American Native Spirituality

Spirituality is not religion to American Natives.

Religion is not a Native concept, it is a non Native word,

with implications of things that often end badly,

like Holy wars in the name of individuals God's and so on.

Native people do not ask what religion another Native is,

because they already know the answer.

To Native people, spirituality is about the Creator, period~

Learn more about the Carlisle Indian School

A beautiful prayer given to me on my first
trip to Wounded Knee many years ago.

An enlightening series of exchanges concerning

who is best fit to teach American Indian spirituality.

Teaching Native American Religions

A passionate and provocative speech offering

a Native Elder's personal definition of spirituality.

This is a downloadable Word document from the

Voices of the Wintercount.

Native Religion by Donald Panther-Yates

Rutgers University has assembled this world class web site

with a representative for nearly each of the world's religions.

Virtual Religion Index

This essay is one of the most accurate and eloquent 

written works that I have ever found on the Internet

attempting to define American Native Spirituality.

Native American Religion in Early America

Some of the many complexities of American

Indian Spirituality are well addressed here.

Native American Spirituality

A beautiful page of reflections by American Indian Elder

Simon Pokagon, lending support to the conclusion 

that religion is a very personal matter, 

best left to each of us to choose for ourselves.

Indian superstitions and legends

Your first stop in your quest for knowledge

of Lakota spirituality should be here.

A Declaration of War Against
Exploiters of Lakota Spirituality

An excellent effort from the University of Pennsylvania's

Museum exhibition, detailing American Native Medicines.

Traditional Healing and Western Medicine

John Barry Ryan is Professor of Religious Studies and

a member of the Peace Studies faculty at Manhattan.

Listening to Native Americans:
Making Peace with the Past for the Future

This excellent web site explores many facets of the

Lakota culture, including religion and rituals.

Plan on spending some time here!

Dakota History and Culture

A thoughtful collection of stories written in 1916,

by Marie L. McLaughlin, drawing from her 

lifetime of experiences with the Sioux people.

Myths and Legends of the Sioux

This delightful illustrated collection by Zitkala-Za 

was originally published in 1901 and

includes stories about Inktomi and Iya.

Old Indian Legends

An interesting look at the influence of animals

in American Indian religions and ceremonies.

Animal Symbolism in
Plains Indian Sun Dance

The American Indian tradition of smudging, is nicely

done by Elaine Lunham of Bay Mills Community College.

Smudging

The coming-of-age ceremony for the young Oglala

Lakota women on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Lakota New Traditions

These two pages represent only a very small part of an

excellent, educational web site done by MSNBC.

Ghost Dance

Ghost Dance Songs

A beautiful work, written by Charles Eastman,

from the published edition of 1911.

The Soul of the Indian

The content of this web site may be 
difficult for the young or the sensitive.

An extremely frank description of the Sun Dance

* The Sun-Dance of the Sioux *

Originally published in 1907, this story is a tender and

poignant look at the Lakota done by Charles Eastman.

Old Indian Days

A comprehensive collection of the Photographs

and Illustrations of James Mooney, 1891-1893.

The Ghost Dance

Zitkala-Sa wrote this warm and touching story in 1901.

The Soft-Hearted Sioux

A detailed study of the many controversies, which still

surround this most sacred of Americans Indian dances.

The Last Ghost Dance

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