It seems that the rites of passage from childhood to adulthood for Native
American children was an educational process that began as early as when a
child learned to walk. Native American families were often small because
many children died at birth or at a very young age. This is one reason why
children were greatly loved by their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles,
and older siblings. Boys and girls in most tribes learned how to do men and
women’s work by helping their parents and older family members. This taught
them how to do many things that they would need to survive. Very few tribes
had schools, so storytelling was a main part of their education. From their
tribe’s elders and their family, they learned about their tribal history,
cultural traditions and spiritual beliefs.
When Native American boys reached their early teen years, it was time for a
test of bravery called an initiation ceremony. This was the true rite of
passage from childhood into adulthood for all boys. Many boys were sent out
to stay alone in the wild for a long time without eating to wait for visions
of a great spirit. It could even appear as an animal that could help him
understand what kind of person he would become. The boy would paint the
animal he saw onto his tepee cover and warrior shield to remind himself of
it’s power.
As for Native American girls, their rites of passage from childhood into
adulthood started as early as age six when they would go with older women to
hunt and gather food. They learned how to cook and to take care of the
family camp site. Girls were shown how to dry meats into jerky that could be
eaten in very cold weather when fresh food was hard to find. They also
learned to sew and make clothing for their tribe and other useful items like
blankets and tepees. The girls were taught to use herbs for medicine that
would help her take care of her family when she is a wife and mother. Many
girls were taught basket weaving and some learned Indian beadwork using the
nature around them. When girls were between the ages of 10 and 12, they went
with their moms, aunts, and grandmothers to spend the night in the mountains
and the women would tell the child what was going to happen to her as she
grows into a woman. This was known as a girl’s rite of passage into
adulthood and in some tribes was called Doe-yuh-huvee. This trip was to be
the last part of a girl’s education as a child.
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