Native Spirituality

Native Spirituality

Religious Experience:

• Believe in many gods• Believe in one creator• Believe that animals, plants and objects have a

living spirit

Sacred Stories: • Some tribes believe they came out of the ground

on Turtle Island• Archaeologists believe they came to America from

Russia across a frozen land bridge • Rich tradition of sacred stories passed down to

share morals/values

Symbols and Rituals: • Vision quest – coming of age ceremony• Totems – protective entity in the form of an animal, natural

object or plant• Sweat lodge – physical and spiritual healing • Fours of the earth – north, south, east, west & earth, air, fire and

water & fall, winter, spring, summer & infant, child, adult, old age • Sacred pipe – “when you pray with this pipe, you pray for

everything”• Eagle feather – symbol of strength• Smudging ceremony – sweet grass is burned and smudged • Pow-wow – gathering – drums signify the

heartbeat of the earth• Medicine wheels

Community of Faith: • Shamans believed to have a special connection to

spirit world- so they lead ceremonies and help to interpret vision quests

• Shamans and elders memorize stories and pass on traditions

• Elders and young children have a special connection to the spirit world

Teaching and Doctrine: • All human activity should be set within the natural

order of the cosmos• Pay homage to sacrifices ( animals they need to kill

to survive ) • Treat the environment with reverence because it

keeps us alive

Ethics: • life depends on treating the environment with

respect and dignity• concern for the common good – work together• believe in the wisdom of the elderly and very young• respect all things of the Creator • do not let technology overtake spirituality