1. Religious Movements Homepage: Native American Religion As part of the New Religious Movements Homepage, it includes a profile of the native american religions, comprehensive links with abstracts, and a print http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/naspirit.html

Native American Spirituality Profile Beliefs Groups Native Americans and Christianity ... Bibliography I. Profile The diversity of American Indian tribes precludes a comprehensive examination of their religions and their belief systems. Anthropologists have compiled a huge trove of information detailing practices and beliefs of many different groups; this information remains isolated from popular culture. While there is a proliferation of popularized versions of Native American spirituality, these are often not the products of the tribes or their members. The beliefs and practices of many groups are sectarian derivatives of other native groups, and there is also a significant infusion of Christianity, and more recently, New Age beliefs and practices permeating these traditional beliefs. The origins of contemporary Native American religion, and that of their recent ancestors, can be traced back 30,000 to 60,000 years with the arrival of the first groups of people from northeast Asia. The religion of Native Americans has developed from the hunting taboos, animal ceremonialism, beliefs in spirits, and shamanism embraced by those early ancestors (Hultkrantz, 3, 12). Since these peoples settled in America slowly and in small groups over several thousand years, we still lack precise immigration knowledge. Beyond the directly inherited traditional Native American religions, a wide body of modified sects abounds. The Native American Church claims a membership of 250,000, which would constitute the largest of the Native American religious organizations. Though the church traces the sacramental use of the peyote cactus back ten thousand years, the Native American Church was only founded in 1918. Well into the reservation era, this organization was achieved with the help of a Smithsonian Institute anthropologist. The church incorporates generic Native American religious rites, Christianity, and the use of the peyote plant. The modern peyote ritual is comprised of four parts: praying, singing, eating peyote, and quietly contemplating (Smith, 167-173; Anderson, 41).

2. Native American Religion Overview of different beliefs and rituals, the concept of religious experience and background information of native american religions. http://www.stormwind.com/common/nareligion.html

Native American Religion "Mitakuye Oyasin: We are all related. Most Indians hear this phrase thousands of times a year as they attend or perform ceremonies and for many...the phrase seems to be...a liturgical blessing that includes all other forms of life in human ceremonial activities." Vine Deloria, Jr., 1992 Background Anthropologists divide the Native American cultures of North America into seven groups: Eastern Woodlands, Southeastern, Plains, Plateau, Great Basin, Southwestern, and Northwest Coastal. Each of these geographical groupings contains many distinct peoples with only the broadest characteristics in common, each with their own culture and religious beliefs. Any attempt to briefly summarize such a rich variety of peoples as this page does is going to involve inexact generalizations: It can't be helped. Where space permits, examples appear from different tribal groups, but they do not begin to reflect the diversity of Native American spirituality. Ritual How do traditional Native Americans seek closeness/union with Spirit?

3. Summary Of Native American Religions School paper about the religion of the Iroquois Nation, Dakota (Sioux) and Apache tribes. http://are.as.wvu.edu/ruvolo.htm

A Summary of Native American Religions by David Ruvolo The history of American religions is dominated by the presence of Christianity brought to the New World by European settlers. Columbus's discovery in 1492 marked the beginning of a massive "white" invasion that would consume the entire continent of North America over the next four centuries. Although Christianity manifested itself in countless denominations, it was, nevertheless, the umbrella under which most Europeans in America gathered. It served as common ground on which white settlers could stand together in the struggle for survival in the wilderness of the New World. Whatever differences there were between denominations were insignificant when compared to the differences between the white European Christianity and their counterparts on the continent, the resident Native Americans. This fact, along with the desire and need for land, turned Native Americans into a convenient enemy for most groups of European settlers. In essence, time had run out for the indigenous race that populated the continent of North America. Like the Israelites of the sixth century B.C.E., Native Americans were faced with an enemy that was more advanced. Ironically, the invading whites are the religious descendants of those same Israelites who were conquered by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E.. Armed with technologically advanced weapons, diseases which were foreign to the continent, and a concept known as Manifest Destiny, European settlers began an assault on the North American Continent the result of which was nothing short of genocide. Within four hundred years of their first contact, the white man had succeeded in stripping Native American civilizations of virtually all of their land and had nearly wiped their cultures from the face of the earth.

4. Sacred Texts: Native American African Mayan Calendar OCRT Native American Spirituality. Buy CDROM Buy books Native American. native american religions. Native American religion, mythology http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam

Topics African Age of Reason Alchemy Americana ... Mormonism Native American Aztec California Cherokee Hopi ... Buy books: Native American Native American Religions Native American religion, mythology and folklore are covered extensively at this site: Aztecs Californian Inuit Maya ... Inca A long-standing problem with this section (and several others at this site relating to traditional peoples' spiritual beliefs) has been the lack of authoritative information. We are in the process of expanding this section by scanning public domain ethnographic accounts on specific Native American religious and spiritual practices. We are fortunate that there is a wealth of such material available, which makes it so much more puzzling why more of it is not on the Internet yet. The study of Native Americans by anthroplogists has had its share of bad science and ethical problems. However, the texts we are in the process of scanning were written by 19th and 20th Century ethnographers who were known for their careful and respectful approach to the people they studied. These were scholars who lived for years with the people they studied, and obtained permission to transcribe their oral sacred literature. General These texts cover a wide range of Native Americans or don't fit into one of the categories above.

5. NATIVE AMERICAN SPIRITUALITY A quote from native american religions by Arlene Hirschfelder and Paulette Molin (Facts on File, New York, 1992, ISBN 08160-2017-5) is instructive http://www.religioustolerance.org/nataspir.htm

NATIVE AMERICAN SPIRITUALITY Click Here to Visit our Sponsors. Quotations: " The culture, values and traditions of native people amount to more than crafts and carvings. Their respect for the wisdom of their elders, their concept of family responsibilities extending beyond the nuclear family to embrace a whole village, their respect for the environment, their willingness to share - all of these values persist within their own culture even though they have been under unremitting pressure to abandon them. " Mr. Justice Thomas Berger, Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry, (aka the Berger Inquiry). " Rather than going to church, I attend a sweat lodge; rather than accepting bread and toast [sic] from the Holy Priest, I smoke a ceremonial pipe to come into Communion with the Great Spirit; and rather than kneeling with my hands placed together in prayer, I let sweetgrass be feathered over my entire being for spiritual cleansing and allow the smoke to carry my prayers into the heavens. I am a Mi'kmaq, and this is how we pray. " Noah Augustine, from his article "

6. Smithsonian Institution, Anthropology Outreach Office: Native American Religion Contributions to the Study of native american religions.) Harper Collins Pubs Becoming and Remaining a People native american religions on the Northern Plains http://www.nmnh.si.edu/anthro/outreach/religion.html

Anthropology Outreach Office Smithsonian Institution Selected References on NATIVE AMERICAN RITUAL AND RELIGION Aberle, David F. The Peyote Religion Among the Navaho nd ed. Norman: Univ. of Oklahoma Press, 1991. Bahti, Tom and Mark Bahti. Southwestern Indian Ceremonials. rd rev. ed. KC Pubs., 1997. Barney, Garold D. Mormons, Indians and the Ghost Dance Religion of 1890 . Univ. Press of America, 1986. Beck, Peggy V. and Anna L. Walters. The Sacred: Ways of Knowledge, Sources of Life . Navajo College Press, 1977. (An excellent volume written by and from the perspectives of North American Indians. The book also provides suggestions for further reading and a list of films and their distributors.) Boas, Franz. Religion of the Kwakiutl Indians . 2 vols. Reprint ed. (Columbia Univ. Contributions to Anthropology Ser.: No. 10, 1930.) AMS Press. Capps, Walter Holden, ed. Seeing With a Native Eye. (Contributions to the Study of Native American Religions.) Harper Collins Pubs., 1976. (The book discusses the nature and contributions of Native American religion.) Craven, Margaret.

7. Native American Religions Resources At Questia - The Online Library native american religions. Questia. The World's Largest Online Library native american religions. Welcome to Questia, the world's largest online library of over 48 000 books and 390 http://www.questia.com/popularSearches/native_american_religions.jsp

8. UCR CHASS: Department Of Religious Studies The Department of Religious Studies provides an opportunity to study diverse religious traditions of the world. Students are able to examine texts, symbols, myths, rituals, ideas, values, institutions, and intellectual (theological, philosophical, and ethical) systems of many traditions, such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, African and native american religions. Religion is studied empathetically, descriptively, and critically with the aid of historical, exegetical, literary, philosophical, theological, and socialscientific (e.g. anthropological, socio-logical, and psychological) methods of inquiry. http://religiousstudies.ucr.edu/

The Department of Religious Studies provides an opportunity to study diverse religious traditions of the world. Religion has always played a crucial role in human history, thought, and culture and continues to do so today. Students are able to examine texts, symbols, myths, rituals, ideas, values, institutions, and intellectual (theological, philosophical, and ethical) systems of many traditions, such as Judaism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto, Shamanism, and African and Native American traditional religions. Religious Studies at UCR views religion in a global perspective, utilizing resources from the humanities, the social sciences, and the arts. Welcome Message from the Dean UCR Events UCR News CHASS Events ... Grad. Student Employment Maintained by CHASS College Computing Last modified document.write(document.lastModified) Lorem ipsum dolor Lorem ipsum Lorem ipsum Faculty ... Lorem ipsum

9. Native American - Experience All native american religions involve rituals that gather the community together in common bonds of experience. Among the Iroquois http://www.stormwind.com/common/naexp.html

Native American - Experience What is the nature of religious experience in Native American religion? Individual experience of Spirit was central to much of Native American religion, and the vision quest, common to most of the continent, was the most widespread form of such experiences. Within the priestly cultures of the Southeast and Southwest, however, religious guidance was provided by the priests, who also acted as intermediaries between people and Spirit in major festivals. Visions were generally not sought by ordinary people. Some shaman-led peoples also limited vision experiences to those called to be shamans, but, in general, non-priestly societies tended to place greater significance on individual encounters with Spirit. All Native American religions involve rituals that gather the community together in common bonds of experience. Among the Iroquois peoples of the Eastern Woodlands, each year in spring and fall, community ceremonies are led by the "false faces," wooden-masked impersonators of the spirit who protects the people from disease, to drive all disease away. One of the most significant annual rituals among the Southeastern peoples was the Green Corn Ceremony, in which the people purified themselves, cleaned their houses, fasted and prayed, and offered up the first ears of green corn in the fire, seeking Spirit's blessing for a healthy harvest. The high point of the festival was the relighting of the sacred fire by the religious leader and its distribution to all the community homes. The multi-day ceremonies concluded with a great feast of celebration.

10. Siubhan's Little Pagan Page Musings Article by a contemporary Wiccan expressing concern about the pagan appropriation of Hindu and native american religions. http://www.siubhan.com/witch/musings/imperialism.html

Siubhan's Little Pagan Page Musings These musings are my own and should in no way be construed to represent any particular Wiccan path. Cultural Imperialism in Witchcraft Over the years, I've been troubled by the way that modern Witchcraft appropriates goddesses and gods from all around the world with seemingly no respect for the religions these deities come from. This abuse takes two major forms, and both are disrespectful in their own way. For starters, I don't believe it's ethical to take deities from living religions and use them outside their proper religious and cultural context. I've read many invocations to Kali that are clearly not Hindu. The same goes for Kwan-Yin, who is used in Buddhism, and Pele of the Hawaiian people. These are goddesses who are currently worshipped by living peoples and living religions. Worshipping them in a Wiccan way is disrespectful to both. Would you invoke Yahweh in a circle? No. So why Kali? Similarly, it is disrespectful to use Judeo-Christian angels in Wiccan worship, and I'm seeing more and more of that of late. These are deities and entities who have living religions. The proper and respectful way to worship them is to study and adopt that religion, not to suck them into your own religion. Another practice that bothers me is that of conquering peoples using deities from the conquered. Pele comes back to mind, as do Native North American deities and religious practices. It's simply conquest all over again. Plus, in many cases, these are still living religions. What right do I have as a white woman in the United States to simply pick and choose what I want of Native American religious practices without permission? The respectful and appropriate thing to do is study and practice the actual religion, not appropriate the parts you like.

11. Plastic Shaman Busters: Index Activist site dedicated to revealing fakery, exploitation, and abuse of native american religions and cultures. http://www.plastic-shaman-busters.com

Plastic- Shaman- Busters.com Mission statement: Shining light into the dark places... Reaching in to find the truth... Revealing fakery, charlatanery, abuse, genocide, racism, and theft of our Native American ways, ceremonies, cultures, religions, artifacts, and arts. Protecting innocent people of all races from fraud, chicanery, and financial robbery...

12. Clergy Training Online At Interfaith College International Student Login. email address forgot password? native american religions. " You will truly have good lives if you help each other. That is the way you could make each other happy always feel willing to do for each other. Native American worship takes place in the cathedral of Nature, frequently in http://www.interfaithcollege.org/religion_american.asp

email address: password: forgot password? Native American Religions "You will truly have good lives if you help each other. That is the way you could make each other happy ...always feel willing to do for each other. This you are to do as long as the people's earth remains." -WHITE BUFFAW DANCE, Fox "Kindness is to use one's will to guard one's speech and conduct so as not to injure anyone." -ORAL TRADITION, OMAHA "Our parents taught us that lying was the 'great shame' -that it was the 'battle-shield behind which the coward hid his shame."' -BUFFAW CHILD LONG LANCE, SIOUX "Stealing is a bad thing. One who is not in the habit of stealing easily continues to get property for his own." -SINGING AROUND RITE, Fox "0 Great Spirit, I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy -myself. So when life fades, as a fading sunset, my spirit may come to You without shame." -YELLOW LARK, SIOUX "We have a religion which was given to our forefathers and has been handed down to us, their children. It teaches us to be thankful, to be united, and to love one another. We never quarrel about religion."-Red Jacket, Seneca Native American worship takes place in the cathedral of Nature, frequently in silence. The fruits of silence are thought to be self- control, true courage, endurance, patience, dignity, and reverence.

13. Seeking Native American Spirituality And Traditional Religion: Read This First! A word to the wise for nonIndians in search of native american religions and spirituality. Go to the Native American Indian languages http://www.native-languages.org/religion.htm

Go to the Native American Indian languages What's new on our site today! Seeking Native American Spirituality: Read This First! Judging from the email I get, there are a lot of people out there trying to learn about traditional Native American religion and spirituality these days. Many of them are trying to do this on the Internet. Now, there is a lot of garbage and misinformation on the Internet no matter what subject you're talking about, but American Indian religion and spirituality has got to have the worst signal-noise ratio of any of them. The 'information' out there about American Indian religions ranges from inaccurate school projects by seven-year-olds, to deeply biased generalizations about the 'heathens' written 300 years ago, to hucksters pretending to be Native American shamans to scam money off of people, to useful and interesting information about actual American Indian religious traditions past and present. Sorting through these sites can be a nightmare. I wish you a lot of luck with it. Before you start, let me give you a few words of experience. There are two reasons to be looking for information on Native American religions. The first, and easier to address, is educational. Either because you're a student who's been assigned to or just out of intellectual and cultural curiosity, you would like to learn more about how American Indians, or a particular tribe of American Indians, view the world. If that's you, then your main problem is going to be identifying the authentic and trustworthy sources. Indians are happy to talk about their beliefs and spiritual practices, both historically and in the modern day. Unfortunately, so are plenty of ill-informed non-Indians (or people of Indian descent) who think they know a lot more than they do. And so are those unscrupulous souls willing to pretend they're something they're not in hopes of making a buck or getting a little attention. My best recommendation is to get a

14. Information On Native Americans: American Indian FAQ For Kids A It is almost impossible to learn anything about native american religions online. First of all, every tribe has slightly different traditions. http://www.native-languages.org/kidfaq.htm

Kids Menu More FAQ's American Indian FAQ for Kids (Information on Native Americans) Hello, and welcome to Native Languages of the Americas! We are a non-profit organization working to preserve and promote American Indian languages, particularly through the use of Internet technology. Because of our website's mission, most of the information we provide is about individual tribes. There are many different Indian tribes and nations, and they all have unique cultures and traditions. On this page we have provided the answers to questions about Native Americans in general that we are frequently asked by younger readers. If you have a question that is not addressed on this page, please email it to us and we may add the answer to this page! Frequently Asked Questions about American Indians What is the difference between "American Indian," "Native American," "First Nations," and "indigenous people"? Which one should I use? Are Inuit/Eskimos Native American? What about Hawaiians? What about the Metis? What was Native American culture like in the past? What is it like now? ... What tribes are you from? Q : What is the difference between "American Indian," "Native American," "First Nations," and "indigenous people"? Which one should I use?

15. ASATRU FOLK ASSEMBLY - Wannabees Article by an Asatru practitioner on similarities between traditional tribal European and native american religions. http://www.runestone.org/ind5.html

ASATRU FOLK ASSEMBLY WANNABEES Th e following article appeared as a flyer produced in 1995 by the Asatru Folk Assembly, aimed at European-Americans who are attracted to Native American spirituality. It has received praise from several Native American writers and thinkers, including Vine Deloria, author of GOD IS RED and many other books dealing with American Indians. The term "wannabees" is used by some Native Americans to refer to outsiders who "want to be" Indians. So you're a European-American who's attracted to Native American spirituality... The way of the American Indian offers much to those who want to live in harmony with the Earth, and with the own beings. The simplicity of a life close to nature, and the powerful techniques of the shaman, call out to all of us who want to walk lightly on this planet and to know the journeys of the soul that make one wise. Many people, including those of European ancestry, feel the pull of this spiritual path. However, there is something to consider. Many Native Americans feel that you should seek out the ways of your people, rather than intruding upon their ways. They understand your interest in their traditions, but they think you should look for something that is yours. Well, just what IS yours?

16. Native American Religion--Essay-Related Seventeenth- And Eighteenth-Century Link org/nataspir.htm A brief primer on the common elements in native american religions, provided by the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. http://www.nhc.rtp.nc.us/tserve/eighteen/elinksna.htm

from the National Humanities ... 17th and 18th Centuries Essay-Related Links Featured "Divining America" Essay: Native American Religion by Christine Leigh Heyrman Links to Online Resources The Rutgers site (below) provides links to hundreds of resources on general Native American culture, including religion. The other sites relate directly to Professor Heyrman's essay on Native American religion. Rutgers University Religion Department http://religion.rutgers.edu/links/america.html With its links to three rich metasites on Native American religion, this is the place to start for serious study by high school students and teachers. Smithsonian Institution: Native American History and Culture http://www.si.edu/resource/faq/nmai/start.htm A bibliography of 31 titles on Native American religion, spirituality, and medicine is included here, in addition to research resources and exhibitions on Native American culture. Part of the valuable FAQ pages of the Smithsonian Institution Website.[Home Page: http://www.si.edu/newstart.htm] Native American Spirituality http://religioustolerance.org/nataspir.htm

17. Www.nhc.rtp.nc.us8080/tserve/eighteen/ekeyinfo/natrel.htm Native American Religion Critical Issues in the Study of native american religions http//puffin.creighton.edu/bucko/syllabi/ant358_syllabus.html A course by Raymond Bucko at http://www.nhc.rtp.nc.us:8080/tserve/eighteen/ekeyinfo/natrel.htm

18. Native Americans. Religion The following is a link to Internet sites on native american religions, followed by a bibliography of children s books on native american religions and http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/natreligion.htm

Native Americans. Religion By Inez Ramsey The following is a link to Internet sites on Native American religions, followed by a bibliography of children's books on Native American religions and religious practices. Native American Spirituality Kutenai Powwow Regalia Photos by Ben Marra Bibliography Bierhorst, John. The Hungry Woman; Myths and Legends of the Aztecs With illustrations by sixteenth century Aztec artistis. Morrow, 1984. Ages 9 and up English versions based on the earliest recorded Nahuahtl texts. Includes more than two dozen legends with bibliography. Black and white art reproductions. Appeal to all ages. SLJ Bierhorst, John. The Mythology of Mexico and Central America Morrow, 1990. Grades 9 up. A complex array of lore from Central America and Mexico. Useful as a reference or research tool for beginners at the .high school level. BCCB. Bierhorst, John. The Mythology of South America Morrow, 1988. Young Adult An excellent research tool. Good interpretations of Inca lore. Source notes, bibliography. Recommended for middle and secondary school libraries. SLJ Bonvillain, Nancy.

19. Encyclopedia Of North American Indians - - Religion The phenomena referred to by the term native american religions pose an interesting and complex problem of description and interpretation—one that has http://college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/naind/html/na_032600_religion.htm

Entries Publication Data Advisory Board Maps ... World Civilizations Encyclopedia of North American Indians Religion The phenomena referred to by the term Native American religions For instance, among the Ni U Konska Some would argue that the so-called vision quest is evidence of the quintessential individualism of Plains Indian peoples. However, just the opposite can be argued, because in Plains cultures the individual is always in symbiotic relationship with the community. This ceremony involves personal sacrifice: rigorous fasting (no food or liquids) and prayer over several days (typically four to seven) in a location removed from the rest of the community. Yet in a typical rite of vigil or vision quest, the community or some part of the community assists the individual in preparing for the ceremony and then prays constantly on behalf of the individual throughout the ceremony. Thus by engaging in this ceremony, the individual acts on behalf of and for the good of the whole community. Even when an individual seeks personal power or assistance through such a ceremony, he or she is doing so for the ultimate benefit of the community. In God Is Red Indian peoples, then, tend to locate sacred power spatially—in terms of places or in terms of spatial configuration. This is in stark contrast to European and Euro-American religious traditions, which tend to express spirituality in terms of time: a regular hour on Sundays and a seasonal liturgical calendar that has become more and more distanced from any sense of the actual flow of seasons in particular places and is therefore both more abstract and more portable than Native American traditions. In the Southern Hemisphere, for instance, Christians celebrate Lent (named for springtime and the lengthening of the days) and Easter during the antipodean autumn. It would be an exaggeration to argue that Indian peoples have no sense of time or that Europeans have no sense of space. Rather, spatiality is a dominant category of existence for Native Americans whereas time is a subordinate category. Just the opposite is generally true for European peoples.

20. Reader's Companion To U.S. Women's History - - Native American Religions native american religions. native american religions have been a major conundrum both historically and contemporarily for both Natives and nonNatives. http://college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/women/html/wh_026400_nativeameri3.ht

Entries Publication Data Advisory Board Contributors ... World Civilizations Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History Native American Religions Native American religions have been a major conundrum both historically and contemporarily for both Natives and non-Natives. For the former, it is an ongoing reality; for the latter, it is derision, or a searching, as in the New Age movement toward indigenous beliefs. The term religion has been used to describe the varied belief systems of North American aboriginal peoples, but this term reflects a concept superimposed by European conquerors. The core values and sentiments are often expressed in Native terms such as wakan (Lakota), meaning a universal force or power. The English term gloss , or spirituality, may be a more functional means for examining the complexities of Native epistemologies. European concepts of gods, hierarchical arrangements of spirits, and codified systems of reward and punishment such as heaven and hell are not categories that encompass the integrated whole of Native beliefs. Moreover, the emphasis upon medicine men, shaman, and male ceremonial leaders has served to obscure the dyadic relationships between males and females in the maintenance of spiritual well-being and in the performance of rituals that provide harmony and equilibrium within the larger social group. Women were part of the natural and supernatural world, as were men and children. Most beliefs and rituals fostered proper transitions from childhood to adulthood, and the rites of passage—birth, puberty, marriage, and death—were regulated by appropriate ceremonies to allow for personal development and a smoothly functioning social system. The Navajo (Diné) term

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