What did the Cree believe?

Answer 1

The Cree people are a tribe of Plains Native Americans who live in a wide range in the northern part North America, extending from Ontario to Saskatchewan, Canada and even down into some parts of Montana. They dwelt in these areas for thousands of years, and continue to live here, on and off reservations, today.

The Cree have very strong beliefs when it comes to both the spiritual and natural world. They believe that "Manitow" (Creator, God, Great Spirit), created the earth and everything in it, all of the living creatures as well as the natural and elemental forces and objects. They believe that everything on earth has a Spirit which Manitow has put inside of the creature or thing. They believe that humans and animals have a Spirit, but that other things such as rivers, lakes, plants, and even rocks have a Spirit as well. All of these things, they believe, are a part of the circle of life, the process of things being born or created, reaching maturity, experiencing physical death, and then traveling to the Spirit world with the other Spirits that have also passed through. In this way, even though death is inevitable, painful, and sorrowful, this belief makes it easier for the Cree people to, in a timely manner, mourn, heal, and have joy for their friend or relative who is now in the Spirit world with their ancestors.

Cree Native Americans also use different plants and herbal medicines such as sage, sweet grass, and tobacco. Though each one is used differently, these three iconic and traditional herbs are burned in different ways and used for healing and purification. Sage and sweet grass can be burned in ones home to purify it as well as to ward off evil Spirits and toxic emotions. Tobacco, however, is either wrapped in corn husk, rolling paper, or put in a pipe and smoked. In this way, a person smokes the tobacco, and with gestures toward the four directions and the sky, offers it to the natural world and the Creator as an offering. These herbs or "medicines," especially tobacco, are excellent for clearing the mind and aiding in mental, spiritual, as well as physical health.

Answer 2

The Cree people are a tribe of Plains Native Americans who live in a wide range in the northern part North America, extending from Ontario to Saskatchewan, Canada and even down into some parts of Montana. They dwelt in these areas for thousands of years, and continue to live here, on and off reservations, today.

The Cree have very strong beliefs when it comes to both the spiritual and natural world. They believe that "Manitow" (Creator, God, Great Spirit), created the earth and everything in it, all of the living creatures as well as the natural and elemental forces and objects. They believe that everything on earth has a Spirit which Manitow has put inside of the creature or thing. They believe that humans and animals have a Spirit, but that other things such as rivers, lakes, plants, and even rocks have a Spirit as well. All of these things, they believe, are a part of the circle of life, the process of things being born or created, reaching maturity, experiencing physical death, and then traveling to the Spirit world with the other Spirits that have also passed through. In this way, even though death is inevitable, painful, and sorrowful, this belief makes it easier for the Cree people to, in a timely manner, mourn, heal, and have joy for their friend or relative who is now in the Spirit world with their ancestors.

Cree Native Americans also use different plants and herbal medicines such as sage, sweet grass, and tobacco. Though each one is used differently, these three iconic and traditional herbs are burned in different ways and used for healing and purification. Sage and sweet grass can be burned in ones home to purify it as well as to ward off evil Spirits and toxic emotions. Tobacco, however, is either wrapped in corn husk, rolling paper, or put in a pipe and smoked. In this way, a person smokes the tobacco, and with gestures toward the four directions and the sky, offers it to the natural world and the Creator as an offering. These herbs or "medicines," especially tobacco, are excellent for clearing the mind and aiding in mental, spiritual, as well as physical health.