Religious Views: Indigenous (Native American) Traditions Flashcards
“Noble Savage”
A romanticized stereotype that portrays indigenous people as living in an uncorrupted, pure state of harmony with nature, often used by Europeans to contrast with their own perceived “civilization.” While it acknowledges a connection to the environment, it oversimplifies and overlooks the complexities of Native cultures
Iron Eyes Cody
An Italian-American actor famous for portraying Native Americans in films and commercials. He became widely recognized in the 1970s as the “Crying Indian” in an anti-littering PSA, reinforcing the stereotype of Native people as environmental guardians, despite not actually being Native
Buffalo/Bison
A vital resource for many Plains tribes, used for food, shelter, tools, and clothing. Native Americans practiced sustainable hunting, ensuring nothing was wasted. The U.S. government encouraged mass buffalo slaughter in the 19th century to weaken Indigenous resistance and force assimilation
Native Commonalities
Despite tribal differences, many Native traditions share core beliefs: (1) No distinction between religion and daily life—everything is sacred, (2) Interconnectedness of all living things, (3) Oral storytelling as a primary way of passing down knowledge, and (4) Reverence for land and spiritual forces, often including an Earth Mother figure
Emergence Myth
A common theme in Native spiritual traditions where humans originate from an underworld and emerge into the current world. These myths emphasize a deep connection to the land and the cyclical nature of existence
“With visible breath I come walking”
A phrase attributed to White Buffalo Calf Woman, signifying the sacredness of life and the connection between breath, spirit, and nature
Wakan Tanka
The Lakota term for the “Great Spirit” or “Sacred Mystery,” representing the divine force that exists in all things. It is not a singular god but a spiritual essence woven through nature and existence
Inipi (Sweat Lodge)
A purification ceremony practiced by many tribes, particularly the Lakota. The sweat lodge represents the womb of the earth, and participants undergo a symbolic rebirth through heat, steam, and prayer. It fosters spiritual renewal, healing, and connection to ancestors
Mitakuye Oyas’in
A Lakota phrase meaning “All My Relatives.” It expresses the belief that all living things—humans, animals, plants, and the earth—are connected as part of one spiritual family
“Kill the Indian, Save the Man”
A phrase by Richard Pratt, founder of Indian boarding schools, reflecting the policy of forced assimilation. Native children were taken from their families, forbidden to speak their language, and forced to adopt Western customs to “civilize” them
Doctrine of Discovery
A 15th-century principle that allowed European Christian nations to claim lands inhabited by non-Christians. It justified colonization, land theft, forced conversions, and violence against Indigenous peoples
Manifest Destiny
The 19th-century belief that the United States was destined to expand westward across North America. It justified the displacement and destruction of Native tribes in pursuit of land, resources, and economic power
Forced Removals
Policies that relocated Native Americans from their ancestral lands to reservations, often through coercion and violence. Examples include the Trail of Tears (Cherokee) and Bosque Redondo (Navajo). Many tribes lost sacred sites and struggled to survive on undesirable land
Assimilation
Government efforts to erase Native identity by forcing Indigenous people to adopt Western customs, languages, and lifestyles. Boarding schools, the Dawes Act (1887), and land allotment policies sought to “Americanize” Native populations
Ft. Laramie Treaty (1868)
An agreement between the U.S. and the Lakota Sioux that established the Great Sioux Reservation, including the Black Hills (Paha Sapa). The treaty was violated when gold was discovered in the Black Hills, leading to further conflicts and land theft
Black Hills (Paha Sapa)
A sacred site for the Lakota and other Plains tribes. Although the Ft. Laramie Treaty guaranteed Native ownership, the U.S. government took the land when gold was discovered in the 1870s. The Lakota continued to fight for its return
Reservations
Lands designated by the U.S. government for Native tribes, often in remote and undesirable areas. Originally intended for forced relocation, they have become permanent communities, though they suffer from poverty, limited resources, and loss of cultural autonomy
American Indian Movement (AIM)
A civil rights organization founded in 1968 to address issues like police brutality, broken treaties, and the loss of Native lands. It was involved in major protests, including the 1973 Wounded Knee Occupation and advocacy for Native sovereignty
Standing Rock Reservation
A Lakota reservation that became a center of protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). Activists fought against the pipeline’s construction, arguing it violated treaty rights and threatened water sources
Water Protectors
A term used by Indigenous activists and allies who fight for water rights and environmental justice. The movement gained widespread attention during the Standing Rock protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline
Mni Wiconi (“Water is Life”)
A Lakota phrase emphasizing the sacredness of water and its essential role in life. It became the rallying cry of the Standing Rock movement, symbolizing resistance to environmental destruction
Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL)
A controversial oil pipeline that crosses treaty land and threatens the water supply of the Standing Rock Sioux. Protests held against DAPL in 2016-2017 highlighted Indigenous rights, environmental racism, and the ongoing battle for Native sovereignty
