American Indian Culture and Research Journal

INTRODUCTION Storytelling is a valued characteristic of some nations in the Native American population. Storytelling is often used to convey important information and major points to be learned. Some significant American Indian values that can be of assistance to counselors and therapists in the counseling process are shared in this culturally appropriate format. Following is a discussion of the importance of such values when correctly incorporated in counseling techniques. It is essential that counselors be aware of some background, history, and specific issues confronting clients from various ethnic groups who seek psychotherapy. Inherent in that awareness should be a knowledge of the value systems of these clients. This is especially true regarding the values of the American Indian, which differ greatly from and directly conflict with those of the dominant Euro-American culture. It is possible that this conflict could transfer to the therapeutic setting between an American Indian client and a non-Indian counselor. Acquisition of knowledge and understanding regarding the Native American’s value system can help the counselor minimize such conflict. The purpose of this paper is to present several significant values of Native Americans that may greatly facilitate the therapeutic process with an Indian client. This information is communicated in the form of a story, mimicking the storytelling of American Indian culture. George Howard pinpoints the importance of the storytelling tradition in imparting cultural values when he states that ’’the young learn to tell the dominant stories of their cultural group-be those stories scientific, civic, moral, mathematical, religious, historical, racial, or political in nature.”’ Tappan and Brown reinforce the importance of this tradition, citing the development of moral reasoning skills. Through the verbal retelling of one’s own experiences, one internalizes the meaning of the story. This act entails acknowledgment and expression of one’s moral perspective, honoring what one feels and thinks, and ultimately claiming responsibility for one’s action; the latter being a true mark of maturation.