lead to rising obesity. I kind of chuckled when thinking to myself what the buffalo hunting scene in DWW would look like if all the Sioux tribes-people had the sort of obesity that distinguishes a number of Native American tribes today. Perhaps the commentaries provided in DWW and by Charleston provide some insight for a civilization with values different from those held by contemporary popular culture that would promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles.

…perhaps idealistic- but an interesting consideration nonetheless J