What are the Native American spiritual beliefs?

Question

I'd like to see some links that discuss the Native American's beliefs about our ties with the earth, the elements and animals. I've seen many fictional accounts in movies, tv shows and books but nothing in the way of documentaries or in-depth links for someone who wants their first look without being overwhelmed with religious jargon or preaching.

Answer 1

There are over 500 tribes and/or groups of Native Americans in North American alone, they all have a different belief system.  Which one are you talking about??

Here are some basics...

American Indians celebrate everything good between humans and the universe

Today, people are increasingly using their beliefs in God, religion and faith to account for anything and everything, from reality television shows to waging wars. But with the interconnectedness of today's world, faiths and religions are continually intersecting and knowledge of what else exists is necessary. .

There's not just one American Indian faith. Just as there are hundreds of nations, each is said to have its own religion and language.

One of the biggest misconceptions about American Indian religion is the idea that it is generic. According to Ines Hernandez-Avila, a Native American studies professor at UC Davis, American Indian religious traditions are often taken out of context by outsiders who pick and choose what they like from an assortment of American Indian religions. She compares this approach to receiving the Eucharist, considered the body of Christ in Christian religion, during a Jewish ceremony. "You need the whole thing to have deep meaning," Hernandez-Avila said.

There are, however, some commonalities among American Indian faiths, such as the belief in harmony and balance and a respectful appreciation for nature. Hernandez-Avila describes American Indian religions as a celebration of everything that is good between human beings, the earth and the universe.

When it comes to specifics, geographical region determines what each tribe holds most sacred.

"Coastal things, mountains and desert shift what sacred medicines and plants are used during ceremonies," Hernandez-Avila said.

Tribes also largely identify themselves with nature. For example, the Salmon Nation and the Buffalo Nation identify themselves by their symbiotic relationship with salmon and buffalo.

However, American Indians do not consider animals to be gods. Rather, all of creation comes from one god, also called "Supreme Being" or "Great Mystery." In Jennie Luna's tradition, "Ometeotl," which means "two/dual energy, a creator of both female and male energy in one," is the Supreme Being.

"We do not have gods, but rather symbols, manifestations or representations of beings worthy of respect," said Luna, a UC Davis graduate student in Native American studies. "The symbols that people call gods are really representations of the spirit of rain, sun, earth, etc."

American Indian faiths are more a spirituality than a religion. For Luna,

her spirituality as a way of life is what makes American Indian beliefs and practices special.

"Some call [the way of life] the red road or pollen path, but it is a way of being and manifesting yourself in your daily actions and in your sacred journey of life," Luna said. "In my Mexica tradition, we celebrate life and the constant motion of life, the earth and sun with dances, songs, ceremony and sacred medicines. But that way of being doesn't end at the ceremony."

For Native American studies professor Shirlee Laiwa, her faith also carries beyond traditional ceremonies.

"My children and I pray every night and recite our prayers in our language," Laiwa said. "Actually, when I think about it, I pray all day long. I also sing songs."

Whether described as spiritual or ceremonial, one thing followers of

American Indian religions insist upon is that their faiths are not cruel or

dangerous.

"Human sacrifice has been debunked, but for some reason many scholars don't want to let that one go," Luna said, referring to stereotypes of American Indian religious practices. "Similar to the Bering Strait theory, some people just push it forward no matter the evidence that negates it."

There are Christian influences present in some American Indian ceremonies. According to Hernandez-Avila, American Indians near the Arizona-Mexico border perform the Yaqui deer dance with traditional drumming and music side by side, while the Matachines recite devotions to the Virgin Guadalupe at an altar with Catholic images.

"[But] the old ways and the new influence don't necessarily mix,"

Hernandez-Avila said. "Some family members could choose to participate in one part of the ceremony, while others participate in the other."

"Differences are respected. There are no cast judgments," Hernandez-Avila added.

However, some Christian fundamentalists do not like Christian elements, such as the cross that is used in association with American Indian ceremonies. But Hernandez-Avila responded that American Indians respect Christianity and get to the heart of what the tradition really is without the imposition of a missionary-minded force.

While some American Indians have adopted parts of the Christian religion or have even converted to Christianity, others feel the Christian imposition has been too painful.

Colonization

Answer 2

EDIT: here's my search results I'd start with the 5th or 6th result down

http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&...

Well it depends on which "tribe' your talking about.

For example the Hopi or Pueblos have Kachinas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kachinas

and others do not.

Also probably every tribe is gonna have different creation stories and different names for The Great Spirit.

And you don't have to worry about preaching because they don't have preachers or churches.

I'm part Sioux but I don't know a lot apart from the class I had in college. I never made the time or had the means to do a lot of research on my own