A Little History

Views differ about the origins of North American Native religion, whether its early ancestors came from other lands or were indigenous and whether they arrived thousands of years ago or more recently. Whatever the truth, it is clear that they developed the hunting taboos, animal ceremonialism, spiritism, and shamanism that have been major elements of Native American Spirituality.

Because so many hundreds of Native religious views exist, this book limits its discussion to a general understanding of Native American Spirituality in Canada and the United States. Neverthless, pagan spirituality has the same basic characteristics wherever it exists.

Although the numerous individual tribes across North America evolved different Native religious views to meet their needs, a basic unified worldview underlies this diversity that views the natural world as full of supernatural meaning. The ceremonial rituals of its practitioners seek to gain favor with the spiritual presences they believe are all around them. Thus, spiritism plays a major role in their worldViews differ about the origins of North American Native religion, whether its early ancestors came from other lands or were indigenous and whether they arrived thousands of years ago or more recently. Whatever the truth, it is clear that they developed the hunting taboos, animal ceremonialism, spiritism, and shamanism that have been major elements of Native American Spirituality.