Native American Religious Traditions

Description

Features

How do you introduce diverse indigenous traditions to your students?

An in-depth focus on three diverse indigenous religions.  Native American Religions focuses on the distinct traditions of the Lakota of the Northern Plains, the Diné (Navajo) of the Southwest, and Coast Salish of the Pacific Northwest.  It highlights their distinct oral traditions and ceremonial practices; the impact of colonialism on Native religious life; and the ways in which indigenous communities of North America have responded, and continue to respond, to colonialism and Euroamerican cultural hegemony.  For example, Chapter 1 provides a comparison of three contemporary ceremonies. This distinguishes between the widely diverse traditions of North American native peoples, filling a void left by other texts that blur the distinctions among these traditions, and providing students with a grounded, in-depth sense of the history, culture, and traditions of particular Native nations and cultures.

Historical, social and political context.  Emphasizes religion as a part of culture, and as a dynamic expression of people's creativity; the ways in which Native people have responded to colonialism and sought to preserve indigenous traditions, ethics and values. This text provides an introduction to fundamental historical events and also emphasizes social movements that have shaped Native American cultural and religious traditions and does so by concentrating on distinct, specific examples.  It emphasizes political contexts and highlights the ways in which 21st century Native communities are seeking to secure their sovereignity, protect sacred lands, and preserve their cultures and languages.  For example, Chapter 5 highlights 21st century concerns and political issues.

The perfect introduction to Native American religious studies.  Its compact size and the fact that it is brief allows it to be used in a course where instructors have a limited time to devote to Native American religions.  From here, instructors can move onto other monographs and in-depth studies.

Table of Contents

Foreword 7

Preface 9

Timeline 12

Map 15

1: Religion in Action: Transcendence,

Thanksgiving, and Transformation 16

Religion on the ground 19

The Lakota Sun Dance 19

First Salmon ceremony on Puget Sound 25

The Diné Kinààldá 30

Conclusion 38

2: Philosophical Foundations: Religion

as Relationship 40

Lakota origins 41

Sacred power on the Northern Plains 43

To renew one’s life: Inipi 45

Crying for a dream: Haŋbleceyapi 45

Coast Salish traditions 47

The role of Transformer 47

Guardian spirits and spiritual power 50

Foundations of Diné traditions 54

Diné emergence 55

Diné notions of power 57

Conclusion 60

3: Defending Sacred Ground: Assimilation

and Resistance in the Colonial Era 62

1812–1960: Termination, assimilation, and removal 63

Indigenous responses: Reconstructing religious

and cultural life 69

The Lakota: The Ghost Dance 71

The Coast Salish: The Indian Shaker Church 75

The Diné: The Long Walk 79

Conclusion 82

4: Contemporary and Traditional: Native American

Religious Traditions Today 84

The American Indian Movement: Contemporary

political activism 84

The Native American Church 88

Contemporary Lakota spirituality: Situating the Sun Dance 90

Coast Salish longhouse spirit dancing 95

Diné chantways and sand paintings 97

Art Focus: Diné sand painting 98

Conclusion 104

5: Sovereignty, Ecology, and Religious Freedom

in the Next Millennium 105

Cultural survival: New Age appropriation, intellectual

property rights, repatriation, and sovereignty 105

Art Focus: Contemporary Coast Salish art 108

Ecological survival: The Black Hills, Devil’s Tower,

old growth cedar, and Black Mesa 115

Conclusion: Toward a global indigeneity 124

Notes 127

Glossary 134

Pronunciation Guide 136

Suggested Further Reading 137

Index 141