Native American Spirituality

[MixedIndian]

Hi All. I wanted to start this tread about Native spiritualilty basically to ask some questions. First, I wanted to know if it is a difference between it and say 'organized religion'. I have recently become interested in it and wanted to get some more information on it. I do have a book that I bought, but haven't been really able to read it. Basically I figured I would better info here. Maybe some of you practice it. I have a close friend that did the sweat lodge? once. If you all could explain or tell me where to get good information on this,it would be very helpful. Thanks.

[Historian]

Hi All. I wanted to start this tread about Native spiritualilty basically to ask some questions. First, I wanted to know if it is a difference between it and say 'organized religion'. I have recently become interested in it and wanted to get some more information on it. I do have a book that I bought, but haven't been really able to read it. Basically I figured I would better info here. Maybe some of you practice it. I have a close friend that did the sweat lodge? once. If you all could explain or tell me where to get good information on this,it would be very helpful. Thanks.

MixedIndian,
There are some basics you might need to know before you go any further with this.

1. There is no such thing as "Native American Spirituality", because there are hundreds of NDN tribes and nations, each with very unique cultures, languages, and spiritual beliefs. There is not one set of spiritual beliefs that is common to all tribes. Even the Native American Church has variations from tribe to tribe, of those tribes that follow that way.

2. The traditional spiritual beliefs of many tribes can not be compared to "organized religions". There is no comparison.

"Organized religion" generally refers to an organization of people supporting the exercise of some religion with a prescribed set of beliefs, often taking the form of a legal entity which sets moral laws and doctrines.

"Spirituality" generally refers to matters of the spirit. The spiritual nature of humans, often contrasts with the the material world. A sense of connection forms a central defining characteristic of spirituality. In other words, connection to something greater than oneself, which includes an emotional experience of awe, reverence and humility. Of equal importance, spirituality relates to matters of psychological health and often focuses on personal experience. A common theme of spirituality in many tribal traditions is the tradition of perceiving and internalizing one's true nature and relationship to the rest of existance.

3. Be very carefully what you read in books about some Native spiritual traditions. Keep in mind that books are made to sell for profit. True spiritual teaching (in my humble opinion), can only come from inter-personal communication with tribal elders.

4. Your last comment, "If you all could explain or tell me where to get good information on this, it would be very helpful", shows me that you are willing to learn the right way of doing things, and thats a good way to start out. However, the internet is probably the least reliable source for information on spiritual traditions. I recommend you consult some of the elders in your tribe first.

Hope this helps.

[creeladie]

Wonderful advice. Be cautious, respectful, listen to the Elders, go slow and listen to your heart. It's a beautiful life for many of our people and a powerful way of living.

[MixedIndian]

Thank you for the response, but the problem is my Native ancestors are either not around or departed, so I can't ask any of them anything. The closest I can get to a Native is at pow wows, and they are usually out of town. My GF is mostly Aztec, and she is in the same situation I am in as far as getting information from her family. Now I understand when you guys talk about the knowledge of the culture fading away, because they is nobody here to teach me and my kids anything. I have to learn through books. So anyway, I am still interested in my Native background and culture, always will be, but this is what makes it hard. I plan to attend more powwows so I will become more knowledgeable and network myself. But in the meantime, what do I do? Thank you for the advice, though.

[crazywolf]

Boozhoo niji,

Great post Historian, miigwetch for explaining this so well. I cannot add to that too much except to say this..

First of all, tobacco is the spiritual currency of practically everything our people do. The one thing that I can tell you to get you started on your new path, is something that was told to me, and it can probably apply to any tribe but I might be wrong. I put a tobacco offering out every morning. I say a small prayber while holding the tobacco, then put it by the east side of a tree. I do this, or try to remember, before noon every day. And you only have to use a pinch of tobacco, what you would think would fit in the bowl of a pipe.

Be very careful who you talk to about sweat lodges. Absolutely avoid ANY lodge where they ask for money, PERIOD!!! Its not a bad idea to avoid any lodge where they will just let you come in without getting to know you first. It is good if you are invited into a sweat, or if you ask around at a pow wow and are introduced to someone that runs sweats and ask for it with tobacco. Usually that person will ask some questions before saying yes. That is all I will say about sweats because each tribe runs sweats differently and does different things.

Finally, it is best if you go with the tribe of your birth. You are much more likely to be accepted into things. Even if you are not taught by your own family, you will be adopted in somewhere, either on or off rez. That is the way it will have to be for me, even though I am Anishinaabe, it would be very hard to find someone within my family that practices the old ways, so I will have to move up north to find someone to teach me. As far as your girlfriend goes... The only thing I will say, and please do not take this as Negative, but the Aztec ways are far different than any of the ways practiced by any other tribe. This is what was told to me by an Aztec dancer I had the chance to talk with. Aztec do not believe in spirits, but energies in everything, and everything is based off that. (Please remember this is second hand info)

Derek

[Wakalapi]

There are a lot of "new age" wannabe's out there. First, be careful who you listen to, because the new agers will often try to tout their "expertise" in matters of knowing the more obscure aspects of a people's traditional beliefs and ways. Second, be careful who you talk to, because they might think you are also a new ager looking to learn things that they think are not your business.

Take some time, get to know people, let them get to know you well. But let it happen "naturally", rather than trying to hurry a friendship. People have been discriminated, stereotyped, and irritated by outsiders because of their tribal religions for a long time, it can take years before someone knows you well enough to feel comfortable talking to you.

There is also somewhat of a recent protocol developed within much of the Native community that prohibits or discourages talking about "native spirituality" in an internet forum or writing about it in books. This is partly because the new agers can glean what they want and then wildly misinterpret it, usually coming up with their own loony concoctions and then passing their own teachings on to others. There is also concern by some that certain prayers or songs having great power and should not be shared with anyone not "authorized" to know them -- talking about such things in public could risk outsiders from learning them -- so you are asking about a subject some people feel should not be asked about in this type of public format.

[Blackbear]

Why not contact tribal offices about what they recommend to read or who they can recommend to you to talk with?