Beliefs and Culture of the Plains Indians
Beliefs were very important in the American west the Indians believed in the Great Spirit. The Great Spirit is everything that ever was without
beginning or end. It is not a force or being like in other faiths such as Judaism or Christianity. The Great Spirit is not human nor any other creature.
Humans are part of nature. Everything living or not has equal value and importance. Human beings could contact the Great Spirit through visions. Young men went on quests to see their visions. If they say spirits they could become shaman and medicine men.
Different tribes, and even clans within these tribes, had different believes about spirits. As a general statement most tribes believe that everything has a spirit (energy) and a proper way of life would be to avoid disturbing these spirits as much as possible.
Native Americans everything is sacred form the largest mountain to the smallest plant or animal. Native American believes that everything has a
purpose. To sump up native spirituality it’s about honour love and respect. Not only do they honour love and respect they’re creator they also honour respect and love Mother Nature and also every living thing. It is about being in touch with yourself and everything around them. It’s about knowing and understanding everything around them. They believe that they are all one, they also believe that they’re elders hold the answers. They believe that they’re elders keep the culture alive. They believe that they have much to learn from they’re elders and they respect them very much.
This is a quote that was wrote by a Native American this shows how the Native Americans hold their beliefs.
“Native American isn’t blood; it is what is in the heart. The love for the land. The respect for it, those
who inhabit it; and the respect and acknowledgement of the spirits and the
elders. That is what it is to be Indian.”
White Feather
A Begum