Native American Religion/Mythology
“…it is important for young Native Americans to know that their people have a religion that is different from other religions…” Thomas Yellowtail, Absaroke/Crow Sun Chief 1991 (Sullivan)
When Europeans entered North America, they encountered the North American Indian (Native American). While European colonists considered Native Americans to be savages and of an inferior culture, in reality, Native Americans had a very sophisticated culture, society, and belief system that created a wide array of useful products and foods. Native Americans created the parka, snowshoe, toboggan, and kayak, all essential items for survival in North America. Among important foods, Native Americans had learned to cultivate maize (corn), potatoes, sweet potatoes, and manioc. They also cultivated cotton and tobacco and identified herbal medications, some of which are in the common use today.
Religion is at the heart of Native American life, the essence of an entire culture. Life carries more depth than can be understood by superficial observation of North American practices. Religion reflects the essence of the Native American culture. Cultural concepts embodied in the First Nations of America (North American Tribes) were taken word for word “the people united to form a perfect union” by Benjamin Franklin into the United States Constitution. (Sullivan)
Native Americans had a different relationship with the natural world compared to Europeans. Native Americans respected all objects whether they were biologic or inanimate. For example, they respected plants and stones, materials that Europeans considered to have no religious meaning.
There are very diverse opinions among American historians about Native American spiritual beliefs. In order to understand Native Americans, it is important to consider the wide range of cultures among the Tribes across North and South America. Some historians claim they were predominantly monotheistic, believing in a Supreme God, a god of life. Others claim they believed that they were part of a spiritual world, integrated with all other parts of nature. (Hultkrantz) Reality lies somewhere in the midst of those concepts; practices common to Christianity bear similarity to Native American practices and beliefs. The Catholic mass and Native American dance represent different ways to express similar beliefs. Native American storytelling bears great similarity to Christian religion classes. Early European settlers denigrated North American storytelling because they simply did not understand its purpose.
There is no single belief system of the North American people, but numerous different traditional stories associated with religion, ethics and beliefs are known. Important stories describing those beliefs are deeply based in nature and are rich with the symbolism of seasons, weather, plants, animals, earth, water, fire, sky, and the heavenly bodies. Common elements describe an all-embracing, universal and omniscient Great Spirit, a connection to the Earth and its landscapes, a belief in a parallel world in the sky (sometimes also underground and/or below the water), diverse creation narratives, visits to the land of the dead, and collective memories of ancient sacred ancestors abound.
A characteristic of many of the beliefs is the close relationship between human beings and animals (including birds and reptiles). They often feature shape-shifting between animal and the human form. Marriage between people and different species (particularly bears) is a common theme. In some stories, animals foster human children. Should you have difficulty accepting this possibility, consider the old Roman myth that Romulus and Remus, raised by a wolf, founded Rome If you can accept one version, why not accept both?
Storytelling is an important aspect of Native American life. Stories create worlds, are an essential part of generational connection by way of teaching and listening, facilitating connection with the nonhuman, natural world. While oral storytelling is often considered unimportant in European-based society, this form of communication, connection, and teaching has been used for millennia , and is still used to pass down traditional beliefs. Storytelling is used to teach life lessons relating to traditional and current beliefs. Stories feature activities and actions involving many generations, such as participating in ceremonies, experimenting with new ideas and new peoples, and reflecting on the outcome of events. Stories often carry the message to Native American youth that it is okay to make mistakes, and that things aren’t always black and white. This is different from many European narratives which usually clearly define story characters as good or bad.
Generational storytelling creates a bond between tribal elders and younger North American people. Elders are known as Knowledge Keepers and are highly respected for their knowledge about stories, language, and history. Teaching through storytelling and learning to listen and understand requires a strong connection between the storyteller and the ones hearing the story.
