Since Native Americans were the first inhabitants of North America, many people often wonder what traditions they created on their own, before the ideas of the pale settlers. When you take a look at their interesting beliefs, it is obvious to see an intricate basis of animals and spirits that guide the lifestyle of Indians across the country. Their society also had a special way of doing things, including gender roles of both men and women. There are many customs that have seemed strange to the average American over the centuries, but the Indians found them to be a normal way of life. The Native American lifestyle was also unique, from hunting animals to tanning buffalo hides. Gender was an important factor in the intended tasks. Native American women had some power over men, were limited to maintaining their roles and duties in their tribe, and were expected to continue the spiritual ways of Native American life. Women's strongest source of power was having children, a power centered on the menstrual cycle. A girl's first menstrual cycle marked an occasion for her isolation in a tepee with other menstruating women to separate them from the rest of the tribe. The first period was also considered very significant, because during that time her dreams had a special meaning for her future, followed by a ceremony that was a familial or tribal recognition of her new status as a marriageable woman. Men feared the power of menstrual blood, hence the ritual of seclusion. It was believed that women's blood could destroy the power of a man's weapons in hunting. Men even avoided routes that menstruating women might travel (Schulz). The fear stemmed from the fact that men had no way to control or influence menstruation. It was a uniquely feminine experience, and the power of birth it represented was greater than the power of the spiritual beings who were the guardians of men. The roles of men and women were very distinct within a tribe. The men's role was to hunt, defend their lands and families, debate in public forums, and lead the religious life of the community. Women's roles were to gather and prepare food, provide clothing and shelter, bear and raise children, and maintain the home. Depending on the amount of food women produced, their status in their society was mediocre at some point in their lives. Women were also very important because of their menstrual cycles, which individualized the woman, making her a very powerful member of the community. Although Native Americans had different and unique ways of thinking, they should be respected as a community. By analyzing the different lifestyles that men and women lived in, it is obvious to see the significant differences between the roles of men and women. Works Cited Finch, John. “Women work harder than men.” Cultural Survival Quarterly 31 Oct. 1992: 44.Kidwell, Clara S. Reader's Companion to US Women's History - - Native American Cultures. Houghton Mifflin Company 2003:13 pars. Online. Internet. February 17, 2004. Available http://college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/women/html/wh_026300_nativeameri2.htmNative American Women - Introductory Page. The Denver Public Library 1995: 3 pars. Online. Database. February 18, 2004. Available http://photoswest.org/exhib/gallery4/leadin.htmSchulz, Diane R. “Talking to Survival.” Awakened Woman 19 August 2001: 11 par. Online. Internet. February 18, 2004. Available http://www.awakenedwoman.com/native_women.htm