Native American Religious Traditions

Suzanne Crawford is Professor of Religion and Culture at Pacific Lutheran University, USA

Foreword 7

 

Preface 9

 

Timeline 12

 

Map 15

 

1: Religion in Action: Transcendence,

Thanksgiving, and Transformation 16

 

Religion on the ground 19

 

The Lakota Sun Dance 19

 

First Salmon ceremony on Puget Sound 25

 

The Diné Kinààldá 30

 

Conclusion 38

 

2: Philosophical Foundations: Religion

as Relationship 40

 

Lakota origins 41

 

Sacred power on the Northern Plains 43

 

To renew one’s life: Inipi 45

 

Crying for a dream: Haŋbleceyapi 45

 

Coast Salish traditions 47

 

The role of Transformer 47

 

Guardian spirits and spiritual power 50

 

Foundations of Diné traditions 54

 

Diné emergence 55

 

Diné notions of power 57

 

Conclusion 60

 

3: Defending Sacred Ground: Assimilation

and Resistance in the Colonial Era 62

 

1812–1960: Termination, assimilation, and removal 63

 

Indigenous responses: Reconstructing religious

and cultural life 69

 

The Lakota: The Ghost Dance 71

 

The Coast Salish: The Indian Shaker Church 75

 

The Diné: The Long Walk 79

 

Conclusion 82

 

4: Contemporary and Traditional: Native American

Religious Traditions Today 84

 

The American Indian Movement: Contemporary

political activism 84

 

The Native American Church 88

 

Contemporary Lakota spirituality: Situating the Sun Dance 90

 

Coast Salish longhouse spirit dancing 95

 

Diné chantways and sand paintings 97

 

Art Focus: Diné sand painting 98

 

Conclusion 104

 

5: Sovereignty, Ecology, and Religious Freedom

in the Next Millennium 105

 

Cultural survival: New Age appropriation, intellectual

property rights, repatriation, and sovereignty 105

 

Art Focus: Contemporary Coast Salish art 108

 

Ecological survival: The Black Hills, Devil’s Tower,

old growth cedar, and Black Mesa 115

 

Conclusion: Toward a global indigeneity 124

 

Notes 127

 

Glossary 134

 

Pronunciation Guide 136

 

Suggested Further Reading 137

 

Index 141