The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1940-03-22
Zunis Practice
Share Wealth
Culture Featured by Entire
Absence of Forms of
Direct Aggression.

NEN 1OIeN. - - snare the
wealth custom is practiced by the
Zuni Indians of New Mexico.
peace-loving tribe numbering about
1000, according to Dr.. Ruth r. Bun
eel Of the department Of anthropology
of Columbia university. in a report
Of a recent study OF the Indians.
Zunl culture, Dr.. Bunzcl says. Is fea-
ured by the complete absence of
forms Of direct aggression such as
war, murder, and rape
The Zuni pueblo near Santa Fe
has no police or jail, and no organ
lied means of eXerting force An
agrarian culture without an unem-
ployment problem, their civilization
contains no evidence of a class
struggle. An Indian accommodating
more wealth than his neighbor dis
tributes his surplus through feasts
and ceremonies
Drinking, braWling, and indeed
nearly every form of open conflict
are seldom found in the tribe" de-
clares DR.. Bunzel, who at intervals
during the past ii years has lived
with the Zuni. There has never
been a murder committed within
the memory of any of the Indians
questioned
They Share the Surplus.
There is little chance for one
member of the tribe to accumulate
wealth at the expense of others be-
cause of well-developed institutions
for sharing any surplus. Neither do
the Indians hesitate to distribute
any excess goods or food. They
are more than anxious to receive
the intangible advantages of pres
tige, security and religious bless
ing which accompany the act. Con-
sequently the Zuni live in a culture
offering a basis of security that is
lacking in more competitive civil
liZationS."
Seeking the basis for the nom
aggressiveness of the Zuni, DR.. Bun
eel studied the methods of child
training followed by the tribe Chill
dren, she found, are taught to obey
rules for the sake of society rather
than in recognition of parental au-
thority. Family life exists on
large scale. and close bonds OF af-
lection between children and par
ents are present.
1.-THE Zuni are extremely indul-
gent toward their very young. The
children, on the other hand, seldom
misbehave to any noticeable extent
Contrary to the usual conception of
ne Indian as an aloof, unbending
personality, the Zuni give their chill
dren all the affection they need. The
child is seldom thwarted and conSe-
quently grows up in an atmosphere
as nearly free of Illustration as pos
sible.
Children are never whipped or
scolded among the Zuni They are
completely free from any form of
harsh discipline.
Among white families a great
deal of Importance is attached TO
teaching children to obey. The Zuni,
on the other hand, do not find it
necessary to stress obedience They
show the child that there are some
things which must be done for the
good of everyone concerned, and by
the same token they teach children
that there are certain things they
cannot do without making trouble.
No Threats for Kids.
"The Indian children have COM
plete security in their relationship
with parents and with the tribe. No
one would ever think of threatening
a child with the withdrawal of pa
rental affection by saying mother
won't love you if you are naughty
Instead the child is told that people
will think you are foolish if you act
in Such-and-Such a manner Nor
does tine child ever have to fear be-
ing disowned or turned out
Although on occasion the child
is threatened with sanctions, the
source of the punishment is always
shown to come from outside the fam
lily.
Another factor in the Indian cul-
ture that differs with the conditions
usually present among the whites is
the prevalence of large families. A
single Indian couple seldom has
many children. However, since the
families of brothers and sisters,
aunts and uncles. and indeed very
often several generations of adults.
live under the same roof. family life
exists on a large scale. Children
under this arrangement are con-
stantly associated with a compare
lively large number OF adults. Thus
the fundamentals of community life
are learned early in the child's eX-
istence, he becomes attached to
adults other than his parents, and
rivalry between children is cuSh-
ioned."