6 Trait Model forNative Spirituality

1.) Religious Experience:• Polytheistic (belief in many gods) vs. monotheistic

(belief in 1 God) • One Supreme Creator-made Holy Mother Earth• Power in the universe is shared with other

Personified Spirits-like the god of the sea “The Sea Woman”

• For Aboriginals, connecting with God means connecting with nature. Nature is very important.

2.) Sacred Stories: • There are 5 Common myths in Aboriginal

Spirituality- Creation, Trickster, Hero, Divine, Cultural Myths

• These myths deal with a wide range of topics- how the earth began, how the gods came to be, how suffering came to be, etc.

• Rich tradition of sacred stories passed down to share morals/values as well.

3.) Symbols and Rituals: • Vision quest – coming of age ceremony (Pg 43)• Totems – protective entity in the form of an

animal, natural object or plant (Hand-out)• Sweat lodge – physical and spiritual healing (Pg

40)• Tree of Peace (Pg41)• Eagle feather – symbol of strength (Page 26-27)• Smudging ceremony – sweet grass is burned and

smudged (Page #55)• Sun Dance, Potlatch Ceremony, Shaking Tent, Morning Dance, Sweatlodge.

4.) Community of Faith: • Elders: The importance of them. • Shamans: believed to have a special connection

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

• Faithkeepers- How traditions are passed on• 6 Aboriginal Cultural Groups In Canada:

5.) Teaching and Doctrine: • Animism: • Re-Incarnation: Understanding about death and the

afterlife. • Treat the environment with reverence because it

keeps us alive• Be able to understand the connection between Aboriginals and the environment.• David Suzuki’s Nature Challenge

6.) Morality/Ethics: • life depends on treating the environment with

respect and dignity-Principles of the Earth Charter

• concern for the common good – work together• respect all things of the Creator • do not let technology overtake spirituality• Code of Handsome Lake

EXPERT TERMS/CONCEPTS

• Polytheistic• Animism• The Golden Rule• Cosmocentric• Nostra Aetate• Shaman• Perspective• Pictography

• Mystery• Code of Handsome

Lake• Trickster• Vision Quest• Elder• Earth Charter• Sweat Lodge• 6 Trait Model