Native American Animism

Origin myths are traditional stories pass down from generation to generation. The Earth’s on Turtle’s Back, When Grizzlies Walk Upright, and from The Navajo Origin Legend all revealed different customs, attitude, and beliefs. These aspects showed the lifestyles and culture of each tribe and how they all came to be. Each myths are far original and different, yet at the same time similar. They focused on natural aspects of how the world came to be. In the story of The Earth on Turtles Back, the Onondagas believed in the world came from a turtle’s back, this showed their beliefs in the animals are the original owners of earth and respects for the animals. Similarly, the Modoc’s also have great deference to animals and especially to grizzlies.

All religions strive to explain the beginning or creation of the world and it’s features. A divine being that creates the land and sea, the heavens, animals and man ( EAC 297 Myths and Legends). Creations stories vary from culture to culture, but some similarities and parallels can be made between cultures that are completely unconnected to one another. Two creation myths that have similarities between them are those of the Judeo-Christians and the Native American,namely, Navajo peoples. There are many differences in these myths in regards to what could be considered sacred numbers and in the sequence of events. However, despite the difference between these two myths, the similarities are worthy of note. Both the creation myths of the Native

that they needed to find land for her to rest on, which could only be

The Apache Creation Story is a reliving of the creation that takes on a more personal, familial and dialogue-based approach to how the world and mankind came to be. The story depicts how the natural environment was created, from the earth itself to the four cardinal points to the clouds, the animals, and the trees. Because of the nature of the Apache’s nomadic life, the legend remains generalized in terms of its location. Typically the story is told in order to preserve their tribal history as well as social and instructional purposes. These occasions range from the campfire to rites of passage to simply a parent teaching their child of their historical identity. The legend of creation is central to the spiritual practices and beliefs of the Apache, especially when it comes to their relationship with the natural world. As explained in the first two phrases of the story, “animals, elements, the solar system, and natural phenomena are revered by the Apaches.” By sharing this story with younger tribe members, the Apache engage them in understanding their traditions. It also teaches them of the morality they must have and pass on when it comes to nature, as Montejo mentions (21). It tells of the role of all living beings on earth and the importance of them all working harmoniously to keep the universe balanced.

Prior to European influences, many indigenous religions did not dichotomize the world into good and evil, and, as a result, natives interpreted their deities as both good and bad. When the town council describes their indigenous beliefs as “wicked,” this diction represents how European influences affected and shifted how natives interpretation of nature.

“One general truth that threads throughout the Native American spiritual beliefs is the belief of the Mother Earth spirituality” (Coll). They often called earth their mother and called father the air. The earth to the Natives is very sacred to them and is the most important thing to them. Most of the ceremonies were in some way revolving around the earth and they called earth “home.” Most of the ceremonies were practiced for many years and were passed down through generation to generation. The Native Americans didn’t have a book like the bible or any language that was written. One big thing they had was Totems. These were everywhere in their tribes and it was supposed to represent people and the animals that represented them. The Indians were supposed to have 7 spiritual animals and the many animals on the totems were supposed to represent all the person’s spiritual

Storytelling continues to be an integral part of Native American culture, providing us with an understanding of what was important to the Native Americans. Through their stories, Native Americans expressed an understanding of the environment, and the relationship that existed between themselves and their environment. These stories also provide us with a look at Native American legends, history, and a collection of knowledge critical to their survival. Native American stories are deeply rooted in their relationship with Mother Earth. Their many years connected with land, life, water and sky has created many stories explaining these important bonds with Mother Earth. From ancient times the Native Americans have looked to their

The first Americans Also believed in Wakon,da a powerful god to them, whom they believed in, they believed that he created all things, made the land they also believed in life after death and immorality that made earthly life secure and pleasant; they expressed their feelings for nature as in peace and confidence. Different native religions evolved to match their needs and lifestyle Religious traditions of aboriginal people around the world tend to be heavily influenced by their methods of acquiring food, with great hunting skills or by agriculture. Native American spirituality is no exception. Traditional Wakon’da, spirituality is a form of religious belief that each thing, plant and animal has a spirit. The Native American spirituality has an inseparable connection between the spirituality and the culture. One cannot exist without the other. Before Europeans took over the land the Native Americans had their own laws, as they do know, but one of the most important laws was to respect and keep peace with others around them. The folk art

Prior to the arrival of colonial settlers “all but the simplest indigenous cultures in North America had developed coherent religious systems that included cosmologies—creation myths, transmitted orally from one generation to the next, which purported to explain how those societies had come into being” (NationalHumanitiesCenter). Most Native Americans worshipped a single all-knowing all-powerful creator that would take on a variety of forms and roles. Tribal creator gods varied by region, but the Great Spirit was worshipped in several areas by many tribes. Native Americans, unlike their Christian counterparts tended to believe in multiple gods which had control on other aspects of their lives. Native ceremonial traditions varied by differing

Native Americans believe that people are a total of their relationships (Deloria, 2003). Deloria (2003) goes on to add that these relationships include the winged and four-legged creatures and the streams and mountains, and stars and moons and of their experiences and those of their ancestors to include the metaphysical world.

Probably the most convincing references to nature are the names of the different people and places in the myth. "Tan (Corn), Lokatsosakad (Standing Reed), Holatsi Dilyile (dark ants), Holasti Litsi (red ants), Tanilai (dragon flies), Maitsan (dung beetles), Wonisttsidikai (white locusts), Thaltlahale (Blue Heron), Tsal (Frog), Grasshopper People, and Locusts" (Long 44-50). These are only a few of the references to insects, animals, and land that are supposed to represent people and places in the myth. Just by reading the myth one time it is easy to see that the Navajo appreciated and were at one with their natural surroundings. In "every way, here (they) are connected to the land." Their people "would not be in balance with Mother Earth and Sky Father and the spiritual people (without land)," claimed Mary T Begay, a Navajo Elder, about how the white man is forcing her people to reservations. "We are part of Mother Earth's heart." said another Navajo Elder (Navajo Religion). So, the most important thing we can learn from the Navajo Myth is how their society valued the land and their natural surroundings.

The Iroquois Creation Myths serve as an example of what Native American beliefs were prior to Spanish colonization. They believed that people were in the sky and

In “The Navajo Origin Legend”, buckskins, eagle feathers, and corn stalks were turned into a man and woman: “The white ear of corn had been changed into a man, the yellow ear into a woman. It was the wind that gave them life.” Taking care of the land is the same as taking care of one another. The land is the key to happiness in this myth. In “White Buffalo Woman”, the white buffalo woman changed into three different types of buffalo after leaving the camp. “The people gazing after her were amazed to see that when she stood up she had become a young red and brown buffalo calf. When she stood up [again] she was a white buffalo. The white buffalo walked on until she was a bright speck in the distant prairie, and then rolled over again, and became a black buffalo.” This transformation witnessed by the tribe teaches all different types of life comes from the

Native Americans use many different ways of incorporating nature into their oral traditions. The respect for each creature is evident in the way they are portrayed.

Classifying one set of Native American religion is nearly impossible, since these religious beliefs and traditions passed from generation to generation by verbal communication only. With the spread of Christianity, some Native American religions were altered; however, they continued to follow a majority of their initial traditions (Ellwood & Alles, 1998). Focus will be placed on the general concepts that relate to the majority of Native American religions.