The disturbances caused by the Europeans and their American successors were violent, widespread and often very sudden for the Native Americans. The lifestyle of a community could experience a significant change in less than a generation. Populations were decreasing due to new diseases. Many communities were relocated to unknown lands, which did not exist in their sacred histories, and forced relocations altered family life. The displacement sparked conflicts not only with white indigenous peoples, but also between force-united Indian communities forced to fight for increasingly limited resources. The livelihoods of dozens of villages were destroyed by the annihilation of the bison by the white hunters.
In these difficult circumstances, the Indians tried to maintain their traditional customs for as long as possible. But if Indian communities wanted to adapt to the new situation and survive as differentiated cultural entities, change was inevitable. Pan-Indian religious movements emerged recently, some of which were millennial and predicted the end of white rule and a return to the old way of life. For other spiritual movements,ining the intimate relationship between people, nature and spirit was essential for survival, which constituted the basic essence of many native cultures.
Everything that the Creator has created, whether animated or not, has spirit, according to the traditions of Native Americans. As a result, all things are connected and are sacred.
The relationships between humanity, Mother Earth, other beings and ancestors are very clear. The earth provides food to humans, including the people, and to all other creatures that the Creator put in it. Therefore, people are expected to have respect for the land.
Many animals, known as "quadrupeds", offer their lives voluntarily to provide food and clothing to the people, which implies that the people must respect them. Those who are now alive must respect their ancestors, as their forefathers lived in the realm of spirits.
In order to survive, people must show respect for their living loved ones and provide mutual care.
This complex system of mutual respect is found in the daily life and ritual and ceremonial practices of the Indian peoples.
Each traditional rite and ceremony celebrates the spirit that unites everything on earth and confirms the sacred relationships.
Native American Cultures: Myths and magic
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This book challenges deep-seated stereotypes and offers an enriching perspective that contributes to a more comprehensive and respectful appreciation of the indigenous peoples of North America. Through an understanding of their myths and beliefs, we are taking an important step toward cultural reconciliation and the recognition of the diversity that has enriched the history of this continent.
These mythical stories, many of them linked to the literary genre of fantasy, reveal a world where the divine and the human intertwine in narratives that explain the cosmic order, creation, and the fundamental structure of the universe. Discover how these sacred tales bear witness to the deep connection of the natives with nature and spirituality.
Native Americans: Population and Territories
Native Americans: Cultures, customs, worldview
Traditions, myths, stories and legends