Animism HRF30

Animism

Belief that animals, plants, and inanimate objects hae a soul and posseses a spirtual essence.

Rituals

Vison quest, morning dance, sun dance, potlatch, shaking tents. sweat lodge.

Symbols

Dream catcher - made of the 4 elemets needed for life.

Geographical Areas

Arctic, Subarctic, Northwest Pacifc Coast, The Plateau, The Great Plains, Northeast Woodlands.

Beliefs

- Aboriginals have a holistic view of the world.

- Believe everything in the world is alive and connected.

- Believe all things have souls and the souls live on after death.

- Believe that in the afterlife spirits return to the environment.

The Fours

Native children are taught to honor the fours of the earth and the powers of medicine.

- Four directions
- Four elements
- Four seasons
- Four ages ( infant, child, adult, elder )
- Four tribes ( yellow, brown, red, white )

Medicine Wheel

Anything good is deemed medicine.

First Principle - There are unique points of view, which are in harmony w/ one another.

Second Principle - We are not born w/ knowledge of this great harmony. All things in the universe have spirit / life but only humans determine this harmony and balance. We must share this harmony w/ each other.

Vision Quest

A Ritual.

1) Seeker is purified ( ussually in a sweat lodge )

2) Youth goes far from camp

3) Seeker prays - fasts from food and water

4) Seeker awaits a vision

5) Shaman helps interpert vision

Morning Dance

A Ritual.

- AKA Wabeno

- Pays homage to the "Tree of the universe"

- Particenpants fast and cleanse before ritual

- Male elder plays drums and leads the dance around selected tree

- Dance is from dawn to noon

- At noon they feast of meat and fish

Earth

Dream Catcher

Symbolized by the hoop and beads used in making the supports. As the the metal, rock and clay theyre made from come from mother earth

Air

Dream Catcher

Symbolized by the feathers and by the breeze that blows through and around it.

Fire

Dream Catcher

Symbolized by all things that make the dreamcatcher, as none would exist w/out father sun.

Water

Dream Catcher

Symbolized by the materials that make the dreamcather, w/out water none could exist.

Totem Poles

Cedar trees carved and painted red, blue - green, and white.

Memorial: Describes a special event ( defeat, hunt, dream ) or the life and deeds of a person or clan.

House: Emblem of a family, tells us what rights and privlages they have.

Mortuary: Marked grave, at the top is a box that holds the remians, below descibes a persons accomplishments.

Totem

A protective entity in the form of an animal, natural object, or plant. Link you to mythical ansestors.

Shaman

Person regarded as having acsess to the world of good and evil spirts.

Elders

Provide wisdom and leadership for tribes.

Faithkeeper

Act as spiritual advisors for the people. Carryout what the Chief and Clan Mothers say.

Supreme Being

The great spirt. An omnipresent supreme life force, central component in many indiginous cultures.

Brother Bear

Kenai is transformed into a bear as punishment for killing a bear out of anger. As a bear, Kenai embarks on a transformative journey with a bear cub named Koda, learning about empathy, love, and the interconnectedness of all living things. By the end, Kenai chooses to remain a bear to protect Koda. Understanding that brotherhood transcends species and personal grudges.

Potlatch

Place of distributing wealth and sharing songs + dances. Celebrating important events.

Shaking Tent

- common in Northern Indigenous communities
- Shaman enters tent and calls spirit
- used for communication with spirit, healing, searching for food etc.

Sweat Lodge

A structure built for ritually cleansing and purifying the body.