Brief Description Of Native American Spirituality

[Leon]

Although a section on Mythology is no substitute for a section on Native American Religion, Native American belief systems include many sacred narratives. Such spiritual stories are deeply based in Nature and are rich with the symbolism of seasons, weather, plants, animals, earth, water, sky and fire. The principle of an all embracing, universal and omniscient Great Spirit, a connection to the Earth, diverse creation narratives and collective memories of ancient ancestors are common. Traditional worship practices are often a part of tribal gatherings with dance, rhythm, songs and trance. Actual practices vary.

[Dancing Eagle (Ian Peric)]

Aho!

The Lakota elders I have worked with practice:
A deep affinity, compassion and connection with all things.
A trust in intuition and the purity of all things.

Mitakuye Oyasin (We are all related).

[mysticnamaste]

Thank you Leon for this brief description, I actually don't know a lot about Native American beliefs, but I love their music, it makes me to connect with everything, it's something I can't explain with words, is such an amazing feeling.

[atehequa]

Greetings all.

Of course I have to question this as the western hemisphere's hundreds of different nations, tribes and bands have no common religion or spirituality. That holds true as well in regards to a common "great spirit" or supreme deity. Such erroneous notions and claims do much to misrepresent indigenous people and our many diverse cultures. 

I'm available for conversation in regards to this posting.

[sparklekaz]

Hello and welcome atehequa

It is good to meet you. It would be lovely to hear any knowledge and insight you may have regarding Native American spirituality. I look forward to reading more of your posts.

Love and light
Kaz

[atehequa]

Greetings.

Native American? 

Do you mean the spirituality of people born in America after it was given that name?

The origins and beliefs of my people are far older than America. The same holds true for hundreds of other nations, tribes and bands.

[mojomojo]

I watched a programme on t.v. last night.
It was about Jamie Oliver travelling across America.
Jamie been a celebrity chef, main interest is food.
He arrived in this town, where forty per cent of the population were Navajo.
He could not understand, while every other segment of the town were represented by a restaurant, producing the wares of their people, the Navajo had no restaurant.
Jamie wanted to know why, because there are similarities between Mexican and Navajo food, he went to the Mexican restaurant and asked the owner why there were no Navajo restaurants, if it was a racial thing.
The owner replied, " if we can do it, they can ".
Jamie, " why then ".
To which the owner replied, " I think they keep everything to themselves, they don't like to let outsiders know their ways."
I would like to think not all indigenous people, hold this view point, and I'am not saying they do, but it does go some way to explain, why we know very little of these indigenous people.

[gruntal]

Growing up in America in the 1950's I learned about Indians on TV like the Davy Crockett show. Not that I actually encountered a Native American in person identifiable as such. Later I did some studies but the complexity was unexpectedly overwhelming. There never was a single "Indian Tribe" in the U.S.A. or matching culture. Oddly the spirit of freedom lived by Native Americans - the reluctance to merge tribes or "settle down" and do factory jobs - was what put them at such a disadvantage in dealing with the Whites. Even as said Whites made conformity a veritable icon of their culture.

Now it is a bit of a joke because gambling and casinos are pretty much illegal here in California except on the Indian reservations because Native Americans are technically a separate nation . They were never conquered or completely assimulated. So the slot machines they have are okay as long as it is on their territory and we can go there and have fun. But getting past the gamboling devices might be more illusive then attending a Masonic Lodge meeting. I know a number of Masons who could get me in but as to the Indian thingie ....I don't have barely more then a clue.

[atehequa]

Jan 15, 2015 9:15:35 GMT mojomojo said:

I watched a programme on t.v. last night.
It was about Jamie Oliver travelling across America.
Jamie been a celebrity chef, main interest is food.
He arrived in this town, where forty per cent of the population were Navajo.
He could not understand, while every other segment of the town were represented by a restaurant, producing the wares of their people, the Navajo had no restaurant.
Jamie wanted to know why, because there are similarities between Mexican and Navajo food, he went to the Mexican restaurant and asked the owner why there were no Navajo restaurants, if it was a racial thing.
The owner replied, " if we can do it, they can ".
Jamie, " why then ".
To which the owner replied, " I think they keep everything to themselves, they don't like to let outsiders know their ways."
I would like to think not all indigenous people, hold this view point, and I'am not saying they do, but it does go some way to explain, why we know very little of these indigenous people.

You would like to think not all indigenous people hold this view point. 

Now why do you suppose there are so many indigenous people who keep much of what's left of their traditional spiritual sense of being to themselves?

A quote regarding cultural appropriation from a man whom I had the pleasure of conversing with on a few occasions -

"The process is ultimately intended to supplant Indians, even in areas of their own customs and spirituality. In the end, non-Indians will have complete power to define what is and is not Indian, even for Indians. When this happens, the last vestiges of real Indian society and Indian rights will disappear. Non-Indians will then "own" our heritage and ideas as thoroughly as they now claim to own our land and resources."

~ Russell Means, Oglala

[mojomojo]

My Country in its history was invaded,
And those perpetrators attempted to colonise,
All land taken,
Population of 8 million reduced to 4 million,
And in the following years of struggle many more lives were lost.
If our dwindling numbers stayed together, the possibility of extinction might have come to question.
They didn't, they travelled to every corner of the globe, and multiplied.
Those that moved away held stronger to their beliefs, and funded those who remained and were in constant struggle to reclaim,what was rightfully there's.
My people were regarded widely as terrorists, and not always welcomed or treated fairly by other Countries.
We as a nation are probably one of the most travelled people per head in the world.
We did reclaim, what was rightfully ours.
There are far more of our people scattered around the globe, than in their Country of origin.
As each generation passes, the new cling stronger to their identity, many having never been to there homeland.
In this modern world, the days of keeping races pure is fast becoming a thing of the past, we can accept this, or suffer the consequences, but the choice ultimately remains with us.
People who remain outside society at large, remain unknown, this inspires fear.
While I do not claim to know much of your people, it is widely known how unjustly your people have suffered, but many people of many Countries have suffered.
There was a segment of our people, who saw themselves as separate, lived among themselves, had their own ways, never integrated
it was against their ways, these people even now have started to integrate.
In a world that is fast, integrating, and cultures and races mix, separateness seems to have had its time, we may not like letting go of our past, but it does seem to be the way of things, it does not mean we lose, who we are.

I would also ask you, do you feel your ancestors, in the world of spirit, only tend to their own people?

I almost forgot, Irish.

[sparklekaz]

Very eloquently said Robert. I can add nothing to it. Thank you.

[atehequa]

Apr 4, 2015 14:52:19 GMT mojomojo said:

I would also ask you, do you feel your ancestors, in the world of spirit, only tend to their own people?

Are you addressing this to me? If so my reply would be yes. Why should my ancestors tend to you or others who know not our ways or even speak our language?  Although I've knowledge regarding the hundreds of other various culturally/spiritual diverse nations, tribes and bands of indigenous people of the western hemisphere, I'm pretty sure their ancestors would not tend to the needs of those who would show disrespect by expecting them to carry on in someone else's perceived  manner. 

Having a difficult time accepting this?

[Ishtahota]

A friend of mine tells a story about going to dance one year. All of the men were in the first lodge on the first day and the elder asked everyone to say something. This big fullblood was sitting beside my friend who was a smaller man. The big man was looking down on my friend who is like me (just another stupid white man), and he was talking about how the other nations did not belong at these ceremonies. He also said how he did not like white people at all and he wished that they would all leave the ceremony. It was then my friends turn to speak and he was a veteran dancer of many years. Bill looked up at this guy and said with a smille that when this dance was over they would be good friends. And they were and they are to this day.
I follow these ways because they work. These ways awaken the white mind and heart like no other. It is that awakening that will change things on this world. If you do not share what works with all of the people then nothing will ever change for you. In the end it is all of us or none of us.