What inspired ghost dances?

Answer 1

Ghost Dances were inspired by a spiritual movement among Native American tribes in the late 19th century, particularly the Lakota Sioux. The movement sought to restore Native American cultures and way of life, which had been severely disrupted by colonization and violence. Influenced by the visions of a Paiute prophet named Wovoka, followers believed that performing the Ghost Dance would bring about the return of deceased ancestors and the restoration of their lands. This spiritual and cultural revival aimed to empower Indigenous peoples in the face of oppression.