Culture

Where do the boundaries between one culture begin and another end? What makes a culture? Examining these questions will lead to an appreciation of the level of complexity found in every culture. 

Culture is a people's whole way of life. When we think about culture, the aspects that tend to come to mind first are those that are on the surface and easy to recognize as unique such as clothing, food, language, songs, or dances. However, the majority of what constitutes culture goes a lot deeper than the surface.

The deeper aspects of culture include the stories that we tell ourselves and others, which help define our values, beliefs, social organization, the symbols and forms of creative expression that we use, and our methods of education. Culture also includes matters as profound as spirituality and world view. Culture includes all the activities and beliefs practiced by a specific group of people that are systematically taught to subsequent generations.

Some elements of a culture adapt and change over time while others remain the same. Historically, the Indigenous people adapted their cultures to the caprices of nature, to learning new ways of doing things, to new understandings of how the world around them worked,  and to interconnectedness with other Indigenous groups. Over time, their culture changed with the interaction of traders and then the settlers. The Aboriginal Culture continues to morph and adapt as people interact and learn from one another.  At times, the historical Aboriginal culture was in serious danger of extinction but recent and continued efforts have resulted in a 'reclaiming' of elements of the past culture. With this reclamation, comes a renewed and stronger sense of identity. All cultures strive to find an equilibrium with their past, present, and future. 

7 Aspects of Culture: Rebecca Carr - Published on July 25, 2015