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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.
383 Questions
What is the symbolism of a bear?
Strength, Might, Honor, Glory, Aloneness, Wisdom
my answer I got from the Mescalero Apaches during a session with culture was he is the Grand father to other tribes he may be a different symbol...
Did the Europeans ban potlatch?
Yes, the Canadian Government banned them in the Indian Act, signed on April 19, 1884, it was declared that:
"Every Indian or other person who engages in or assists in celebrating the Indian festival known as the "Potlatch" or in the Indian dance known as the "Tamanawas" is guilty of a misdemeanor, and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than six nor less than two months in any gaol or other place of confinement; and every Indian or persons who encourages… an Indian to get up such a festival… shall be liable to the same punishment"
It was largely unenforced however. Almost no one was ever charged. It was gradually made harder to enforce and repealed in 1951.
US Indian agents and missionaries tried to ban it as well but they were hugely out numbered and never had much success.
What are the Spritual meanings for aboriginal colours?
red is the earth and the relationship with the land, yellow is the sun, and black is the Aboriginal peoples.
Do Indians believe that if a large brown owl stays around for 3 days it means death?
Some of the Southeastern Tribes do believe Owls to be a bad sign.
What is the Native American meaning of a swallow?
In the Lakota culture, the swallow is the messenger of the West direction. He was first the messenger of Wakinyan, the thunder, but was rewarded to one of the four brothers, Eya when Eya set his direction. Coincidentally, the swallow also appears most often at dusk when the sun is in the west. Thunderstorms also tend to begin at dusk.
(From Sons of the Wind, by D.M. Dooling)
In Navajo culture, the swallow people are powerful beings in the second, blue world. After emerging from the previous, black, first world the people met the swallows. They made things unpleasant for the beings from the first world with their fighting. In the end the disorder in this world lead to the escape to the third yellow world. In most versions ( but not all), this current world is the fourth world.
In this world, swallows and other blue birds are associated with the Southern, sacred, blue mountain. It is called Tsoodzil (Mt Taylor). It is located north of Grants, NM. This mountain and the beings that live there are associated with: blue, south, midday, female rain, turquoise, summer, young adulthood, blue corn, and planning, learning and goals. Cougar guards it.
What is the meaning of a cloud shaped like a dove?
It means the creator is amusing us by making cloud animals.
Why did the Chumash burn the dead?
The Chumash Indians did not burn their dead. Instead they were buried in the fetal position facing west.
What are the Powhatan's Indians gods?
Ahone- the benevolent or "good" God
&
Okeua- the malevolent or "evil" God
Are there intresting facts about totem poles.?
Totem poles are used for a variety of reasons like, graveboxes, house decor, to shame another clan or family, to tell a story or just to increase the status of ones clan. In the 1800's christian missionaries believed these totem poles to be devil worshiping devices and ordered the tribes to cease making them all together! Totem poles usually take 6-12 months to be created and have an average of nine characters carved into the wood!
- The world's oldest totem pole is located in Canada.
3. The world's tallest totem pole is located in Washington, although there is much dispute regarding this issue.
- Modern day totem poles were first made during the early 1700's.
- The world's thickest totem pole is made from Cedar trees and is located in Vancouver.
5. The world's largest collection of totem poles is located in British Colombia, Canada.
6. Unpainted totem poles aren't always fake.
7. Native American's aren't the only group to have constructed totem poles.
totem poles are also made to bring honour to those who had recently died.
Totem Poles come from North America
Totem Poles are very dear to make
A carver makes the totem pole for the tribe after it has been carved they have a big cermoney.
Want more facts look at WWW.UHSTOTEMPOLESPROJECT.COM
In the Pearl the Indians think of God as the gods What does this indicate of their religious belief?
It reveals that there is a mixture between Catholicism and their ancient beliefs.
How do you get the spirit of a wolf?
the way to get the wolf spirit is to look deeply in yourself. think of the
animal ,breathe deeply then try to make your life better
Answer
Some spirits come and go as they are needed to teach a specific lesson others choose to walk beside you for long periods of time or even life. Wolf came to me by his own decision and has walked by my side through out my life. If you need Wolfs help meditate. First relax and clear your mind, then let your heart and soul take you to a place where you are at peace where ever that might be. My place is near a waterfall deep within the wood far from civilization, some have told me that it is best to visualize the terrain which you would find that animal I have not found this to be true. When you have come to your place within your mind call to Wolf tell him/her why you need them. Now they may not come right away they may show up when you least expect them or when you need them most however there are times that the spirits believe you do not need their help but actually need the help of another spirit and will not come. But what ever you do speaking as one who walks with Wolf daily for 28 years do not disrespect Wolf. Wolf is a creature of pride and respect especially when it comes to the pack his/her family. Show Wolf respect and be humble for Wolf if he/she comes has come to answer you cry for help and to teach you, but it should be this way for any spirit that comes to answer you cry for help.
crows normally represent death or death soon to come. they're bad omens and supposedly they have the souls of demons.
Well, sorry to say this to the recent answer but a crow in many countries represents intellegence and often back in the past the people with the last name crow were thought to be pranksters and did bad things not nessicarily evil
The origin of the word Shaman is from the Tungus people, who would be considered asian.
What is important to the Sioux?
The special thing about The Sioux is that they are a unique tribe. Probably the only two tribes that participated in the battle of the little bighorn. Sioux Indians are special.
What is spiritual meaning of the name Heather?
Celtic derivation. one of 13 sacred druidic plants.
think heather, think honey, think bees and think money
What was the religion for the Pamlico Indians?
The Englishmen who first explored the Albemarle and Pamlico Sound region in the 1580s, and attempted to establish a permanent colony on Roanoke Island, frequently referred to the native American inhabitants as "savages." Yet, by their own descriptions, Sir Walter Ralegh's emissaries found the Indians to be "most gentle, loving and faithful, devoid of all guile treason, and such as live after the manner of the golden age."
This apparent contradiction might be explained by the fact that though the Indians were deeply religious, they worshipped idols and paid homage to more than one god, and thus were considered heathens by English standards.
Thomas Harriot, who wrote detailed descriptions of coastal North Carolina and the native Indians after a stay of nearly a year in the area, made a serious effort to convert them to Christianity. "Some religion they have already,", he admitted, "which although it be far from the truth, there is hope it may be the easier and sooner reformed."
According to Harriot, the Indians believed that there was "one only chief and great God, which has been from all eternity," but when he decided to create the world he started out by making petty gods, "to be used in the creation and government to follow." One of these petty gods he made in the form of the sun, another the moon, and still others as stars. The water was created next, at which point the petty gods proceeded to make "all diversity of creatures that are visible or invisible."As for mankind, "they say a woman was made first, which by the working of one of the gods, conceived and brought forth children."
The Indians represented all of the gods "by images in the form of men, which they call Kewasowok," with a single god called a Kewas. "Then they place in houses appropriate or temples, which they call Machicomuck, where they worship, pray, sing, and make many times offering unto them." Harriot reported that he had seen some of the temples or Machicomuck in which there was only a single Kewas, and others with two or three. One of the temples, shown in an engraving of the John White drawing of the "Towne of Pomeiooc," was a circular structure with a pagoda-like roof, "covered with skinne mattes."
"They believe also the immortality of the soul," Harriot said. "After this life as soon as the soul is departed from the body, according to the work it has done, it is either carried to heaven the habitat of the gods, there to enjoy perpetual bliss and happiness, or else to a great pit or hole, which they think to be in the furtherest parts of their part of the world toward the sunset, there to burn continually. The place they call Popogusso."
The Indians took special care in cultivating and then curing a plant called uppowoc, which they smoked in clay pipes, especially on festive occasions. This, of course, was tobacco, and Harriot reported that it was held in such "precious estimation among them they think their gods are marvelously delighted therewith"and accordingly offered it to the gods in special tribute. "Sometimes they make hallowed fires, and cast some of the powder therein for a sacrifice. Being in a storm upon the waters, to pacify their gods, they cast some up into the air and into the water. So a weare (a net) for fish being newly set up, they cast some therein and into the air. Also after an escape from danger, they cast some into the air likewise, but all done with strange gestures, stamping, sometimes dancing, clapping of hands, holding up of hands, and staring up into the heavens, uttering therewithal, and chattering strange words and noises."
In an effort to convert these "savages" Harriot said "In every towne where I cam...I made declaration of the contents of the Bible, that therein was set forth the true and only God." But there is no indication that Harriot's missionary work resulted in any of the native Americans giving up smoking their tobacco.
What is a person called when they can take over another persons body if that person is sleeping?
Over take
The Indians began to believe that their gods had deserted them partly because?
The Indians just believed their gods - oh brother!
