Native American beliefs

[BetheButterfly]

Hello,

 

Does anyone here know much about different Native American beliefs? I very much appreciate the respect and oneness of some Native American beliefs with nature and the earth. To me, that is so beautiful.

 

Below is a youtube Native American tribute to animals. It really impacts me how they care for and respect animal life. I wish the offspring of the European immigrants had learned from them. However, thankfully animals such as the bison are not in so much danger of extinction now, thanks to people who care about them now - both offspring of European immigrants and Native Americans

 

 

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, let us remember the kindness and goodness of the Native Americans who helped the Pilgrims survive. Tragically, their kindness was repaid by death and disease, but as a Christian, I personally believe and hope that they are our brothers and sisters in the Spirit world and I hope to meet them in Heaven, where there is no sadness, no pain, no injustice, no lies, no grief, and no heartbreak.

 

If you ascribe to any Native American belief, I would be very interested in learning more about what you believe? Also, if you know or have come across any interesting link concerning Native American beliefs, could you please share it?

 

Concerning Thanksgiving, everyone knows we should be thankful everyday. However, it is a tradition to state what we are thankful for on this day. I am thankful to God for the Native Americans, and I so wish that American history could have been different, that instead of killing each other, that the offspring of European immigrants and the Native Americans had lived forever together in peace, mutual respect, agreeing to disagree, coexisting, and enjoying enlightening dialogue. I am also thankful for Jesus, for family, for my awesome hubby, for the earth, for the animals, for plants, for nice weather, and for people loving, respecting, and helping each other.

 

The following is beautiful:

 

I need to go cook and get ready for going to celebrate the traditions of Thanksgiving with friends. I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving, and remembers the importance of peace, honesty, mutual respect, and the beauty of Native American beliefs, as well as the caring heart of Squanto and other Native Americans who helped the Pilgrims survive.

 

[BetheButterfly]

It seems that possibly noone on the forum is interested in discussing Native American beliefs. Oh well.

 

The following is very interesting, which talks a tiny bit about Native American beliefs: (I boldened some.)

 

Rev. Dr. Randy S. Woodley: The Thanksgiving Myth: Not A Bad Start

 

 

"The first feast related to our current national holiday, which we call Thanksgiving, was celebrated in either October or November of 1621. The feast included around 50 English Separatists (of Mayflower fame) held at their Plymouth Plantation, and nearly 100 Wampanoag Indians. In addition to Wampanoag oral history, there are just a few original sources for the first Thanksgiving celebration in America but they all seem to agree on several things:

 

• The Wampanoag, slow to introduce themselves, treated the Pilgrims well when they finally made themselves known to them.

 

• The Native Americans felt compassion and sympathy for the Pilgrims, sharing their technology. With numerous settlers having died in the winter of 1620, none of the Pilgrims would have likely survived without the Wampanoag teaching them local customs of planting, gathering and preserving foods.

 

• At that first harvest festival some food was harvested and some hunted. The meals consisted of deer brought by the Wampanoag and foul provided by the settlers (possibly ducks, geese, quail, passenger pigeon, and/or turkey). In addition, the meals probably included walnuts, chestnuts (maybe chestnut bread), seafood (such as lobster, crab, mussels and fish) and whatever had been harvested like corn, beans, pumpkins, other squash, potatoes, sun-chokes, etc. Also present was surely lots of beer since it was the most common drink among the Pilgrims.

 

• The reason nearly 100 Indians showed up during the English feast that was already in progress, was because the Pilgrims set off a celebratory gun volley and the Wampanoag, who had agreed to a peaceful coexistence with the Pilgrims, thought they were coming to the Pilgrim's aid from an outside attack.

 

• After arriving and seeing there was not enough food for them all, the Indians hunted five deer (and probably other wild game) and ceremoniously gifted the hosts with their prizes.

 

• The whole celebration probably lasted for three days.

 

Beyond the "facts" of history remains the American Myth of Thanksgiving. The myth neglects the rest of the story between English settlers and Indigenous peoples. It presents the "First Thanksgiving" as a template some people would like to lay as a false basis for all Indian-White relations in America. Unfortunately, the attitude of presumed superiority on the part of the English is totally neglected in the myth. The Pilgrim's false claim to have an a priori right to an already occupied land is also missing from the existing myth. Regardless of these other facts, I have to ask, "how many stories do we have in American history of Indigenous peoples and settlers sharing a better start?" Not many.

 

This year my family and I will celebrate our Thanksgiving somewhat like the first one but on a smaller scale. I'll get up early and smoke a beef brisket (or deer if I get one) and half a turkey, (bake the other half). We will include many of our favorite vegetable dishes from the list above, pick up some seafood (probably mussels) and then add a few pies to the feast like pecan, apple-cranberry and pumpkin. At our home we will host a big table with family and (native and non-native) friends.

 

Before we eat, we will all sit at the table and each of us will take turns reading the Iroquois Thanksgiving prayer (which is a litany of thanks made for all creation). We will eat (hopefully) for several hours, joke, tell stories and continue to feast throughout the day. Later, we'll all watch the Disney movie Squanto together (until someone makes a better First Thanksgiving movie) and by then, some will have fallen asleep. Over the rest of the weekend many of our guests will stay, snack, joke, watch movies and sports on TV, drink a little beer and sleep. If the weather permits, we will go outside for some games or even just to stretch and give private thanks to Creator during a walk.

 

I imagine millions of Americans like me will celebrate Thanksgiving in a similar way. Unfortunately, many of my fellow Native Americans who view the holiday as a national day of mourning, will not celebrate Thanksgiving at all. To them, the Thanksgiving Myth amounts to the settler's justification for the genocide of Indigenous peoples and acquiescence to notions of White supremacy. They will once again protest at Plymouth Rock and disseminate stories pointing out the many massacres of Native Americans by the Pilgrims. I don't blame them... but I won't join them either. At least not on Thanksgiving, and here is some of my rationale.

 

In respect to my Keetoowah ancestors I have over the past several decades, asked myself and others, as we think through our mutual histories, if I should even celebrate Thanksgiving, and if so, how? It is true that the Pilgrims eventually broke the peace with the Wampanoag. Equally true is the fact that those attacks upon the New England tribes, and later hundreds of other tribes across the continent, were often unprovoked, merciless blood-baths enacted upon innocent elders, women and children and motivated by greed for Native American land. This tragic history is true of my own tribe and ancestors as well. The conquest of North America is inexcusable and demands not just an apology, but extensive reparations. The spirit that later fueled the philosophy of Manifest Destiny still continues to oppress Native Americans and others. In spite of our ugly history, no...actually, because of these atrocities, I want to suggest that we all continue to celebrate Thanksgiving, but with a caveat.

 

Settler folks must be educated to realize that Thanksgiving in America didn't begin with the Pilgrims. For thousands of years many feasts of thanksgiving have been characteristic of all our Indian tribes. This phenomenon continues today. Settler-immigrants should reorient their thinking to view that First Thanksgiving as the first opportunity for them to join millennial old traditions among America's Indigenous peoples to thank God, who was already present before they arrived, and thank the land upon which they were living. They should view the Plymouth feast as the land welcoming them, and as a result an opportunity to express gratitude to all creation, especially those plants and animals that provided the feast and extended their lives another day. They should see themselves as good guest of the Host Peoples of America and rethink their social posture with more humility.

 

I'm not advocating that Indians replace our current traditional feasts and celebrations with the dominant Thanksgiving holiday, but rather that we add it to our list of current celebrations. Why should we give up any type of festival of thanksgiving? Everything we have comes from the good Mother Earth and the Great Apportioner God. We should always give thanks for everything! I feel our indigenous ancestors would agree with this. Our tribal ancestors woke up every morning and gave thanks to Creator and the land. Our old ones celebrated these days with vigor and gratefulness for life! How then, can I wake up on the day that is designated "Thanksgiving," or any other day for that matter, and not express my gratitude in the best way possible?

Our elders knew that many of the "Christian" settlers did not act like the Jesus whom they claimed to represent. They also knew that in our histories we shared times of peace and friendship that reflected something better than unhappier times. Without ignoring the centuries of injustice, together, we should celebrate those times of friendship and build upon them. After all, isn't the point of a myth to set a good narrative that can be built upon in the present? To me, this is the point of Thanksgiving. It is a time to share stories of both joy and pain and still be thankful for all life. Thanksgiving is a time for us all to share our mutual humanity. If we can use the Thanksgiving holiday as narrative for peace and friendship, then let's build upon that part of the myth without ignoring the historical truth of the big picture.

 

The holiday can also be used as a grand myth or metaphor of hospitality to the poor, the disenfranchised, the new immigrant and those who we consider "the other." People throughout the whole world who have been the recipients of the devastation brought on by the dominant myth of colonialism and unfair capital theft should be invited to Thanksgiving tables everywhere in order to cultivate new friendships.

 

As America's Host People, Native Americans are the keepers of the land, that is our sacred duty. Our responsibilities include bringing the land, the people, and the rest of creation back into harmony. Traditionally, we have done this through prayer, ceremony and special festivals. If we are willing, Thanksgiving can be a time of reconciliation and healing of the land. Even though everything within us should compel us to do otherwise, we must begin somewhere. We cannot hate, or even ignore one another and expect to heal the land. By thanking the Creator and showing love to one another, we can actually begin restoring harmony in the land. It can begin with a simple meal.

 

My family's prayer for all Americans this year is to celebrate and enjoy this time of Thanksgiving. Be thankful and educate yourselves concerning the real history of America and use this time to encourage reconciliation between your family and those who share a different history. By you reaching out to others, this could be an important first step to healing our land and our nation. Please, don't ignore or minimize Thanksgiving, but try embracing the myth as a time for reconciliation and peace. Then later, together, we can all join in the protest of Columbus Day. But that's another story for another day."

 

 

Wow. I'm speechless, well, not enough "speechless" to not write. Maybe other people are speechless, but I at least hope they hear the hearts of people who believe differently than they do.

 

(I separated the article into breaks so it's easier to read.)

[pie2]

I watched the first video...and I liked how they gave thanks to the wolves for teaching them loyalty and devotion to the tribe . It's funny, but it's true! Sometimes I think about how loyal dogs can be, and I think that I should be that way too

 

In general though, having a more harmonious relationship with our surroundings does seem to be pretty vital, as modelled by the Native Americans.

[M30USA]

Native Americans also believed gods from outside earth had children with human women.

 

Had to get that in there, lol. You all should know me by now.

[pie2]

Native Americans also believed gods from outside earth had children with human women.

 

Had to get that in there, lol. You all should know me by now.

 

Yes, yes we do...sigh ()

[BetheButterfly]

I watched the first video...and I liked how they gave thanks to the wolves for teaching them loyalty and devotion to the tribe . It's funny, but it's true! Sometimes I think about how loyal dogs can be, and I think that I should be that way too

 

In general though, having a more harmonious relationship with our surroundings does seem to be pretty vital, as modelled by the Native Americans.

 

 

Dogs are great role models for unconditional love and loyalty. I don't know why some people demean them. Yes I want to be loyal and faithful to God like a loving dog is to his/her person. To me, that is not demeaning at all, because I love dogs. I know my dog adores me, and I know I love her and want the best for her!

 

About Native American beliefs, I do very much admire and respect the kindness and consideration they have for animals and for the earth. That is so important!!! I am hoping to learn more about this and grow in this area of my life too!

[BetheButterfly]

Bumping up this thread.

[123321]

Does anyone here know much about different Native American beliefs? I very much appreciate the respect and oneness of some Native American beliefs with nature and the earth. To me, that is so beautiful.

 

Most of it is complete horse-pucky. So called Native Americans were just as rapacious by nature as any other humans it's just that as a stone age civilization they lacked the skill to be as good at it as the Europeans that followed them to the Americas.

 

They did manage to hunt some species to extinction before the Euro-invaders arrived though, something you don't see in Walt Disney movies so much.

[Grumpybutfun]

The basic fundamental belief of North American Native Americans is Animism. This is the life force that flows through every living or flowing thing, whether it be animals or rocks or water or stars or the trees. Nothing is more important than anything else.

And yes, they have many myths and stories passed down from generation to generation and there are different stories and myths for each tribe and each region of the Americas. These stories were told to give them a sense of place and a connection with the world. They also made them feel responsible for protecting their world. The storie I grew up with didn't have such myths as women having children with outside Gods because there was only one God and that God was the energy that flowed throughout the universe. Each thing reprsented God, such as the sky, the earth, the water, etc.

Central and South American Toltecs and Incas, Mayans, Aztecs and Zapotecs have stories that regarded their chiefs as Gods and they did lay with women, but that isn't necessarily the stories I grew up with. Again, different regions, totally different beliefs. The Olmecs were one of the first major tribes in American civilization and they were in South America. They believed in Gods and had huge statues that they carved from stone. They were believed to precede the other South American civilizations. When war and famine came, they actually sacrificed virgins (the Aztecs especially) to appease their Gods. That religion has far more in common with the man in the sky religions than the North American's Animism.

North American tribes had a different belief system and their stories were more in keeping with having Shamans, or medicine men and women, using herbs and plants for medicine and to keep evil or bad luck away, carving totem poles to differing spirits of animals, the sky, fertility, etc. They believe in animal spirits or guides and each tribe has special animals they follow. Cherokee, an indigeneous Appalachia tribe which I am a descendent from, believe in the the Great Spirit (Unelanuhi), the one who lives above and in the world. However, the Unelanuhi, or the creator, does not just reside in the sky but in all things. All evil comes from animal spirits who were aggressive, deceitful, bad and from ghosts or evil spirits of things that did not pass over.(Sort of like when a demon possessess a soul in Catholocism, the evil spirit must be worked over by a medicine woman.) Evil is necessary to know and appreciate good and is the balance ( axis) of that which the world stands. This differs from other Cherokee tribes who live in Oklahoma.

I practice animism as the energy that flows through each thing makes it valuable and equal, yet I understand that Native American stories/myths are just a way for them to understand the world, just as is every story that came from a time when peoples were so far apart and mortality was inevitable at any time in their lives. My grandmother and grandfather (who was part Choctaw but did not retain their knowledge) were Christians but my grandmother rememembered her stories, songs and beliefs and incorporated them in with Christianity. She believed the world was a living thing filled with God's grace and goodness and she also beleives that Jesus Christ came and saved us all with his crucifixtion. She would also sing and dance in the lawn the "Rain Dance" when her crops needed rain or she would sweep her hearth with sage when she wanted ot get rid of evil spirits. There were also a myriad of Appalachian folk stories, songs and prayers that she knew...most originating from Ireland and Scotland. I grew up with a hodge podge of beliefs and all very compelling in their own way.

I suppose the greatest contribution that North American Native Americans have given to the landscape of relgions was their ability to see themselves as a part of the world around them and not seperate in any way. They recognized that to harm their landscape was to harm themselves, yet they missed something in their own regard for other tribes as they (like the Scottish) were constantly at war with each other over land and hunting grounds. I suppose in every religion people can lose focus on the spiritual and concentrate on the individual progress of themselves or their peoples.

I recognize this is disjointed, but I hope it gives you a view of something that is beneficial to spirituality.

Grumps

Edited March 18, 2013 by Grumpybutfun

[BetheButterfly]

The basic fundamental belief of North American Native Americans is Animism. This is the life force that flows through every living or flowing thing, whether it be animals or rocks or water or stars or the trees.

 

This fascinates me a lot, because I do feel a soulful connection between especially animals and people and water and botany. I don't feel so much the connection to rocks though. One thing about Native American beliefs that intrigue me too is that in some ways, they are similar to Druidism, yeah? What little is known about the ancient druids includes their animist beliefs: Celtic Druids

 

I think it's interesting how many people around the world hold animist beliefs, and it is so true that life on earth is connected, and I don't think that is simply because some animals, including humans, eat other animals... I think there is most definitely a soul/life force connection that is beautiful and precious, making the earth a very special place!!!

 

Nothing is more important than anything else.

And yes, they have many myths and stories passed down from generation to generation and there are different stories and myths for each tribe and each region of the Americas. These stories were told to give them a sense of place and a connection with the world.

To me, those stories are so interesting!!! I haven't learned very many, but what I have learned is thought-provoking. I do love the stories with wolves and other animals. I wolves and consider myself to have a connection with them and canines, which might sound silly but I do feel it in my soul. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Isaiah 11:6, because I've always wanted the animals to be friends and not eat each other. I've always hoped that when animals die, that they go to Heaven.

 

About wolf stories in Native American beliefs, I found this website which is really cool, which talks about some! Native American Indian Wolf Legends, Meaning and Symbolism from the Myths of Many Tribes

They also made them feel responsible for protecting their world.

That is really cool and very important!

 

The storie I grew up with didn't have such myths as women having children with outside Gods because there was only one God and that God was the energy that flowed throughout the universe. Each thing reprsented God, such as the sky, the earth, the water, etc.

I think that's cool that some Native American cultures believe in only One God. Do they call him the Great Spirit? I have heard about the Great Spirit. As for representing God, I believe that God's Creation represents aspects of God too, though maybe I don't believe the same way as the Native American groups do concerning God's connection to Nature.

 

I don't know what the words that are not in English mean, and I'm not 100% sure what to think about the belief in the Great Spirit, but I do like this song and believe it's a good lesson for all of us concerning life and our connection to the earth. As a Christian, I do believe God is Spirit, and I respect the Native American beliefs and enjoy learning about them. This song is beautiful:

 

 

Central and South American Toltecs and Incas, Mayans, Aztecs and Zapotecs have stories that regarded their chiefs as Gods and they did lay with women, but that isn't necessarily the stories I grew up with.

Yeah. It is curious though, since there are many ancient cultures that have stories about that... I wonder how those stories came about...

 

Again, different regions, totally different beliefs. The Olmecs were one of the first major tribes in American civilization and they were in South America. They believed in Gods and had huge statues that they carved from stone. They were believed to precede the other South American civilizations. When war and famine came, they actually sacrificed virgins (the Aztecs especially) to appease their Gods. That religion has far more in common with the man in the sky religions than the North American's Animism.

I don't like the idea of human sacrifice anymore than animal sacrifices. I really wish that animal sacrifices were not a part of the beliefs of Abraham and his ancestors/descendants, but that's just how it is. I think animal sacrifices became a "law of nature" after the fall.

 

As for human sacrifices, Judaic beliefs do not have human sacrifices, though G-d tested Abraham by seeing if he was willing to offer his only son, but G-d rescued him from killing his son. For Christian beliefs, we believe Jesus is the fulfillment of animal sacrifices (that have been a part of life for the ancestors of Abraham since Adam and Eve disobeyed God) but that he was raised again to life and will never die again, so in a way, the sacrifice was not permanent, as we believe Jesus didn't "stay dead."

 

Do Native American beliefs have stories of disobedience of the early humans?

 

North American tribes had a different belief system and their stories were more in keeping with having Shamans, or medicine men and women, using herbs and plants for medicine and to keep evil or bad luck away, carving totem poles to differing spirits of animals, the sky, fertility, etc.

It is interesting how many cultures have the idea of keeping evil or bad luck away.

 

They believe in animal spirits or guides and each tribe has special animals they follow. Cherokee, an indigeneous Appalachia tribe which I am a descendent from, believe in the the Great Spirit (Unelanuhi), the one who lives above and in the world. However, the Unelanuhi, or the creator, does not just reside in the sky but in all things.

Ah, the Great Spirit!!!

 

All evil comes from animal spirits who were aggressive, deceitful, bad and from ghosts or evil spirits of things that did not pass over.(Sort of like when a demon possessess a soul in Catholocism, the evil spirit must be worked over by a medicine woman.)

Why did these animal spirits become aggressive, deceitful, and bad?

Evil is necessary to know and appreciate good and is the balance ( axis) of that which the world stands.

I boldened the quote above because it's a good explanation of why evil exists... I personally wish evil did not exist, but I understand the reason you give above... it's a very understandable reason and I agree with it, though I would prefer that there was no evil. I think that's one of the reasons I love the idea of Heaven so much, because there is no evil in Heaven.

 

 

This differs from other Cherokee tribes who live in Oklahoma.

I practice animism as the energy that flows through each thing makes it valuable and equal, yet I understand that Native American stories/myths are just a way for them to understand the world, just as is every story that came from a time when peoples were so far apart and mortality was inevitable at any time in their lives. My grandmother and grandfather (who was part Choctaw but did not retain their knowledge) were Christians but my grandmother rememembered her stories, songs and beliefs and incorporated them in with Christianity

I think that's so cool! It seems many Native Americans did/do that, and I think that's great. One of the things that makes me so horrified and sad is when people who called themselves Christians killed or forced converted Native Americans, and made them move/stole their land. That is not what Jesus Christ teaches his followers to do at all!

 

She believed the world was a living thing filled with God's grace and goodness and she also beleives that Jesus Christ came and saved us all with his crucifixtion. She would also sing and dance in the lawn the "Rain Dance" when her crops needed rain

Oh how beautiful!!! Was she a nice person? Did she treat you and others with love and kindness and goodness? I sure hope so!!! (I ask simply because while I wish being a Christian was naturally equated to treating people with love, kindness, and goodness, many people who call themselves Christians have not obeyed Jesus' commands to love others, so that is why I ask.) I believe the world is a living thing filled with God's grace and goodness too, and that Jesus Christ came and saved us all with his crucifixion and resurrection too!!! I don't know any rain dances, but I have prayed for rain sometimes...

 

or she would sweep her hearth with sage when she wanted ot get rid of evil spirits.

What's with sage?

 

There were also a myriad of Appalachian folk stories, songs and prayers that she knew...most originating from Ireland and Scotland. I grew up with a hodge podge of beliefs and all very compelling in their own way.

Wow!!!

 

I suppose the greatest contribution that North American Native Americans have given to the landscape of relgions was their ability to see themselves as a part of the world around them and not seperate in any way. They recognized that to harm their landscape was to harm themselves

I think that's so beautiful and that Americans today need to learn that!

 

yet they missed something in their own regard for other tribes as they (like the Scottish) were constantly at war with each other over land and hunting grounds.

Yeah that's so sad.

 

I really wish that the history of the USA had been so different, with love, tolerance, and respect in between the different Native American tribes as well as between the European colonists and Native Americans, instead of the lies and murder and apathy of the European colonists to the Native Americans.

 

I suppose in every religion people can lose focus on the spiritual and concentrate on the individual progress of themselves or their peoples.

True. I think many people who call themselves Christian lost focus on the spiritual and on Jesus' teachings, which included the spiritual manifesting itself through the physical action of love.

I recognize this is disjointed, but I hope it gives you a view of something that is beneficial to spirituality.

Grumps

Thanks so much! It is greatly beneficial and I learned more! Thanks!

 

Oh, I love this song right here:

Native American ~ Spiritual Music ~ - YouTube

I don't know what it means, but it's beautiful - even with the modern music, and I love Native American paintings. They speak to me. I wonder if that's one reason I love and married a wonderful man whose ancestors include Native Americans from South America (He's from Ecuador.)...

 

This is Native American Ecuadorian modern music, which is so beautiful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKDsMUiD5is

 

 

Andean music from Peruvian groups:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4naoHdZxw8

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPgiszFRik0

 

More Native American music... so gorgeous!!!

 

 

One of the things I love about Native American beliefs is the music!!!

Edited March 20, 2013 by BetheButterfly

[pureinheart]

I just saw your thread Bethy-

 

Tataviam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

It's said that the Tatvaiam tribe can be traced back here from 450AD.

 

My interest is quite personal:D as my grandchildren are from the Tataviam Tribe.

 

Now not sure how the breakdown works...my exhusbands (the third one) wife tried to explain it to me a couple of days ago...although my grandchildrens grandmother is 100% Tataviam, and their grandfather is 100% Mexican...me- English and French and need to ask my ex what his roots are- BUT, my grandchildren go off of their grandmothers registration number and I'm told they qualify for their own.

 

Hahahaha, now you guys tell me how this happened...one of my grandsons clearly looks Mexican, but speaks as if he just left London...no lie we all crack up about it (not in a bad way, we all think it's cute!). He could go to London and fit right in, as if he's always lived there.

 

My grandchildren have a great respect and love for animals, but that could be from me...this particular tribe is sun orientated. The word Tataviam means "people facing the sun" and describes the Tataviam villages. The villages were constructed on the south-facing sides of hills and mountains because they received the most sun light.

 

They revere "family" on extremely high levels, with their grandmother and me being the matriarchs. Her and I are the shot callers...I can't even begin to describe the loyality this family has. They are all Christian BTW.

Edited March 21, 2013 by pureinheart