"The children are our future, but we are their bridge to the past."

-- A Native American Elder

The Life Circle: Many people refer to life as a circle, as one moves from being cared for to caring for others and then back to being cared for. The objects in this gallery explore how traditions were passed to children as they moved through the beginning of the life circle.

In the past, traditions among Native cultures were passed to children

  • through observation (watching)
  • through stories (listening)
  • through experience (doing).

In today's world, many Native peoples do things in new ways while still holding on to time-honored traditions. As you look at the objects and read the stories in this gallery, think about how you have learned traditions.

What is a tradition?

The handing down of information, beliefs, and ways of doing things from one generation to another.

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