answersLogoWhite

0

🕯

Native American Spirituality

Native American Spirituality refers to the teachings, traditions, rituals and stories of the First Peoples of North America. As these teachings vary, between Peoples, generic answers sometimes can be misleading and answers should refer to the teachings of a particular People or group of Peoples whenever possible.

500 Questions

What is the climate of makah?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

The Makah live in the farthest north west part of Washington State on the Pacific coast and on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The warmest average temperature is around 74 in the summer and a high of 44 in the coldest month. It hardly ever gets much colder than the low 30s. There is about 94 inches of rain a year. It is a temperate rain forest.

What does the feather represent to native Americans?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

The feathers of Eagles are sacred to Native Americans. They are Creators gift to those with honor. They are used for prayer and given during sacred ceremonies to those who have earned them. Since the eagle is a protected bird in the US, Enrolled Native Americans must get on a waiting list to receive them from the US Game and Wildlife. Native Americans are the only US citizens who are allowed to be in possession of the feathers.

What is Creek Indian Religion?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Seeing as how each Native American tribe had their own individual beliefs, it is hard to state a definite "religion" that the Creek Nation had. As far as what they believed in, well that requires much research and I can't explain it in this response. My advice is that you research this topic further on.

What did southwest native Americans eat?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

They ate the three sisters, or corn, beans, and squash.

If your great-great-grandmother was an American Indian are you considered an Indian and what percentage?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Presuming that there is no other Indian blood in the lineage, you would be 1/16th American Indian. Whether or not you would be legally considered an Indian, depends on which tribe your G-Grandmother was enrolled in. All tribes have different requirements that would-be members need to meet for enrollment; including a minimum blood quantum. Assuming your specific tribe accepts a minimum Indian blood quantum of 1/16 or more, and all other requirements are met for enrollment- then yes, you're legally Indian.

What does a Mohawk hairstyle represent?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Man eaters and kanienkehaka which means people of the flint.

What kind of gods did the plains Indians believe in?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

they would believe that their was something called the happy hunting ground and if you died then you would go to it and their would be all animals that are easier to hunt, its basically like heaven but with animals that are easier to hunt.

What were some beliefs of the Comanche tribe?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

I heard one that might be interesting, if were true, a Comanche warrior was killed they would bury them under a rock in the desert with their possessions so they could cross over to the happy hunting ground, but if they were not whole example, missing their eyes to see or blind or a body part they would be doomed to wander the spirit world

How is native American religion different from mainstream religions?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Well, Asians are obviously from Asia, in the east, while native Americans live around the United States area. Native Americans practice a different religion than Asians. Asian religion can vary from Christian, to Hinduism, to Pentecostal to Chinese religions to Pakistani religions, and so on.

Another answer:

If you are meaning the religions that began in those areas, the biggest differences are the gods or spirits, the methods and traditions, and the names thereof. Liek all religions many of the fundamental aspects are the same. In native American and most Asian religions, they are polytheistic(multiple gods), and most are respectful of the Earth. But in Shinto, Taoism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, there is more of a focus on self improvement and reflection, than in Tribal religions the focus is more often community and elders. This is from my limited knowledge of Native American religions, which are numerous and varied.

What did Native American children learn?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Native Americans learned by observing others and animals. They learned from the teaching of their elders. Also there were normally storytellers charged with telling stories of their creation and histories. They played games which prepared them for life.

Did Native Americans have gods?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Native Religions did not have "Gods" as you use the term. "God" as you use the term (Jewdao-Christian beliefs) is a direct contrast to the "Greater Spirits" that were symbolized by Native Religions.

How did food sources for Native Americans of North and Northwest differ from those of Native Americans living in the west and southwest?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

The environment and what could grow our survive their would have been a factor. Some natives lived in settlements and others were more migratory in respect to game animals.

Why were visions important to the Indians?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Visions were and are important to Indians because it is their direct connection to the spirit world and the Creator. As traditional Indians follow the guidance of the spirits, they listen to what they say. The easiest way to know what the spirits want to show you is through visions. It is not, however, easy for most people to have visions. Visions can come to you in dreams or while you are awake, while your are meditating or not. They should always be listened to.

Do Aztecs and Mayan have the same religion?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Kinda,you should study the Mayans and Egyptians.They do have a lot of stuff in common though.

How did the Aztecs follow the spanish religion?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

The Spanish enslaved the Indians and threatened them with death if they did not convert to Christianity. The Indians converted for self preservation.

What does the cheyenne tribe wear?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Cheyenne men of the early 1800s wore tanned leather breechclouts, long at front and back, with thigh-length legging with triangular flaps each side decorated with shells, deer hooves and fringes. The inside face of these flaps was painted red or orange.

No shirts at all were worn before contact with explorers; then they adopted very long shirts of mountain sheep, deer or antelope skins, often painted yellow and heavily fringed.

Women originally wore a simple dress of two skins with removable sleeves. Later they wore two-skin or three-skin dresses typical of all Plains tribes, with animal legs hanging from the sleeves and an unusual amount of fringe. Elk teeth were sewn on in rows, so many that a single dress might weigh 10 or 12 pounds. Dresses were often painted yellow, a favourite colour of the Cheyenne. Leggings were short and decorated with fringes and yellow paint; sometimes they were sewn to the moccasins to form "boots".

After about 1820 hard-soled moccasins were made with or without ankle flaps, often with two tails of leather at the heels.

Robes of tanned deer, elk or buffalo hide were worn in cool weather.

Men wore their hair stiffened and brushed up at the front, or long and loose, or braided on one side, or with a kind of cascade falling to one side of the face. Women wore their hair in two braids doubled up and fastened behind the head or behind each ear, or loose and flowing. No headbands were worn.

A few warriors wore the Sioux-style feather warbonnet, the straight-up warbonnet (like the Blackfoot version) or a headdress of buffalo horns. Some wore the skins of animals wrapped around the head like a turban but most wore no headgear.

See links below for images:

Who founded shamanism?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

The earliest knowledge regarding Shamanism comes from Russian anthropologists when they studied tribal nomadic herders in Siberia in the 19th century. Their detailed descriptions of the spiritual practitioners the tribesmen called Shamans, led to the term being continued by anthropologists and historians.

A wonderful book detailing the origins of this, and other primitive practises, is Dawn Behind the Dawn: A Search for the Earthly Paradise, by Geoffrey Ashe.

Who is the plains Indians' god?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

The Plains Indians followed no single religion. Animist religion was an important part of a Great Plains Indians' life, as they believed that all things possessed spirits. Their worship was centered on one main god, in the Sioux language Wakan Tanka(the Great Spirit). The Great Spirit had power over everything that had ever existed, and the Plains Indians believed that by worshiping him they would become stronger. Earth was also quite important, as she was the mother of all spirits. Spirits were worshiped daily. People sometimes prayed alone, while other times there were group gatherings. The most important group ceremony was the Sun Dance, in which participants danced for four days around a sacred object, and some would inflict harm upon themselves on purpose, all while staring at the sun. They believed this self-sacrifice would encourage powerful spirits to support and defend them.

When do powwows take place?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Pow wows mean to gather together. They can be celebration specific, for example a harvest gathering or they can be held because it is the most convenient time for people to get together. Sometimes it is simply the best time to have a fundraiser. For example a local college may sponsor a pow wow at the beginning of Homecoming week to earn money for scholarships for American Indian students.

What religion were Indians?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

American Indian beliefs are as varied as the tribes themselves. There was no "one-size fits all" religion. Each tribe, and oftimes each clan, had their own spiritual belief system as well as their own celebrations and ceremonies. As a very general rule, most honored Creator and His worlds. Those worlds included the spiritual world, the physical world and the animal world, all of which are intricately interconnected.

What were the spiritual beliefs of the maliseet Indians?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

In Mi;kmaq tradition, Kisu'lk pronounced gee-soolg is the one who made everything. Sometimes Kisu'lk is referred to as Kji Niskam (Jee nis-gam), or the Great Spirit. Neither word implies gender, because it is not important whether the Great Spirit is a he or a she.

The Mi'kmaq people do not explain how the Great Spirit came into existence, only that Creator is responsible for everything being where it is today.

Every person has their own spiritual path. Many Mi'kmaq have a spirit name and a spirit guide. Once you know these things you become aware of both their role in your life as well as your role in this particular life. It brings meaning to your existence.

Your spirit name was given to you the moment your spirit came into being and follows you from life to life and is known in the spirit world.

Spirit Guides are animal spirits, the Bear (Muin) or the Moose (Tiam) or maybe a bird like the Eagle (Kitpu) or the Owl (Kokokwes). Each spirit has with it certain traits and strengths, and those of your personal guide are the best for your needs while you are here. Once you have learned to acknowledge and listen your Spirit Guide, it is much easier to stay on your path.

Did the Shawnee Indians believe in God?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Yes they did Answer: The Shawnee did not believe in the Christian God before contact with Europeans. They had their own pantheon of gods and goddesses with their own areas of specialization. Post contact there may have been several adoptions of deities roles and responsibilities.

The Shawnees have unique belief among the Algonquin peoples in believing that creator was a woman called "Kokumthena"(Our Grandmother). She is human like female with gray hair whose size ranges from gigantic to very small. Creation wasn't her idea but was assigned to her by "Moneto". Her job is not finished as she also gets to end the world when it is time. She is the most important figure in Shawnee religion. This belief in a female creator/destroyer may have developed after 1824, some studies indicate she may have been patterned after the Virgin Mary. The Supreme Being is Moneto. He gets to reward and punish folks who earn his favour or annoy him.

The "Great Sprit" is ruler of destinies, who is subordinate to Moneto. The "Great Spirit" lives in a home in the sky.

There is alway a "devil". For the Shawnee there is is a great white spirit who will try to change the creator's designs and shorten the years of the Shawnees, and The Great Horned Serpent who will come from the sea to destroy the Shawnees. The serpent is a common motif to the Great Lakes tribes.

A demi-god called Misignwa parallels T'sonoqua of the British Columbia tribes. He/she is a protector of the woods and animals (and an eater of children)

There are three weather controlling gods:

* Cyclone Person, a female face with braids of hair that cause tornadoes.

* The four winds

* The Thunderbirds which cause storms and lightening. They also serve as war totems