Cajete's Words on Man

Cajete does not speak specifically to Man as a symbol as he does to the other symbols presented in this website. Instead, humans are found at the center of every discussion in Cajete's book as the ones who are capable of and responsible for taking action and making changes.

Most of the pictographs and symbols in Native American culture represent the whole or parts of the universe around us that we perceive as acting upon us and having an effect on the outcomes of our lives. We are at the sun's mercy as well as in his glory, and we are greatly affected by the winds, both good and bad, that blow about the earth and that infuse us (Cajete, 1994; Emerson, 1965).

The more complex symbols represent our participation in the world around us. We are the ones who carry on our stories from generation to generation (regardless of whether those are "myths" or whether those are histories or scientific explanations). We are the creatures upon the earth given the responsibility and ability to pay attention to what the world around us is saying to us. Therefore, it is we who ultimately lie within the center circle of the concentric rings - and we must recognize that such a position means we have an impact on the world around us.

Cajete explains that the ultimate goal of indigenous education is to help one along his or her pathway in life. When we find that right (and unique) pathway, then our impact from within the concentric rings is the best possible impact we could have. This is similar to the concept of "orientation" taken beyond the physical level to the spiritual, mental, and emotional levels (concentric rings appear everywhere!).

Cajete outlines four objectives along our pathways of learning, if you will allow such a formalized educational word. "We have to facilitate our children and ourselves in that ancient journey

• to find our face (to understand and appreciate our true character),
• to find our heart (to understand and appreciate the passions that move and energize our life),
• to find a foundation (work that allows us to fully express our potential and our greatest fulfillment),
• and to become a complete man or woman (to find our Life and appreciate the spirit that moves us).

We must again create the kind of education that creates great human beings" (p. 68, bullets mine).