Giving has long been a central part of American Indian cultures. It may be a means of giving thanks, of bringing the people together, of gaining honor, of distributing material goods so that all may survive, or of teaching. Giving away things informally is also common in American Indian communities in times of good fortune. And yet, in much of the twentieth century, American Indian giveaway practices have often been viewed as a threat by government officials. In the last few decades, however, great strides have been made to return attention on the value of giving thanks. Many in this culture consider it a deep practice, where the giver is not calling attention to himself or herself, but to the spiritual power behind it all; thus both giving and receiving remain sacred. This Parabola Magazine article explores this powerful tradition.
