Religion and Spirituality in Native American Culture Essay

The Indian Intercourse Act of 1790 was one action the U.S. government utilized to obtain land from the Native Americans. The Indian Intercourse Act was a way to obtian Indian land legally through a treaty endorsed by congress. The Act permitted Native American leaders to relinquish land in return for goods, annuity payments and guarantee’s that no other demands would be made. White settlers were able to obtain many areas of tribal land due this Act (Nash, 2007, p. 255-256). The U.S. government promoted the assimilation of Native Americans into the white society. The spread of Christianity was promoted with the blessing from the government, missionaries traveled to Native American territories to spread the word of God and to teach them about

Forty-eight years ago to date, the American Indian Movement (AIM) was organized. On that same year, Congress enacted the Indian Civil Rights Act. The purpose of the Indian Civil Rights Act was to accomplish two majorly significant points. First, it would ensure Reservation Indians many of the safeguards granted to other citizens by the Bill of Rights. Secondly, it would acknowledge the legitimateness of tribal laws within the reservations. Unfortunately, the American Indian Movement (AIM) and other supporting groups were not content or satisfied with the outcome and as a result created a disagreement and conflict between the two.

Some Native Americans may not like the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 because of the way it made them look which was like “museum pieces” and because they did not want to establish tribal governments.

Native Americans are entitled to the same Constitutional protections that guard other citizens from federal government infringement. Plenary power and the accompanying seizure and use of indigenous land bases have violated the rights of Native Americans and demonstrated the inability of the federal government to manage Indian affairs. The United States should give ownership and control of original, non-privately owned land bases back to tribes. This course of action would end treaty violation, compensate tribes for land takings, prevent bureaucrats from implementing policies that obstruct the ability of Native Americans to participate in their

When most people hear of Native Americans, they cannot help but think of elaborate headdresses, red skinned warriors, and lively dancing. Although these aspects of Native American culture are fascinating, more important is where they fare in our society 's past and present. Restrictive laws and acts such as the Indian Removal Act, the Indian Reorganization Act, Fort Laramie treaties, and the Trail of Tears forced Native Americans from their lands. When settlers and the American government saw the resistance of Native Americans to forced assimilation, they resorted to racial discrimination and relocation to reservations. This history of discrimination has fueled calls for the United States government to pay reparations and the return of Native Americans to their indigenous lands.

I was pretty hungry that afternoon, thought I would find something to eat outside of the cave. All I was expecting to find was a couple of clown fish, maybe a sea horse if I’m lucky, but never this thing!! I don’t even know what to call it, it was long, all black, and there were constantly bubbles coming out of it back. It had flippers and really big eye balls.

The Native American religion was very different from the Christian religion of the Europeans. The Native American’s didn’t pray to a god, they prayed to something in nature such as the sky or the sun. “O our Mother the Earth, O our Father the Sky” (Tewa Indian). The colonists thought that it was barbaric that the Native American’s didn’t believe in a God. The colonists thought that there was only one correct way to be religious and that the way that the Native American’s practiced religion was ‘the wrong way’.

What is an ‘indigenous’ religion or belief system? When we hear the term ‘indigenous religion’, what comes to our minds? How do we react internally when those words are mentioned? How do adherents of indigenous religions feel about those outside of their social and cultural circles, who know very little of their beliefs and who understand them even less. And how did the term ‘indigenous’ become associated with various belief systems that, in many cases, preceded most modern religions being practiced today?

Europeans lived a much more modern way of life than the primitive lifestyle of Native Americans. Europeans referred to themselves as “civilized” and regarded Native Americans as “savage,” “heathen,” or “barbarian.” Their interaction provoked by multiple differences led to misunderstanding and sometimes conflict. These two cultures, having been isolated from one another, exhibited an extensive variation in their ideals. Europeans and Native Americans maintained contradictory social, economic, and spiritual practices.

Prior to the Second World War, religious places remained untouched as they were mainly located in rural areas. However, the period after the Second World War was characterized by an increase in population, corporate farming, a more vibrant timber industry as well as an expanded recreational industry. This change resulted in less respect for the public land, and the situation was made worse by the proliferation of state and federal agencies that have no respect for the public land. It thus becomes difficult for the Native Indians to have access to shrines as the politicians’ promulgated rules that disregarded public land particularly places of worship. One such narrow-minded law that has failed to achieve its ultimate goal is the American Indian Religious Freedom Act that was enacted in 1978. The law made it clear the government efforts of protecting the religious rights of the American Indians not only to express their belief but also to practice this believes through traditional religion. However, this law faced major blows especially on the corridors of justice where the Court viewed the Congress’ action in enacting the American Indian Religious Freedom Act as efforts of the government to establish a state religion.

Native Americans have existed in the different regions-the plains, mountains, marshes- of the North American continent- long before the United States existed. Yet, most were not treated with the respect and dignity that the white American settlers were given. Viewed as outlandish and savage by white settlers, series of negotiations to “correct” the Indian way of life were implemented- through forced relocation, war, and assimilation into white culture. Those who stood up against the American government were viewed as beacons of hope by their fellow Native Americans. Many Native American traditions still exist today, but unfortunately most of them have been lost along with their people.

Freedom issues for the Native American are cultural and religious freedoms. The denial of freedoms affect their ability to worship ceremonially and traditionally. They include lack of access to their religious sites, sacred objects, and termination of aid (pluralism.org). In the 1960s the Indian Termination policy, would force them to be incorporated into America, as well as end their independence. They stopped development projects and cut off federal service. In 1975 The Indian Self-determination Act confirmed the rights of tribes. The Act also allowed confirmed tribes to get federal

Native Americans lost their culture once the Spanish made them a part of the mission system. Before European arrival, they were predominantly pagan and had multiple gods or spirits which they worshipped as part of their rituals for successful harvest or hunt. Through the mission system, they underwent baptism through Catholicism and learned to worship only one supreme being and

Popular culture has shaped our understanding and perception of Native American culture. From Disney to literature has given the picture of the “blood thirsty savage” of the beginning colonialism in the new world to the “Noble Savage,” a trait painted by non-native the West (Landsman and Lewis 184) and this has influenced many non native perceptions. What many outsiders do not see is the struggle Native American have on day to day bases. Each generation of Native American is on a struggle to keep their traditions alive, but to function in school and ultimately graduate.

The Europeans, therefore, described the indigenous people as savage, polytheistic pagans and heathens, who were doomed to damnation for the worship of animals and nature. The Europeans, within their understanding of the will of God, believed it their duty and their responsibility to teach these indigenous people the “correct” way to live, and were determined to impose their own religion upon the indigenous people by enforcing the worship of the God of the Christian Bible through any means deemed necessary, including slavery, coercion, and the threat of, or actual maiming or death. Europeans chose to dismiss the religious and cultural practices of the indigenous peoples because the indigenous peoples did not engage in scheduled worship services as the Europeans did, or call their deities by the names that the Europeans used, nor did the indigenous peoples perform their worship ceremonies in the same manner as the Europeans.