Native American symbols and gestures that they used to communicate with westerners were very strange to westerners and vice versa. Many of their gestures had meanings relating to their culture and it was hard to understand unless one was part of the culture themselves. For example, taking off your moccasins to smoke a pipe showed respect because it meant sincerity over comfort. 

They also had a different way to greet people. Their greeting gestures were very different from that of the American culture and although it seemed strange, Natives found something that we think of as normal- a handshake- to be strange. This further shows that gestures all have to do with culture and how differing cultures can inhibit a clear understanding of gestures.​​​​​​​