There are today at least 79 tribes of Indians, with 2 million members, speaking 50 different languages, all over the States:

    In Oklahoma: 252,000 (Cherokee, Creeb...)
    In California: 242,000 (Hoopa, Palute...).
    In Arizona: 203,000 (Navajo, Apache, Hopi...).
    In New Mexico: 134,000 (Apache, Navajo...).
    In Washington: 81,000 (Yakama, Jummi...).
    In New York: 62,000 (Seneca, Mohawk...).
    In South Dakota: 50,000 (Sioux).
    In Florida: 36,000 (Seminole, Miccosukee..).

... They are in this Country for over 5,000 years.

The most numerous tribes are, the Navajo, or Diné ("the people") with 175,000 (in Arizona, New Mexico); the Sioux, with 50,000 (in South Dakota); the Apaches (in New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma)...

In all the Indian languages there is not the word "religion"... they speak about "tradition".

Each one has their own special tradition... but, in general, they do not speak about "gods", but about "spirits", with the "Great Spirit", "the Wise One Above"... but the Spirit comes through the air, and he is in everybody and everywhere... many animals have sacred powers, and must be protected as divine: Deer, buffalo, eagle, serpents, fox, bear, beaver... a favorite symbol of evil is the coyote... the sun, moon, sky, Mother Earth, and all therein and thereon are spirits to be worshiped...

So, it is an animistic tradition or religion, where everything is spirit, or god... love for the birds, plants, animals, mountains... because all creatures are our brothers and sisters... like St. Francis!.

There are "priests" and "medical men": The "priest" obtained his knowledge from other practitioner; the "medical man", or "shaman", obtained it with direct contact with the supernatural, and some of them would walk on fire as a proof of their powers...

The "shaman" has supernatural power to heal diseases, locating enemies, finding lost objects...

The "priest" true magic-religious function is maintaining the welfare of the tribe and the individual, through intercession with the good spirits... and this is important: First is the tribe!... the values and welfare of the group!... where the majority of Americans accentuate the value of personal freedom and individual achievement... the natural heritage is sacred fir the Indians; land is not to be sold...

This is done at the altar... and with the dances, to the sun, the ghost dance... to give thanks, to do petitions... some dances last 4 full days...

They attach much importance to "visions", "direct experience with the spirit": A young man is taught from childhood that he must obtain a "vision". All his success in life would depend upon having one. He must go on by himself and fast and thirst for 4 days. He must ask the gods for their help. Young men of the Crow were known to cut off finger joints to get the pity of the gods and obtain a vision... if the suppliant is successful, the spirit would appear to him or be audible to him, and would give him detailed instructions of what to do in life, or how to win a battle, or ability to cure illness, or any other kind of power... the spirit may assume the form of an animal or a bird... and the Indians keep doing it all their life...

North American Indian myths form one of the most artistic and fanciful bodies of folktales the world has known.
 

http://www.travelsd.com/parks/crazyhorse/

Home-Index   E- Mail to: J. Dominguez, M.D.   Last edition: September 11, 2004