High expectations play an important part in many
Native cultures. The traditional family depended for its
survival on the sharing and cooperation of all family
members. Praise was seldom given. It was simply expected
that each person would do the very best possible-
-that excellence would be striven for without praise. High
skill and quality products were their own rewards. There
was reluctance to do something unless the probability of
success was high. Appreciation was shown, not by vocalizing
praise, but by asking people to continue doing
what they were already doing. One of the tasks of counselors
working with Native youth is to find ways to tap
into the naturally occurring ethic of high expectations and
help Native clients to apply this ethic in school culture
and in dominant society worklife.