/*! elementor – v3.14.0 – 26-06-2023 */
.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}
Indigenous Deaf People’s Code of Ethics
The sacred teachings of respect, bravery, honesty, humility, truth, wisdom, and love are significant guidelines that resonate in most Indigenous cultures.
Beliefs
1. Each morning during the day, and each evening, pray alone and give thanks for everything that the Creator has placed on Mother Earth. Pray often to benefit everyone and for guidance in analyzing your past actions. Seek strength to become a better person.
2. Respect other tribal spiritual beliefs. Do not force your tribal spiritual beliefs on others.
3. Be aware that there are two paths: one leads to your positive well-being, and the other leads to your destruction.
4. Negative thoughts cause illness of the mind, body, and spirit. Change your thoughts to more positive.
5. Listen to and follow the guidance given to your heart (e.g., prayers, dreams, quiet solitude, or advice from elders or friends).
6. Respect the teaching and wisdom of the tribal elders and Indigenous Deaf elders; it will benefit you to learn from both to enrich your knowledge. All tribes have their own ways of treating elders. For example, some tribes believe that if elders are conversing, you walk around the elders, not between them.
Environment
7. Respect all things created on Mothers Earth; honor all crawling ones, finned ones, four-legged ones, two-legged ones, standing ones, winged ones, rocks, water, wind, cardinal directions, and all of the traditional ecological knowledge/kincentricity. They are not for us; they are part of us. Do not pollute Mother Earth: save and defend her by using sustainability, recycling, and leaving tobacco to give thanks for the provision of all of your physical and spiritual needs.
8. Do not remove anything like red ribbons or any cloth that is attached to natural resources like tree, bushes, posts or any things that are hanging; they are there for spiritual reasons.
9. “Do not take what is not yours whether from a person, a community, the wilderness or from a culture. It was not earned nor given. It is not yours” (Inter- tribal News).
10. Respect the wisdom of the people in the council and in the circle. Every discussion in the council or circle is made through a unified decision. Respect what has been decided and do not engage in secret negative remarks outside of the circle or council. Respect the privacy and personal space of others. Do not touch the personal property of others – especially sacred and religious objects. This is forbidden (Inter-tribal News, 1994).
11. Respect the privacy and personal space of DeafBlind persons; there are specific and appropriate areas for contact on a DeafBlind person’s body. Do not pull their hand or arm without an informative warning. Protactile signing and tactile signing are commonly used between trained DB interpreters and DB persons.
Responsibility
12. Many Indigenous Deaf people are deprived of both their tribal language and culture. Help those who are lost on their paths and searching for connection. Negativity stems from a lost soul. Pray that they will seek guidance. Provide guidance to their spiritual understanding of self and sense of belonging.
13. Indigenous Deaf people value historical sites where ancient signed languages are marked by our ancestors.
14. Indigenous Deaf people have established a long-term connection and they are responsible to support other Indigenous Deaf people, especially when it comes to communicating information.
15. Serve others in the communities (i.e. Indigenous, Deaf, DeafBlind, and others). Do not distract yourself with unnecessary tasks, but focus on important tasks that lead to productive communities. True happiness comes to those who dedicate their lives to serving others.
16. Be responsible for your own actions; whatever you do will reflect on yourself.
Relationships
17. We have relational accountability to provide full language accessibility to all Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, other disabled and hearing Indigenous people at any tribal events, meetings, ceremonies and so forth.
18. All Indigenous people make mistakes; they can be corrected and forgiven. Seek advice from Elders, community leaders, or parents.
19. During talking/signing circles or meetings, honor tribal members’ thoughts, wishes, and words. Every person in the circle should be allowed to express their personal comments, thoughts, and words of wisdom. Listen with your heart to what others members have to say.
Reciprocity
20. Many Indigenous Deaf people are not taught their tribal cultural knowledge. It is wise for those who already have such knowledge to share with them through mentoring and teaching.
21. Many Indigenous hearing people are not aware of Indigenous Deaf people’s needs. Educate them in the way of our Indigenous Deaf people’s visual culture.
22. It is natural in the Indigenous Deaf community that a Deaf-sighted person assisting DeafBlind members be provided with best possible interpreting service anywhere, giving them guidance, explaining to the DeafBlind members anything in the visual environment, including cultural items or cultural information of tribal activities. It is important of leave no one behind; include everyone in the circle of life and tribal activities.
23. Indigenous Deaf/Hard of Hearing/DeafBlind children are our little people and our future. Be a role model at Deaf Residential Schools and public schools. Nurture them with cultural knowledge and tribal sign language. Protect them from misconceptions about our Indigenous culture, history, and signed languages. Plant love and wisdom in them through life’s lessons, and give them room to grow at their own time.
24. Indigenous Deaf/Hard of Hearing/DeafBlind children and adults need to be fully exposed to tribal culture and language by tribal members, parents and educators.
Communication
25. Although always respecting privacy and personal property, especially of sacred artifacts, DeafBlind person(s) may ask whether s/he can touch or have the Indigenous Deaf describe the artifacts without touching them. Always ask permission from the owners of the sacred artifacts to touch, feel or allow descriptions; the purpose of touch and/or description is to accommodate the DeafBlind person’s ability to create an image in their mind(s) of what these artifacts “look like.”
26. It is important to be aware that hearing Elders, cultural specialists, or community members, who are obligated to provide their tribe’s culture and traditional ways of life to hearing younger generations, which is usually conducted in verbal mode, leaves out information for Deaf/Hard of Hearing/DeafBlind children and adults. The chances of a deaf member lip reading and comprehending is approximately 30 to 45 percent, which means a lack of fully accessible language. A sign language interpreter is recommended in order for such members to receive f27. Not all Indigenous Deaf people use the same mode of communication, so it is important accommodate their language preferences. The same thing goes for DeafBlind people, as there is a wide variety of language accommodations in DeafBlind communities.
27. Communicating with and for all Indigenous Deaf people in order to honor their needs during our events, prayers, dreams, and conversations.
People
29. Showing respect is a basic law of life: treat every person with respect at all times.
No one should belittle others by hurting, mocking, or talking in a negative way
(whether the person(s) are present or not). These behaviors bring harmful to the
community and to the person.
30. “Never speak of others in a bad way. The negative energy that you put out into
the universe will multiply when it returns to you” (Inter-tribal News).
31. “Be truthful at all times. Honesty is the test of one’s will within this universe”
(Inter-tribal News).
Self
32. “Search for yourself, by yourself. Do not allow others to make your path for you. It is your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you” (Inter-tribal News).
33. “Keep yourself balanced– Your Mental self, Spiritual self, Emotional self, and Physical self – need to be strong, pure and healthy. Work out the body to strengthen the mind. Grow rich in spirit to cure emotional ails” (Inter-tribal News).
34. “Be true to yourself first. You cannot nurture and help others if you cannot nurture and help yourself first” (Inter-tribal News).
/*! elementor – v3.14.0 – 26-06-2023 */
.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(–spacer-size)}.e-con{–container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(–container-widget-width,var(–spacer-size));–align-self:var(–container-widget-align-self,initial);–flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(–container-widget-height,var(–spacer-size))}
Indigenous Deaf ethics committee members: Melanie McKay-Cody (Cherokee), Kevin Good Feather (Dakota), Angelina Ortiz (Aztec and Tarahumara), Johnny Reininger (Creek), Eddie Martinez (Taino), Terry Vinson (Comanche-Aztec), and Hallie Zimmerman (Winnebago). References: 1. Cooper, Thomas W. A Time Before Deception Truth in Communication, Culture, and Ethics. Santa Fe, NM: Clear Light Publishers, 1998. 2. Inter-Tribal Times October 1994. 3. Lane, Phil, Jr, Judie Bopp, Michael Bopp, Lee Brown and elders, The Sacred Tree, page 75-81. Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada: Four Worlds International Institute, 1984. 4. Martinez, D. (Interviewee) & Hall, D. E. (Interviewer). Native Perspectives on Sustainability: Dennis Martinez (O’odham/Chicano/Anglo) [Interview transcript]. (2008). Retrieved from the Native Perspectives on Sustainability project website: http://www.nativeperspectives.net.
TIHT 