Native Spirituality
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Transcript of Native Spirituality
Native Spirituality
Religious Experience:
• Believe in many gods• Believe in one creator• Believe that animals, plants and objects have a
living spirit
Sacred Stories: • Some tribes believe they came out of the ground
on Turtle Island• Archaeologists believe they came to America from
Russia across a frozen land bridge • Rich tradition of sacred stories passed down to
share morals/values
Symbols and Rituals: • Vision quest – coming of age ceremony• Totems – protective entity in the form of an animal, natural
object or plant• Sweat lodge – physical and spiritual healing • Fours of the earth – north, south, east, west & earth, air, fire and
water & fall, winter, spring, summer & infant, child, adult, old age • Sacred pipe – “when you pray with this pipe, you pray for
everything”• Eagle feather – symbol of strength• Smudging ceremony – sweet grass is burned and smudged • Pow-wow – gathering – drums signify the
heartbeat of the earth• Medicine wheels
Community of Faith: • Shamans believed to have a special connection to
spirit world- so they lead ceremonies and help to interpret vision quests
• Shamans and elders memorize stories and pass on traditions
• Elders and young children have a special connection to the spirit world
Teaching and Doctrine: • All human activity should be set within the natural
order of the cosmos• Pay homage to sacrifices ( animals they need to kill
to survive ) • Treat the environment with reverence because it
keeps us alive
Ethics: • life depends on treating the environment with
respect and dignity• concern for the common good – work together• believe in the wisdom of the elderly and very young• respect all things of the Creator • do not let technology overtake spirituality