The Sacred: Ways of Knowledge Sources of Life

An informative introduction to traditional and contemporary religious concepts of North American Indians, and a standard reference for all U.S. and Canadian universities.

Maps and Charts

xi

How This Book is Organized

xii

Preface

xv

Seeking Life: Definitions of Religion and the Sacred

3

(32)

Introduction

3

(2)

Definitions of Religion

5

(1)

Definitions of Sacred Ways

6

(1)

Wisdom and Divinity: Daily Awareness

6

(3)

Ways of Thinking About the Sacred

8

(1)

A Belief in or Knowledge of Unseen Powers

9

(2)

All Things Are Dependent on Each Other

11

(11)

Worship is a Personal Commitment to the Sources of Life

22

(3)

Morals and Ethics

25

(2)

Sacred Practitioners and Passing on Sacred Knowledge

27

(4)

Humor is a Necessary Part of the Sacred

31

(4)

Ritual Drama and Prayer

35

(12)

Prayer

39

(2)

Song

41

(3)

Summary

44

(3)

Learning the Way: Traditional Education

47

(20)

Not Asking Why

48

(3)

Some Ways of Learning Sacred Knowledge

51

(6)

Oral Tradition and Storytelling

57

(4)

Knowledge and Responsibility

61

(2)

Summary

63

(4)

The Boundaries of the World: Seasons, Origins, and Other Worlds

67

(28)

Geographical and Sacred Boundaries

67

(15)

Symbolism

74

(1)

Journeys Outside the Boundaries

75

(4)

Mountains

79

(2)

Mystical and Spiritual Borders

81

(1)

Celestial Boundaries and Markings

82

(5)

Grizzly and Deer

83

(4)

Star Patterns and Star Lore

87

(2)

Calendars, the Seasons

89

(6)

Shamanism and the World of Spirits: The Oldest Religion

95

(46)

The Characteristics and Vocation of the Shaman

96

(6)

The Shaman As Healer

101

(1)

All Things Are Dependent on Each Other

102

(1)

Shamanism: The Source of Sacred Knowledge

102

(11)

The Laws of Ecology Taught at the Time of Creation

102

(4)

Knowing the Order and the Structure of Things

106

(5)

Shamans, `Servants to the People'

111

(2)

Shamans in Three Cultures

113

(13)

The Baffin Bay Eskimos: Environmental Background

113

(1)

The Powers of the Natural World: Eskimo Cosmology

114

(3)

Definitions and Functions of Shamans

117

(2)

How a Person Becomes a Shaman

119

(5)

An Iglulik Group Healing Session

124

(2)

Summary

126

(1)

The Pima Shaman and Ka:cim (Staying) Sickness

126

(8)

Becoming a Ma:kai

127

(1)

The Characteristics and Abilities of the Ma:Kai

128

(1)

Ka:cim (Staying) Sickness as a Reflection of the Pima World

129

(2)

The Duajida (Diagnosis and Cure)

131

(2)

The Ma:kai's Curing Songs

133

(1)

Summary

134

(1)

The Wintu Shaman, Flora Jones

134

(2)

Chapter Summary

136

(5)

The Changeable Earth: The Colonizers and Genocide

141

(24)

Government Policy and Education

146

(5)

The Suppression of Tribal Customs and Sacred Traditions

151

(9)

Responses to Government Policy by Native Americans

160

(5)

The World Out of Balance

165

(24)

Background of the Religious Movements

166

(8)

The Ghost Dance Movement: A Comparison of Tribal Responses

174

(4)

The Bole Maru and Christianity

178

(3)

The Bole Maru and Doctoring: New Versus Old

181

(3)

The Kashia Bole Maru

184

(3)

Summary

187

(2)

The Path of Life

189

(20)

Childhood Ceremonies

190

(5)

Instruction and the Family

195

(2)

Status of the Aged

197

(1)

Death and the Path

198

(11)

Girl's Puberty Ceremonies

209

(16)

Menstruation: Practices and Beliefs

213

(6)

Origins of Menstruation

219

(6)

The Peyote Spirit

225

(20)

Peyote

225

(2)

Peyotism and Diffusion

227

(4)

Peyote Origins

231

(4)

Plains Diffusion of Peyotism

235

(2)

The Peyote Ceremony

237

(3)

Christianity and the Peyote Religion

240

(1)

Summary

241

(4)

Sacred and Secular: Seminole Tradition in the Midst of Change

245

(22)

Background of the Seminole People and Their Habitat

246

(4)

The Habitat

248

(2)

The Green Corn Dance and Stomp Dance

250

(7)

The Seminole Adapt Christianity

257

(2)

Historical Background

258

(1)

Christianity and Green Corn Dance: A Contrast

259

(5)

Summary

264

(3)

Navajo Traditional Knowledge

267

(24)

``I am the essence of life which is old age...''

267

(15)

Hooghan at ei (The Hogan)

282

(9)

Sacred Fools and Clowns

291

(28)

Sacred Clowns: Their Relationship to Sacred Knowledge

296

(3)

The Concept and Characteristics of the Ritual Clowns

299

(12)

The Special Power of Clowns

311

(4)

Summary

315

(4)

The Wandering Ground

319

(38)

Some Contemporary Problems

321

(1)

Change and Reconciliation

322

(5)

Prophecies and History

327

(5)

The Wandering

332

(5)

REFERENCE SECTION

Glossary

337

(4)

Bibliography

341

(6)

Films and Filmstrips

347

(10)

Index

357

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The Sacred: Ways of Knowledge Sources of Life

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials