The Lakota Ceremony

Heyoka or 'sacred clown', in the Lakota society, 'is viewed as a very powerful and important person'. When one has a vision of thunder-beings he is called by Wakinyan, the Thunder Being, to be a Heyoka. A vital role that entails him doing everything in contrary to what is meant. This often means violating social norms, a contradiction that causes many observers to feel that the Heyoka practices are foolish and sac-religious. However, the Heyoka play a particularly vital role in the religion of the Lakota. This importance can be seen in their participation in ceremonies, the reverence shown to them by their people, and their healing

The Lakota tribes environmental wisdom and spirituality grew to stabilize among years of conservation and concern for the earth. All animals were respected like humans and the rivers and trees were cared for because the nature was well alive like the humans that existed in it. The Lakota tribe lives on the Northern Plains of North America and are often referred to as Sioux. The Lakota tribe of the Great Plains is very much rooted to the earth and place a huge emphasis on it being their home. In their culture the world was not savage, nor were the animals wild because on earth all spirits resided in nature. They defined their culture and continue to strengthen their values like kinship, courage, and wisdom in their community through rites of renewal/passage, dance, and their style of clothes.

The Black Hills are an isolated mountain range rising 3000 to 4000 feet above the surrounding plains of South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana (Sundstrom et al. 1996). The importance of this land to the Sioux Nation goes beyond dedication to the place they have lived in for generations. The Lakota creation story itself incorporates the Black Hills in particular as central to their identity as a people. The Black Hills are not only regarded as the birthplace of Sioux culture in religious songs and legends, but as the first place created on Earth—literally the heart of the Earth, which is seen as Mother. Sioux spiritual lore utilizes metaphor both to explain and to embody the thing signified—the Black Hills are the heart of the Earth, and that concept is

            The book Lame Deer Seeker of Visions authored by Richard Erdoes help readers understand the American Indian community through a Sioux medicine man. The author’s relationship with the Lame Deer enabled him to portray this community from several interviews. He portrays the culture, rituals and ceremonies, religious beliefs, main legends, the use of medicine, environmental destruction, injustices in this land whose occupants hold it as sacred. The author narrates about Lame Deer as a small boy and his experiences in the move to be a medicine man. Lame Deer ability to recall critical symbolism in American Indian culture helps him to explain to the author the significance of spiritual unification, and its need in his community beliefs and practices. At the end, Erdoes argues oneness among human beings is significant. The author is also convinced that Lame Deer is stable with his spiritual values.

The Lakota held and continue to hold that all is sacred (wakan), although certain objects, activities, and even people are instilled with more of this sacredness than others (Taylor, 2005). This sacrality can also be sought and obtained by such means as fasting, praying, self-sacrifice, and generosity. Therefore, all of

Pow-wow is a rich traditional dance embraced and practiced by the various native Indian tribes such as Ponca, Kiowa among others. Often, celebrated with dancing, tribal drums, food and chanting in the circle. It was originally known as Pau wau, a healing ceremony overseen by the traditional leaders. In 1977, as the white man started occupying the Native American lands, their army forced the Ponca people from the northern plains of Nebraska to the Indian lands. Many Poncas lost their lives, however, they were survived by their culture and songs. Pow-wow was then adopted by other Indian tribes who started dancing it in their own tradition way. This essay shall discuss how Pow-wow tradition evolved and why it was so important to the tribal people.

From present time to thousands of years ago, these ceremonies were used to cure a person’s situation or guide them through a difficult time in life. “Their beliefs and practices form a integral and seamless part of their very being. …They also embraced ceremonies and rituals that provided power to conquer the difficulties of life, as wells as events and milestones, such as puberty, marriage, and death”(Alexander). When the Native Americans practiced their ceremonies, they felt powerful, in control, and connected with their people. When they practiced their native culture, it tied their tribes together. Without these stories and ceremonies that they practiced, they would feel as if a piece of them were missing. Some Native Americans tried to find comfort in alcohol, but many times this resulted in depression and anger. If a person were to experience a difficulty in ones life, then there would be a ceremony that would fit the person’s situation. For example, Betonie, the medicine doctor, was able to invent a ceremony that fit Tayo’s

One of the main aspects of the traditional Lakota Sioux lifestyle is there devotion to their religion and rituals. In the film it shows the Indians sitting around the fire smoking tobacco out of a long pipe. In an article by the History of Religions it says that by smoking this pipe the spirit in the

Along with food dishes, herbs, and various berries found around their territory medicine men would perform healing rituals and pray to their gods to help fight off sickness, injuries, and battle wounds. Lakota Medicine men would often communicate or have visions of the gods they believed in and these visions would assist them with advising their tribe or healing their people. Nature and the world around them had a large part in forming these spirits. As stated by (Lakota Indians, 2017) “The Lakota have strong ties to nature and the spirit and belief in many different gods. A popular element in the Lakota religion has been the use of vision quest to pray to the Gods and as a rite of passage into adulthood.” Found in many Native American cultures is the belief in the father sun and the mother earth, which is echoed in the myths of the Lakota. Many religious figures were found in the stories passed on through the Lakota tribe and other Native

The tradition of Three Sisters is an example of how the Iroquois remain more connected to their culture. According to Three Sister tradition corn must grow in community with other crops rather than on its own; it needs the beneficial company and aide of its companions. The Haudenosaunee believe corn, beans and squash are precious gifts from the Great Spirit, each watched over by one of the three sisters’ spirits, called Deohako, or “Our Sustainers”. It exemplifies the importance of community within the Haudenosaunee Culture in both a spiritual sense as well as staying true to the Great

With the cultural differences, it is hard to understand why the Nacirema make these rituals a huge importance. Ethnocentrism plays a role, and is very present because it is very easy to judge one group’s behaviours and beliefs from the perspective of our own. It may be because it is something that we are not accustomed to or may find odd and unethical. If we were to put ourselves in their shoes, it is certain the cultures around the world may find our own “rituals and traditions” to be odd as well.

singing, and lots of food. The Sioux were deeply spiritual people, they also communed with the

In contrast, 19th and early 20th century indigenous narratives describing Mandan and Hidatsa death and mourning culture shift the focus from descriptions of decay and “affections” in the midst of “barbarity” to narratives of familial care, self-sacrifice, and intimate interpersonal and spiritual connections. By refocusing the narrative of death and mourning culture on these indigenous experiences and their perspective on matrilineal clan relationships and spirituality, I seek to decolonized narrative of morality culture. Through care for the dying, preparation of the dead, and funeral rituals, the women in the Mandan and Hidatsa matrilineal clan systems honored their relatives’ autonomy, demonstrated familial care, and facilitated ongoing spiritual unity between living and deceased clan

If a marriage takes place in the Native American formal way, then they are seen to be celebrated with feasts and gatherings. One thing that is very symbolic in all tribes is that Water, which is for cleansing and purification of the body and soul. Before a wedding ceremony takes place the groom and bride are seen washing hands representing the washing away of past sins, evils, and memories of past love.

* Does the ritual seek to have practical outcomes (health, safety, prosperity)? Social outcomes (a change in status)? Emotional outcomes (feelings)?