The Cultural and Creator's wheels explain different forms of abuse that Native American victims experience in their relationships. Cultural abuse isolates the victims from the community and harms their emotions. Families are shaped by certain rules that in turn are driven by cultural beliefs. In light of the importance of culture and spirituality to Native Americans identities, cultural abuse can be severe disruptive to victims’ well-being. In abusive situations, the perpetrators might belittle survivors’ traditions, practices, and beliefs. Perpetrators might control survivors’ interactions with other members of the community or prevent them from participating in ceremonies and gatherings. They may also force survivors to practice some traditions that they are not willing to do.
By examining the many ways society reinforces the use of power and control, those using the wheel can identify actions that might be taken on personal, cultural and institutional levels to end the tolerance of battering.
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The Creator Wheel was designed by American Indigenous women – survivors and victim advocates – to help illustrate the ideas, common among American Indigenous cultures, that the potential for seeking equality or wanting power and control exists in all people, and that a life with the Creator and traditional spirituality at its center does not support using abuse.
Creator Wheel
The Creator Wheel was designed by American Indigenous women – survivors and victim advocates – to help illustrate the ideas, common among American Indigenous cultures, that the potential for seeking equality or wanting power and control exists in all people, and that a life with the Creator and traditional spirituality at its center does not support using abuse.
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The Culture Wheel is a visual representation of how cultural norms, values and institutions reinforce violence against women.
By examining the many ways society reinforces the use of power and control, those using the wheel can identify actions that might be taken on personal, cultural and institutional levels to end the tolerance of battering.
Cultural Wheel
The Culture Wheel is a visual representation of how cultural norms, values and institutions reinforce violence against women.
By examining the many ways society reinforces the use of power and control, those using the wheel can identify actions that might be taken on personal, cultural and institutional levels to end the tolerance of battering.
