Native Americans Essay

The Huichol Indians are an indigenous group that lives “in the Sierra Madre Mountains of northwestern Mexico” (Woolcott). The Huichol religion is an animistic religion. According to Dr. Pamela Lindell, animistic religions are “religions that believe that all of nature – humans, animals, plants, rocks, the ocean, etc. - is animated by spirits and souls” (“Professor’s Notes 2” 3). To better understand the Huichol Indians and their religion, this paper examines Huichol myth, symbolism, rituals, religious specialists, and deities from various anthropological perspectives.

Although both North American, Mesoamerican, and South American Indians were similar in that they were polytheistic since they worshipped several Gods and they lived according to their environment. In fact, geography played a critical role in their lifestyle. In some instances, their predecessors shaped their culture such was the case for the Hopi whose ancestors were the Pueblo who built their homes in the southwest region of the U.S.

The Indian culture was negatively changed because the Indians’ religion was based upon believing many gods controlled their way of being, while Christianity was based on one supreme being who controls the universe. Common Indian gods included a god for the Sun, Moon, land or the Earth, the creator, and water (Nature). In the Cherokee tribe, the Creator is named Unetlanvhi (oo-nay-hla-nuh-hee or oo-net-la-nuh-hee) (“Legendary”). Some of the other “Creators” in other tribes include Maheu in the Cheyenne tribe, Gitchie Manitou in the Ojibway tribe, and Ahone in the Powhatan tribe (“Legendary”). With all the different types of gods in Indian cultures, the Indians used many spiritual rituals to worship these gods (Religion). Some of the rituals included feasts, music, dances, and other performances. The relationship of the Indian to nature (spirits, land, weather) was tantamount (Religion).

The worldviews and value system of the indigenous people was highly based on religion and community centrism(Cruz 2012). Religion influenced the Indigenous peoples' entire lives, particularly their daily activities, sacrifices, geographic location and their calendars. Community centrism impacted major aspects of their lives such as their form of rule, and whether or not they became educated.

The lifestyle was fairly lax yet at the same time they knew when they needed to prepare for war or a new move. Some of the customs the Cheyenne had included the smoking of a peace pipe and the prayer made before each smoke. Another tradition was their story telling. Skilled story-telling Indians performed all stories told and these stories were about true-life situations. The Cheyenne tribe actually passed on these stories as well as their customs, religious ceremonies, and traditions orally from generation to generation. This could be the reason on why the Cheyenne were not actually discovered until the 1600s. One of the largest beliefs of the Cheyenne had to do with religion, though. They believed in two deities: the Wise One Above and a God who lived beneath the ground. Also, there were four spirits that lived at the points of the compass that they followed everywhere (Lewis). Because the culture of many Indian tribes differed greatly from the United States, there were conflicts between whites and Indians.

Chiefs felt at ease to alter aboriginal architectural to suit their own aesthetic appeal and desire. They were quick to “incorporate western notions of domestic space than the commoners in more rural areas”. Now, western elements were considered as only the elite few could afford. The chiefs “opened [their] houses for a more public display of status-enhancing European goods” (Ladegoged, #). By 1837, even local houses used material found in Hawaii but with more Western elements incorporated into the design of architecture, for example “windows, high ceilings and large portal entrances” (“Hawaii

Ceremonies and rituals are critical to the Native American culture. This culture also considers these rituals as a part of their religion. When referring to religion it’s not the same as the way

There are three key patterns seen in most Native American religions they are the human relationship with nature, framing of time and space and respect for gods/ancestors. The human relationship with nature known as animism, everything is seen as part of the same reality and every object has a spirt, is a practice where there is little distinction between humans and animals. Time and space is sacred, cyclical,

In terms of nomos, the Hopis’ religion served just as well as any could have. At birth babies are born onto sacred sand. When they need rain for crops, the Katcinas dance in the plaza. To live a healthy life and bear many children, Hopi’s have intercourse with the Salt Woman. These rituals and traditions make sense to the Hopi and provide mental security. It shields them from terror and imposes a meaningful order upon reality, as put in The Sacred Canopy. The Hopi can use their religion to eschew helplessness and a fear of being spiritually alone in the world. It provides them with answers and makes them calm and happy. These qualities make their religion successful as defined by The Sacred Canopy’s requirement of nomization for a meaningful life.

The Hawaiian Islands are well known for their beauty, tranquility, and unique culture that have shaped this state into what we see today. The special bond that the natives have formed between themselves and nature is not exactly one of a kind, but it is something that can truly be admired. Around approximately 300 AD, Hawaii was discovered by Polynesians who arrived by canoe from Tahiti. These migrants brought their polytheistic spirituality and formed a large intricate society with hierarchies consisting of many chiefs. Alongside the ruling of the chiefs, the newborn Hawaiians followed a strict belief system known as Kapu akua otherwise known as the “law of the gods”. The Kapu was a strict set of rules and restraints that dictated all

The Quapaws believed the sun; moon and even plants and animals all proposed gifts that could help humans. There was many beliefs that was strange to me but one that stood out the mainly to me was that married women wore their hair loose while unmarried women wove their hair in braids, decorated with ornaments and was tucked behind their ears. There were the Osages and they were located on the Missouri and Osages River they were somewhat like the Quapaws but where only men hunted with the Quapaws in the Osages group all the men, women and children that were of age participated in the hunt. The strangest group to me was the Tunica group rather than a woman taking care of the crops this was the men’s duties. Most of these groups had there on beliefs and roles. The men and women had duties and tasks to do which contributed to the lands and their families. There were various different types of languages. Quapaw and Osage spoke a dhegihan dialect where the Caddos spoke various Caddoan

Before Christianity was introduced to Alaska, the natives believed and practiced Shamanism.

The world view of the Navajo who had lived for many centuries on the high Colorado Plateau was one of living in balance with all of nature, as the stewards of their vast homeland which covered parts of four modern states. They had no concept of religion as being something separate from living day to day and prayed to many spirits. It was also a matriarchal society and had no single powerful leader as their pastoral lifestyle living in scattered independent family groups require no such entity. This brought them repeatedly into conflict with Spanish, Mexicans and increasingly by the mid-nineteenth century, Americans as these practices were contrary to their male dominated religiously monolithic societal values. The long standing history

The Pueblo indians believed in the kachinas.This religion is the main religion for many of the Pueblo tribes.While the Pueblo tribe would perform the ritual they would wear an ornate mask. They would do there worshiping in a kiva which was a square room/building that was underground.Pueblo Indians live mainly in New Mexico, Texas and Arizona.The most practiced religion by the Pueblo people was Kachina. A kachina is a Pueblo spirit being. They are used for religious ceremonies. There are more than 400 different kachinas in the Pueblo culture.The kachina is not worshipped, but is viewed as a powerful being. The kachina can use its power for human good, bringing rainfall, healing, fertility, or protection.

Hopi Kachina dolls are effigies made of cottonwood that embody the characteristics of the ceremonial Kachina, the masked spirits of the Hopi Native American tribe. Kachina dolls are objects meant to be treasured and studied, in order to learn the characteristics of each Kachina. Inuit dolls are made out of soapstone and bone, materials common to the Inuit people. Many are clothed with animal fur or skin. Their clothing articulates the traditional style of dress necessary to survive cold winters, wind, and snow. The tea dolls of the Innu people were filled with tea for young girls to carry on long journeys. Apple dolls are traditional North American dolls with a head made from dried apples. In Inca mythology Sara Mama was the goddess of grain.