Native American Religion is a vast subject that covers the religious beliefs, rituals, ceremonies and practices of the indigenous people of North America. Native American religion is characterized by the religious belief that spirits are present in all things, both animate and inanimate. The Native American religion and religious beliefs are centered around the environment and the natural world of animals, birds, insects, plants, herbs and trees, natural phenomena such as rocks, mountains, rivers, lakes, and clouds and celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, planets and stars.
The Shaman and Spirituality
In Native American religion lies the belief that the living are intimately connected with the souls, or spirits, of the dead. Spirituality features in Native American Religion in which beliefs or religious practices are based on communication with the spirit world through mediums known as a Shaman or Medicine Man, who also acted as healers. The are many stories, legends and myths about the Creator who is generally referred to as the Great Spirit. American Indian religion and beliefs were highly localized according to the traditions of different tribes so that it is not possible to fully define Native American Religion. It can only be explained by describing the beliefs, religious practices, ceremonies and rituals that featured prominently in their belief systems.
Beliefs and Religious Practises
Native American religion uses help and guidance from the spirit world in order to treat the whole person - the mind, body and spirit. The following table describes many of the beliefs and religious practises that feature in American Indian religion.
Religious Practises
Great Spirit
The Great Spirit is the supreme being and principal deity of Native American Indians.
Native American Religions:
Shamanism
Shamanism encompasses a range of beliefs and practices regarding communication with the spiritual world in which a religious leader, like a Shaman, enters supernatural realms or dimensions to obtain solutions to problems including sickness
Animism
Animism is a religious belief that all natural objects within the universe, have souls or spirits. It is believed that spirits exist not only in humans but also in animals, plants, trees, mountains rocks etc.
Fetishism
Fetishism is a subordinate branch of animism encompassing the doctrine of spirits embodied, attached or conveying influence through, certain animals or material objects
Medicine Man
The Medicine Man is a priestly healer and spiritual leader who enters supernatural realms particularly when the tribe is facing adversity
Herbalism and Spiritual Healing
Herbalism is a traditional medicinal practice based on the use of herbs, plants and plant extracts as the source of healing remedies. The use of herbs is combined with Spiritual Healing to treat the whole person - the mind, body and spirit.
Animal Spirit - Spirit Guide
An Animal Spirit, or spirit guide, walks through life with a person, teaching and guiding them, and in some instances protecting them.
Sweat Lodge
The Sweat Lodge ceremony, or purification ritual, accompanies important events such a rite of passage ceremony, marriage or healing
Native American Religion: Medicine Bag
A Medicine Bag was a special, sacred container for various objects, or amulets, of supernatural power used by a Shaman, to carry 'medicine', or symbols, of animal spirits good luck, protection and strength in battle.
Smudging Ritual
Smudging is a traditional Native American method of burning sacred herbs to produce a smoke cloud which is used in various cleansing or prayer ceremonies and purification or healing rituals.
Vision Quest - Spiritual Journey
Trance State
A Vision Quest is an attempt to achieve a vision of a future guardian spirit through the process of fasting, isolation and meditation. A Vision Quest or Spiritual Journey was sometimes accompanied by the inducement of a Trance State for the purpose of attaining guidance or knowledge from supernatural forces or spirits.
Beliefs and Religious Practises
American Indian Religion:
Totemism
Totemism was practiced by Northwest Indian tribes and centered around the belief of having a natural object or animate being, such as as a bird or animal, as the emblem of a family, clan, or tribe.
Totem Poles
A totem is an emblem displayed on a Totem Poles, such as an animal or plant, that is believed to have spiritual significance and watches over the family, clan, or tribe symbolizing their guardian spirit
Potlatch
A Potlatch Ceremony is an opulent ceremonial feast to celebrate an important event held by tribes of Northwest Indians of North America
Kiva
A Kiva is a special sacred building, usually built underground, that is used for spiritual ceremonies, religious rituals and ceremonial preparations by the Pueblo Native Americans and strongly associated with the Kachina belief system.
Kachina
Kachinas are deified ancestral spirits of the Pueblo people and spirits of natural phenomena. The term Kachina is also applied to a masked dancer believed to embody a particular spirit during a religious ceremony or ritual
Prayer Sticks
A Prayer Stick is used to make offerings and petitions to the spirit world. Prayer Sticks are most often associated with rituals relating to religious ceremonies particularly of the Southwest Native American tribes.