Native American religions

E57388

cultural tradition indigenous religion religious tradition spiritual tradition

Native American religions are diverse indigenous spiritual traditions of the peoples of the Americas, typically emphasizing a sacred relationship with the land, ancestors, and natural forces through rituals, stories, and communal practices.

Jump to: Surface forms Statements Referenced by

Observed surface forms (3)

Surface form	Occurrences
California Indian religion	1
Cherokee traditional religion	1
Hopi traditional religion	1

Statements (82)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	cultural tradition ⓘ indigenous religion ⓘ religious tradition ⓘ spiritual tradition ⓘ
affectedBy	Christian missionary activity ⓘ European colonization of the Americas ⓘ surface form: European colonization U.S. and Canadian assimilation policies ⓘ
centralConcept	balance between humans and nature ⓘ interconnectedness of life ⓘ relationship with ancestors ⓘ relationship with natural forces ⓘ respect for all living beings ⓘ responsibility to future generations ⓘ sacred relationship with the land ⓘ
expressedThrough	ceremonies ⓘ communal practices ⓘ dances ⓘ prayers ⓘ rituals ⓘ songs ⓘ stories ⓘ
hasCharacteristic	adaptation and syncretism with Christianity in some communities ⓘ ancestor veneration ⓘ animistic elements ⓘ ceremonial leadership roles ⓘ ceremonial use of tobacco in some traditions ⓘ communal orientation ⓘ cosmologies involving spirit worlds ⓘ diverse ⓘ emphasis on balance and harmony ⓘ emphasis on experiential knowledge ⓘ emphasis on kinship and community ⓘ emphasis on oral transmission of knowledge ⓘ emphasis on reciprocity with the natural world ⓘ integration of spirituality with daily life ⓘ land-based spirituality ⓘ myths of creation ⓘ non-dual view of sacred and secular ⓘ oral tradition ⓘ polytheistic elements ⓘ ritual fasting in some traditions ⓘ ritual healing practices ⓘ ritual use of song and dance ⓘ ritual-centered ⓘ sacred storytelling ⓘ seasonal ceremonies ⓘ shamanic elements ⓘ use of Sun Dance in some Plains traditions ⓘ use of clan-based spiritual responsibilities ⓘ use of drums in ceremonies ⓘ use of kachina figures in some traditions ⓘ use of longhouse ceremonies in some traditions ⓘ use of masks in some rituals ⓘ use of peyote in some traditions ⓘ use of potlatch ceremonies in some traditions ⓘ use of rattles in ceremonies ⓘ use of sacred bundles in some traditions ⓘ use of sacred fires ⓘ use of sacred objects ⓘ use of sacred pipes in some traditions ⓘ use of sacred sites ⓘ use of sandpainting in some traditions ⓘ use of sweat lodge ceremonies in some traditions ⓘ use of totem poles in some Northwest Coast traditions ⓘ vision quest practices in some traditions ⓘ
influencedBy	clan structures ⓘ local ecosystems ⓘ subsistence practices ⓘ tribal histories ⓘ
practicedBy	First Nations ⓘ surface form: First Nations peoples indigenous peoples of the Americas ⓘ surface form: Indigenous peoples of the Americas Native Americans ⓘ surface form: Native American peoples
practicedIn	Central America ⓘ North America ⓘ South America ⓘ
protectedBy	American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 ⓘ
relatedTo	Arctic indigenous religions ⓘ Mesoamerican indigenous religions ⓘ Native American Church ⓘ Northwest Coast indigenous religions ⓘ Plains Indian religions ⓘ Pueblo religions ⓘ

Referenced by (5)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Handbook of the Indians of California → focusesOn → Native American religions ⓘ

this entity surface form: California Indian religion

Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma → primaryReligionTradition → Native American religions ⓘ

subject surface form: Cherokee Nation

this entity surface form: Cherokee traditional religion

Hopi Reservation → religion → Native American religions ⓘ

this entity surface form: Hopi traditional religion

Native Americans → religion → Native American religions ⓘ

American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 → subjectMatter → Native American religions ⓘ