On this program, the third in our Peace Talks series on Peaceful Parenting, we talk with Laura Ramirez, author of the book "Keepers of the Children: Native American Wisdom and Parenting." Ramirez' husband is a member of the Pasquayaki Tribe. In her book, she uses little known Native American concepts and teaching stories to show parents how to raise children to unfold the gifts within their hearts. By teaching children how to create fulfilling lives, she says, parents deepen their sense of satisfaction with their own. She offers observations on the challenge of raising bi-racial children. Carol Bost hosts the program. OTHER PEACE TALKS EPISODES ON PARENTING: http://www.prx.org/my_prx/pieces/6619 EXCERPT: CAROL BOSS: What are some of the differences in how families in mainstream society generally raises their children and Native American families raise theirs? LAURA RAMIREZ: The differences are huge - starting with the difference in discipline. In the mainstream world, typically, we punish our children, to try to keep them in line. Whereas, in the Native world, they believe in teaching a child to develop the self-discipline to make the right choices on his own. That is a very big difference. It creates a very different dynamic between the parent and the child. BOSS: Let's talk about conflict resolution. How important is it to teach children the skills of conflict resolution? RAMIREZ: There's conflict all over the place. There's conflict with family; there's conflict at school and there's conflict in the world. When you teach children conflict resolution skills, you teach them tolerance. You teach them how to be humane. You do that by inviting them to consider another perspective. You do this in Native American culture by using something called the Talking Stick. The Talking Stick is a symbol. It's a tool. In the Native culture, and in my family, when there is a conflict - or when there is a disagreement about what we want to do - we sit in a circle. The circle is important; it is symbolic of the idea that we are all equal. There is the concept of spiritual equality again. No one is first. No one has to be last. We are all on equal footing - when we lead with our hearts.

On this program, the third in our Peace Talks series on Peaceful Parenting, we talk with Laura Ramirez, author of the book "Keepers of the Children: Native American Wisdom and Parenting." Ramirez' husband is a member of the Pasquayaki Tribe. In her book, she uses little known Native American concepts and teaching stories to show parents how to raise children to unfold the gifts within their hearts. By teaching children how to create fulfilling lives, she says, parents deepen their sense of satisfaction with their own. She offers observations on the challenge of raising bi-racial children. Carol Bost hosts the program. OTHER PEACE TALKS EPISODES ON PARENTING: http://www.prx.org/my_prx/pieces/6619 EXCERPT: CAROL BOSS: What are some of the differences in how families in mainstream society generally raises their children and Native American families raise theirs? LAURA RAMIREZ: The differences are huge - starting with the difference in discipline. In the mainstream world, typically, we punish our children, to try to keep them in line. Whereas, in the Native world, they believe in teaching a child to develop the self-discipline to make the right choices on his own. That is a very big difference. It creates a very different dynamic between the parent and the child. BOSS: Let's talk about conflict resolution. How important is it to teach children the skills of conflict resolution? RAMIREZ: There's conflict all over the place. There's conflict with family; there's conflict at school and there's conflict in the world. When you teach children conflict resolution skills, you teach them tolerance. You teach them how to be humane. You do that by inviting them to consider another perspective. You do this in Native American culture by using something called the Talking Stick. The Talking Stick is a symbol. It's a tool. In the Native culture, and in my family, when there is a conflict - or when there is a disagreement about what we want to do - we sit in a circle. The circle is important; it is symbolic of the idea that we are all equal. There is the concept of spiritual equality again. No one is first. No one has to be last. We are all on equal footing - when we lead with our hearts.