Assignment Task:
Using your discussion post and a classmate's discussion post, answer the following questions: How do the questions or viewpoints presented by your peers differ from those you discussed? How can we work to integrate both scientific and culturally significant ideas to form a more complete picture of animal behavior? Have your thoughts on the history of animal behavior changed after reading your peers' posts? This assignment draws from your Learning Materials for this week, including your articles and supplementary videos. It will give you exposure to the history of animal behavior as a discipline to help provide the foundation for the remainder of class content.
My discussion post: For my discussion post, I have chosen to focus on the Lakota Native Americans. The Lakota are one of the three principal tribes within what is collectively called the "Sioux Nation," alongside the Dakota and Nakota tribes. They are renowned for their historical battles fought to defend their land and way of life, their profound cultural ties to the buffalo, and their rich traditions of warrior spirit.
The Lakota people hold profound reverence for animals, viewing them as sacred beings intricately woven into the fabric of life. In their worldview, animals embody essential qualities such as bravery, loyalty, and wisdom, serving not merely as resources but as teachers and guides within the community (Aktá Lakota Museum & Cultural Center, 2022). This perspective fosters a relationship characterized by reciprocity, acknowledging the mutual benefits that arise from the interconnectedness of humans and animals. Far from being viewed strictly as utilitarian entities, animals are often regarded as family members, integral to the cultural identity and spiritual practices of the Lakota.
Within Lakota society, animals have multifaceted roles that transcend companionship. They are vital components of daily existence, encompassing spiritual significance and practical utility. The Lakota's deep respect for animals is reflected in how they perceive them as relatives sharing a connection to the earth. For instance, bison is a crucial resource that provides food, clothing, and tools, and holds immense spiritual importance (Native Hope, 2021). Horses, introduced to the landscape through colonization, became sacred relatives essential for transportation and hunting (Native Hope, 2021). Dogs also play a vital role, acting as protectors and helpers, and are revered for their spirit in various communities. At the same time, other animals like wolves and eagles are honored for their symbolic meanings and characteristics.
Holistic engagement with animals is central to Lakota traditions, driven by a core ethos of gratitude and reciprocity. Training methods emphasize mutual respect rather than domination, fostering bonds built on understanding. This philosophy is evident in their storytelling traditions, where animals are depicted as wise beings possessing agency and the capacity to impart valuable lessons. Lakota's approach to animal behavior promotes a deep understanding rooted in observation and experience, recognizing emotional expressions, social structures, and communicative behaviors in animals.
The Lakota have contributed significantly to animal behavior knowledge, including insights into migration patterns and social dynamics. Their meticulous observations of wildlife, particularly regarding the migratory habits of bison, have been cultivated over generations, proving essential for the sustenance of their community (National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), n.d.). This nuanced understanding of animals aligns with contemporary scientific observations, which have recently begun valuing such holistic perspectives.
However, indigenous knowledge systems, particularly those of the Lakota, remain underrepresented in modern research on animal behavior. Mainstream scientific approaches often adopt a reductionist lens, prioritizing quantifiable data while overlooking the holistic frameworks that indigenous practices offer. Incorporating Lakota perspectives into behavioral research can bridge this gap, promoting a more integrated appreciation of the interconnected nature of life.
Looking ahead, research on the future of animal behavior necessitates an inclusive paradigm that embraces diverse worldviews. Scholars must acknowledge the enduring significance of indigenous knowledge systems and validate their insights. Collaborative research initiatives between scientists and Lakota elders could yield richer behavioral understandings reflecting scientific rigor and cultural context, ultimately enhancing animal welfare considerations, conservation strategies, and community wildlife management.
In conclusion, the Lakota Native American perspective on animals is deeply rooted in a belief in interconnectedness and reciprocity, viewing animals as essential components of life. Within Lakota society, animals fulfill various roles, including companionship, labor, and spiritual significance. Interactions with animals are characterized by mutual respect and understanding, resulting in a rich body of cultural knowledge regarding animal behavior. Recognizing the importance of indigenous perspectives in contemporary studies can enhance the field of animal behavior, promoting a more holistic understanding of human-animal relationships. As modern scholars work to integrate these viewpoints, the future of animal behavior research has the potential to evolve into a more inclusive and comprehensive discipline.
References:
- Aktá Lakota Museum & Cultural Center. (2022, April 1). Lakota spirit animals : Aktá Lakota Museum & Cultural Center. Aktá Lakota Museum & Cultural Center.
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). (n.d.). Where the buffalo roam. Nfwf.
- Native Hope. (2021, August 1). Sioux Native Americans: Their history, culture, and traditions. Native Hope.
Classmates Discussion Post: For this discussion topic I chose to use Karl von Frisch an Austrian zoologist (b. November 20, 1886, d. June 12, 1982). He was made famous for his study of honeybees and their ability to distinguish between various tastes and smells, but also how well they communicate amongst each other (Wolfe, n. d). Not only was he a zoologist but he did also dabble in ethology while not only studying bees but also studying fish. All his questions that he was trying to answer we ultimate level of analysis, because he wanted to know if the bees could see color and how did they find exactly where the food was. How did these bees adapt to survive and thrive in the wild. He answered these questions by doing simple experiments with sugar water. Von Frisch discovered that bees are not color blind as once believed but they can see colors such as blue and green (Brown, 2022). Not only that but the way they communicate is very complex with dances to signal where food is and how far away as well as what direction the food is from the hive this became known as the "waggle" dance (Brown, 2022). Von Frisch also experimented with the bees to see if they needed actual sunlight to know the direction of the food or if they could find it without and every time he did this experiment the bees did their "waggle" dance in the correct direction of the food, thus proving they did not need the direct sunlight just the UV rays to help them see ( Menzel & Daumer, 2025). With Von Frisch's research and discovery of the dance as well as finding out bees are not color blind it set up farmers to have better harvest. This is because they started to understand the importance of the bees in pollination which is what Von Frisch had known about for years. That is why most flowers are white, yellow, but not only that they smell sweet to the bees so that they will pollinate the flowers to give us the fruits and vegetables we eat. It is also the reason a lot of people who have small gardens (like me) do not spray poisons that can hurt the honeybees, while others will plant flowers to attract them. Since his discovery of how these insects behave there has been more and more studies done as to why they act the way they do (such as swarms, how the queen affects the hive), but also how to slow down the spread of disease that are slowly killing them off. Need Assignment Help?
References:
Brown, A. (2022). Karl von Frisch. EBSCO.
Menzel, R., & Daumer, K. (2025). Karl von Frisch: Experimental behavioral ecologist, ethologist, and comparative sensory physiologist. Life Sciences.
Wolfe, A. (n. d). Three pioneer observers of animal behaviour. Britannica.