By Ron Friesen / Herald Forum
While teaching music as a volunteer at Tulalip Elementary the last three years before it closed, I had the honor of experiencing the Salish/Tulalip culture. I am only beginning to understand the deep differences to Anglo-Western culture. Understanding these differences has caused me to question those values I have always accepted as being “the best.”
Fundamentally, Anglo-Western culture is transactional. Salish culture is not. This blows a capitalist’s mind! We do something and expect and demand something in return. Or we get something and expect to pay. We tie guilt to this. Their culture is so opposite that even when they speak in English, we do not always understand what they mean.
They value truth, respect and honor above all. We value achievement, accumulation and greed above all.
They value cooperation over competition. We value competition over cooperation.
We value change over stability. They value stability over change.
They value nature and preserving the land. We value science, technology, engineering and math and plundering our resources.
They value dependence on each other. We value independence from each other.
They are tied to the land, and expect to live and die here. Our urban culture is encouraged to look for, and move to “greener pastures” and leave the past (and our messes) behind.
Which culture has endured for 10,000 years or more? Not ours! So are they skeptical when we assert that we know better and impose it? You bet! And there is plenty of evidence to back them up since the 1855 treaty which put them on reservations.
In Salish culture, truth, honor and respect come from a “true heart.” This means, simply, that everyone has a true heart, or they do not. When truth, respect and honor are given with no expectation of anything in return, that is the evidence of a “true heart.”
The only “guilt” ascribed would be when a person shows they do not have a true heart. Then it would be expected that the person sees the error of their ways and returns with a true heart. That person would regain full trust and standing. This is “restorative justice.”
But if they were shown again to not have a true heart, trust and standing would be almost impossible to restore. Shunning is the ultimate reproach, not prison or death.
Our culture and our schools have broken this “true heart” implicit contract so many times that it is never expected to ever change. So everything spoken to us is framed with their valid belief in this certainty. And everything they hear from us is suspect. Any surprise that our culture is shunned?
But here is the rub that is hardest for many to understand: They will never, ever ask for truth, respect or honor. To do so would be an implicit accusation that whoever is asked does not have a true heart. That would be an ultimate insult.
The Tulalips’ Salmon Ceremony is just a tiny example of this. The salmon are thanked and honored for giving their lives freely so the people might eat and live. The salmon expect nothing in return for their sacrifice. But honor says that maintaining the land and restoring habitat so the salmon can thrive is the right thing to do. And respect is shown with the acknowledgement and thanksgiving of the ceremony. This may sound “woo-woo” to some, but that is because we just do not understand.
Imagine doing the right thing without being told or asked. And if we have to ask what that is, it is hard for them to answer lest it is implied we do not have a true heart. This lack of understanding has fueled generations of heartache for our Tulalip brothers and sisters. And it continues.
Our culture’s constant, repeated error has been to assume that since they do not ask, they do not want anything in return. But what they want and expect is equal respect and honor. A true heart knows the right thing to do and will automatically do it. No asking is required.
Automatic reciprocation of truth, honor and respect, which emanates from a true heart, is a “transaction” our Anglo-Western culture may never comprehend. Our Tulalip brothers and sisters are unable to fathom why we do not understand. After thousands of years, this is so obvious to them.
There is still much I do not know and understand. However, I now believe their values are ultimately superior to ours, and our “Father Knows Best” arrogance needs humility.
Our schools, our community, and our culture would be transformed by the excellence and depth of Salish and Tulalip values if we could only see more clearly, and understand more deeply.
Ron Friesen is a longtime Marysville resident, a retired music teacher and community and church musician and is committed to community improvement.
Herald Forum
The Herald Forum invites community members to submit essays on topics of importance and interest to them. Essays typically are between 400 and 600 words in length, although exceptions for longer pieces can be made. To submit essays or for more information about the Herald Forum, write Herald Opinion editor Jon Bauer at jbauer@heraldnet.com or call him at 425-339-3466.
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