Native American Religion, Culture, and Rituals.

".....the North American public remains ignorant about
Native American religions.
And this, despite the fact that hundreds of books and
articles have been published by anthropologists,
religionists and others about native beliefs......
Little of this scholarly literature has found its
way into popular books about Native American religion..." (Native American Spirituality:2005)

“For some Americans Indians involved in Native American religions, life unfolds as a rich drama. This drama plays out in a world filled with Spiritual forces and shaped by them everything can mean something. Little is separate from religious influence. Spiritually attuned Native American men and woman seek multiple ways to express their religious visions. Their spiritually can affect how they cook, eat, dance, paint, tell stories, mold pottery, dye clothes, decorate you their bodies, design their homes, organize their villages , court lovers, marry, bury, dress, speak, make love, cut their hair, and so on. Wisdom comes by paying attention to the living world, discerning its significance with others in a community. For people holding this perspective, everyday realities can carry extraordinary significance. Dreams may matter. Mountains can harbour gods. Even practical activities can carry religious meaning. Agriculture can be sacred; hunting holy.” (Martin J. W:1999)

A Native Americans life is centered on their spirituality and beliefs system. This way of living by one’s customs is apparent within a Native’s day-to-day living. Through living by the foundations set in one’s beliefs can be seen in many religions the world. The Muslim religion have rituals set out to attend daily routines, such as eating, bathing, sexual intercourse and other personal activities down to what foot to enter one’s home with. It is not only the Muslim religion, but many Eastern cultures have rituals and customs based upon their religion or many times culture which are apparent to daily life. All Eastern societies vary on food, marriage, burials or cremation, language, dress, worship and beliefs. Most religions give special reference to some animals and even use these as part of their rituals. Hunting is holy within the Native American belief. Some religions, such as Islam, which sacrifices all meat to make it halal ‘clean’ before eaten. This ritual is very special at the time of Eid, when usually a Goat is sacrificed. Along with many religions being placed under attack, the Native Americans have also been exposed to prejudice against their culture and people. During the battle at Wounded Knee a massacre took place with the near wiping out of the complete Sioux tribe. The Sioux began a ritual called the Ghost Dance in order to help fight the American federal department. However the US retaliated with ammunition and bullets, which led to the death of a famous Chief as well as a large amount of woman and children. This massacre took place due to a belief system which was unknown to the Europeans.

“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.” (R, David: Unknown)

Christianity having been the prime belief and with so many followers, this could only then be perceived as the true religion. If Christianity then represented God anything different from this would surely only be seen as the devil?

The arrival of Europeans marked a major change in Native society. Millions died due to sickness, and programs of slavery and extermination. 1 Europeans and their missionaries looked upon Native Spirituality as worthless superstition inspired by the Christian devil, Satan. Many of the survivors were forcibly converted to Christianity. The U.S. and Canadian governments instituted policies to force Natives onto reservations and to encourage them to become assimilated into the majority culture. 2 During the middle decades of the 20th century, whole generations of children were kidnapped, forcibly confined in residential schools, and abused physically, sexually and emotionally. In Canada, these schools were operated on behalf of the Federal Government by the Roman Catholic, Anglican, United and Presbyterian churches. Both the government and these religious institutions have settled a multi-billion dollar class-action lawsuit. Claims against the Anglican Church were much greater than the Church's current assets. The was a concern for a while that the church might be forced into bankruptcy due to legal costs. (ReligiousIntolerence:2008)

Native spirituality was suppressed by the U.S. and Canadian governments. Spiritual leaders ran the risk of jail sentences of up to 30 years for simply practicing their rituals. This came to an end in the U.S. in 1978 when the Freedom of Religion Act was passed.

“Some sociologists believe that the extremely high suicide rate among Natives is due to the destruction of their religion and culture by the Federal Governments. This suppression is still seen in the prison administrations; Canadian prisons have only recently allowed Native sweat lodge ceremonies; many American prisons routinely deny permission.” (ReligiousIntolerence:2008)

“Europeans and their missionaries looked upon Native Spirituality as worthless superstition inspired by the Christian devil, Satan. Many of the survivors were forcibly converted to Christianity.” (Native American Spiriuality:2005)

The fear of the unknown beating within the hearts of the European settlers and convinced they were evil drove these men to do what most would when having felt threatened and in dangered. With religion such a big part of a European life anything related to the devil would then have to be wiped out without a momentary thought or sense of guilt as they were doing the right thing.

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. (R, David: Unknown)

Popular American history has traditionally viewed the past through white eyes. Much of the history and culture of many Native American civilizations were lost during the European invasion of the continent. The absence of a written language among most tribes force them to depend on aril traditions that were difficult to maintain as their civilizations were being killed off and separated by the dominant white culture. (R, David: Unknown)

Native Americans believe nature is divine; they are only a part of nature, and not here to dominate it. Their ceremonies are for the regeneration of Mother Earth, a direct contrast to western beliefs and policies. What knowledge Native Americans have to offer is therefore disregarded or silenced through government segregation and control. In fact, Native American ceremonies were prohibited by law before the passage of the Indian Freedom Act in 1978. In addition, many Americanized Indians have long forgotten the traditions of their past, and the few who still remember tend to be secretive about their customs, which they have been forced to hide so long from the dominant culture. (Native American Healing:2005)

The US and Canadian governments instituted policies to force Natives onto reservations and to encourage them to become assimilated into the majority culture. Some sociologists believe that the extremely high suicide rate among Natives is due to the suppression of their religion and culture by the Federal Governments. This suppression is still seen in the prison administrations; Canadian prisons have only recently allowed Native sweat lodge ceremonies; most American prisons routinely deny permission. (Native American Spirituality:2005)


Native Americans continued to care about the sacred sites associated with their ancestral dead, the holy places where they emerged form the earth, the spirits of bears, deer, rivers, crystals, snakes, tobacco, and corn.


With the invasion of European settlers the Native American land and culture slowly became deceased. 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.


Most Natives turned a blind eye to the dominance of Christian beliefs.

”During the 1820’s they opposed policies and programs that would rip them from their ancestral homelands. But they avoided stances that seemed too militant or might provoke the United States.” (Martin J. W:1999)


Many did however convert to Christianity, due to scale of Christians and dominance of its beliefs.

“For the first time, however, some of them became actively involved in the religion of the communists. Dominated by the United States, surrounded by Europeans and Africans, and infiltrated by missionaries, a significant number of American Indians began converting to Christianity…they began praying to Christ, reading the Bible, and going to Christian churches. For better or worse, they helped write a new chapter in the religious history of their people.” (Martin J. W:1999)

The European culture and Beliefs of Christianity did not affect everyone.

“Other Native peoples were abused by Christians from England. In colonial New England, for example, Puritan ministers labelled the Pequot Indians ’Ungodly’ and demanded that Christian soldiers destroy them. A massacre of Pequot men, woman and children took place in 1637. A generation later, the Puritan minister John Eliot established segregated communities of Native converts. Most of the converts were Massachusetts, lured y the promise of peace, gave up control over their lives.”(Martin J. W:1999).


This prejudice and racism towards the Natives American beliefs created hatred and barrier for the older generation. The younger generation exposed to Christian beliefs and brought up in a European society reflected on them. Christianity with Native American culture was being seen as positive within Native people. (Quote Bottom 0f Pg64) In the Bible God did not discriminate anyone, and everyone is viewed as Equal regardless of gender, status, culture or race. This can be seen in the Sikh religion where Equality between all man kind is employed. The Guri tells the Sikh people ‘Ek On Kaar’ there is ‘Only One God.’ For this reason the caste system is not allowed due to the fact is places people in social status depending on ancestral occupation and sets barriers amongst people.

The life of the Native American people, such s Massachusetts people began to reflect the power of the European and their culture began to change to the English way.


“The social structure, rules, clothing, manners, architecture, economic activities, and calendar were English, not Massachusetts… The intent was to make over the Native Americans was a very negative one. Telling Massachusetts people that they had to change every aspect of their life in order to be accepted by God was like telling them their way of life was worthless, if not evil. And telling them they had to become like the English in order to e saved was racist. Damned if they resembled their ancestors too much but never able to resemble their English enough, New England converts found themselves trapped in a game they could not win. Without necessarily intending it, the “Praying towns” created by Eliot expressed white arrogance and injected self-hatred into the hearts of Massachusetts boys and girls.” (Martin J. W:1999)

Apess a man born in1798, was an orphan disconnected from the Native people, but defended the rights of the Native people:

“Apess noted that Jesus was not a Caucasian but a person of color, closer in appearance to Indians than to Europeans. Apess suggested that a dark-skinned Jesus would be rejected by prejudiced white New Englanders. For American Indians like Apess, the Methodist variety of Christianity seemed to support the cause of the oppressed. Like many African-Americans, Native peoples found within this kind of Christianity a divine affirmation of their value as human beings.” (Martin J. W:1999)

However those that did oppose Christianity understandably felt anger towards the European people. They invaded their home lands, killed a vast amount of their community and now they were telling the Natives their religion was ‘ungodly’?

“Some Native American critics of Christianity also mistrust the Bible, the ancient text held sacred by Christians. They find fault with the Christian story of cosmic creation recorded in Genesis. Why? That story includes the statement: “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the rids of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth.” According to some of the critics, this statement (RSV, Genesis 1:26) places human beings over nature and justifies exploitation of the earth and other living things. Influenced by this text, they say, Christians have behaved in an irresponsible, reckless, and destructive way toward nature and toward peoples involved in earth-based religions” (Martin J. W:1999).

For this reason Christianity was also linked to the idea of European civilisation which had now along with the Bible was negatively perceived by the Native people as it promoted a divide between man and nature, which for the Native Americans see as a oneness in life. The Bible however see’s nature and other living creatures as below man kind, a dominator of the Earth.

The Native Church of North America is mainly inspired by the belief and importance of Peyote.
The peyote religion came about 10,000years old.

The Native American Church is a continuation of the ancient Peyote Religion which had used a cactus with psychedelic properties called peyote for about 10,000 years. Incorporated in 1918, its original aim was to promote Christian beliefs and values, and to use the peyote sacrament. Although use of peyote is restricted to religious ritual which is protected by the US Constitution, and it is not harmful or habit forming, and has a multi-millennia tradition, there has been considerable opposition from Christian groups, from governments, and from within some tribes. (NativeAmericanSpirituality:2005)

Veneration of the small spineless cactus called peyote probably began immediately after the first hunter-gatherers discovered its remarkable effects. The Native American deification of the plant is estimated to be about 10,000 years old. Peyote cactus buttons uncovered in Shumla Cave in southern Texas have been radiocarbon dated to 5,000 B.C. (Fikes, J:1996)

The Huichol Indians of northwestern Mexico still use peyote sacramentally. Their peyote pilgrimage may have been in place by 200 A.D. Scholars consider it the oldest sacramental use of peyote in North America.(Fikes, J:1996)

Huichols revere Peyote as the heart, soul, and memory of their Creator, Deer-Person. Huichol healers and singers achieve such union with their Creator, as incarnated in Peyote, that Peyote speaks through them, as here:

If you come to know me intimately, you shall be like me and feel like I do. Although you may not see me, I shall always be your elder brother. I am called the flower of Deer-Person. Have no fear, for I shall always be the flower of God.

Huichol religion parallels Christianity in that the Creator, out of compassion for his people, subjects himself to the limitations of this world. In Christianity he incarnates himself as a man who dies but is resurrected to save human beings; in Huichol belief he dies and is reborn in the Peyote plant to give his people wisdom. The Aztec are the cultural cousins of the Huichol, and their word peyote or peyote denotes the pericardium, the envelope or covering of the heart. This corresponds strictly to the Huichol belief that Peyote embodies the Creator's heart. (Fikes, J:1996)

Perhaps because it provided a powerful alternative to both ancient tribal religions and missionary-controlled versions of Christianity, the Peyote religion spread like wildfire. In the 1880s, two new religious movements were popular among Native Americans. One, the Ghost Dance, tried to renew the old ways. Following the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890, the Ghost Dance practically disappeared. The other, the Peyote religion, allowed members to establish a new identity which combined aboriginal and Christian elements. Except for the secular pow-wow, Peyote meetings are now the most popular Native American gatherings. (Fikes, J:1996)

The Church has no professional, paid clergy. Members are free to interpret Bible passages according to their own understanding. Morality is basically Christian and stresses the need to abstain from alcohol and be faithful to one's spouse. Other prominent values include truthfulness, fulfilling one's family obligations, economic self-sufficiency, praying for the sick, and praying for peace.(Fikes, J:1996)

Religion Today

Natives today follow many spiritual traditions:
Many Native families today have been devout Christians for generations.
Others, particularly in the Southwest have retained their aboriginal traditions more or less intact.
Most follow a personal faith that combines traditional and Christian elements.
Pan Indianism is a recent and growing movement which encourages a return to traditional beliefs, and seeks to create a common Native religion.

The Native American Church is a continuation of the ancient Peyote Religion which had used a cactus with psychedelic properties called peyote for about 10,000 years. Incorporated in 1918, its original aim was to promote Christian beliefs and values, and to use the peyote sacrament. Although use of peyote is restricted to religious ritual which is protected by the US Constitution, and it is not harmful or habit forming, and has a multi-millennia tradition, there has been considerable opposition from Christian groups, from governments, and from within some tribes.
(Religious Intolerence:2008)

Natives today follow many spiritual traditions: Many Native families today have been devout Christians for generations. Others, particularly in the Southwest have retained their aboriginal traditions more or less intact. Most follow a personal faith that combines traditional and Christian elements.

Pan Indianism is a recent and growing movement which encourages a return to traditional beliefs, and seeks to create a common Native religion. The Native American Church is a continuation of the ancient Peyote Religion which had used a cactus with psychedelic properties called peyote for about 10,000 years. Incorporated in 1918, its original aim was to promote Christian beliefs and values, and to use the peyote sacrament. Although use of peyote is restricted to religious ritual which is protected by the US Constitution, and it is not harmful or habit forming, and has a multi-millennia tradition, there has been considerable opposition from Christian groups, from governments, and from within some tribes. (Native American Spirituality:2005)

Native American

1. Martin, J.W (2001) The land lokks after us: A History of Native American Religion. Oxford University Press.

2. American Indian Spirituality (1999 - 2005) American Indian Spirituality and Sacred Rites
[online] PurpleHawk Available from: http://impurplehawk.com/naspirit.html [accessed: 25.03.2009]

3. Null, G (1996) Native American Healing [online] available from:
http://www.garynull.com/documents/nativeamerican.htm [accessed: 25.03.2009]

4. Falsetto, S (2008) Native American After Life Rituals [online] available from:http://ethnobotany.suite101.com/article.cfm/native_american_after_life_rituals#ixzz0AV97G4KT [accessed: 25.03.2009]

5. Sun Dance (No Date) Sun Dance [online] available from: http://www.crystalinks.com/sundance.html [accessed: 28.03.2009]

6. Native Americans - American Indians - The First People of America (2007) Native Americans - Buffalo[online] Native Americans.com
available from: http://www.nativeamericans.com/Buffalo.htm [accessed: 25.03.2009]

7. Fikes, F (1996)A Brief History of the Native American Church
[online] Huston Smith Used by the Council on Spiritual Practice available from: http://csp.org/communities/docs/fikes-nac_history.html [accessed: 28.03.2008]

8.D.Ruvolo (No Date) A summary of Native American Religion
[online] available from: http://are.as.wvu.edu/ruvolo.htm [accessed: 02.04.2008]