LITR 4332: American Minority Literature

Bundy Fowler

Native American Spirituality:  True Personification of Cultural Genocide 

  Native American Indians not only lost their land, lives and social structure upon the discovery of America, but also experienced a complete desecration of their unique spirituality. As victims of cultural genocide, “a term used to describe the deliberate destruction of the cultural heritage of a people or nation for political or military reasons.” (Wikipedia), their spiritual practices have been eradicated through governmental procedures and “efforts to create syncretistic religions by combining Native rituals and beliefs with New Age and Neo-pagan spiritual paths” (Declaration of War Against Exploiters of Lakota Spirituality).

My original purpose in this research paper was to explore the idea that in spite of the many losses suffered by the Native Americans and their culture, that the possession of their personal spiritual nature remained “their own”, one that could not be tarnished or misappropriated by outside forces. However, my findings were much to the contrary, learning that their First Amendment Right to “free exercise of religion” was revoked due to the “sacramental” use of Peyote in many Native American Church ceremonies. As my research unfolds, the primary focus centers on the nature of Native American Spirituality, and the governmental and financially unacceptable exploitation of it.

Personal spirituality, expressed as one’s relationship with a ‘power greater than oneself,’ has always been an astoundingly significant aspect of my life. This “conscious contact with a higher power” (Alcoholics Anonymous) profoundly and positively changed my life. Because it is based on private inner feelings, it was my belief that the Native Americans’ strong spiritual beliefs could not be weakened by the systematic breakdown of their cultural status. An expeditious exploration of the fundamentally collective principle beliefs of the various tribes appeared to be the most appropriate place to begin.

Although the precise minutiae of each distinct tribe differs to some degree, four ideas are prevalent among the vast majority of the tribes including:  “The Great Mystery,” “The Circle of Life,” “Peyote Religion,” and “Immanence.” (Native American Myths) “The Great Mystery” represents an idea that there is a creative-life force expressed throughout the universe “in every human, animal, tree and grain of sand. Every story, too, is a working out of this life-force.” (Native American Myths) In short, this is a land-based spirituality converged by a relationship between humans and all things of this earth mystically inclusive of everything from a speck of dirt, natural weather elements and animals. Indeed, “The Great Mystery” is exemplified through the importance of the role of animals (seen in many of “The Creation Tales”) and their practices of many dances and rituals (including the well known “Rain Dance”).

Another ubiquitous Native American belief centers on “The Circle of Life,” deeply rooted in the conviction that “the Great Spirit caused everything in nature to be round. The Sun, Sky Earth and Moon…the circle is the symbol of all times throughout creation.” (Native American Spirituality) The medicine wheel which man should seek knowledge from often symbolizes this sacred belief. Another profoundly important aspect of their spiritual nature (again originated on land based spirituality) consists of the controversial practice of “Peyote Religion” fashioned on ancient use of a cactus with “psychedelic properties” to create an exploration into the “spiritual world.” It is believed that practice of this ritual can bring one closer to nature and confirm the validity of heavenly (or other) deities through an overpoweringly intense religious experience.  (Declaration of War Against Exploiters of Lakota Spirituality) The last of the united Native American spiritualistic beliefs of consequence includes that of “Immanence.”

In short, this idealizes an animate world where “everything is imbued with spirit. Furthermore, there is a constant dialogue between all of the manifestations of creations.” Survival is dependent on the understanding and respect of this “dialogue” and caution must be used not to upset the balance of give and take. (Native American Spirituality) These deeply rooted, ancient spiritual notions constitute a chief component of Native American beliefs. Unfortunately, along with all aspects of Native American culture, their dynamically mystical sacred views have been ripped asunder by the forced breakdown of their culture. {Objective 3b. “Loss and Survival”}

Primarily responsible for the numerous aspects of suffering of the Native Americans, was that of the government and its controversial unorthodox practices in conjunction with forced Christianity and “pseudo-religious expropriation and commercialization” for financial gain (Declaration of War Against Exploiters of Lakota Spirituality).  In addition to the obvious early mistreatment of Native Americans (via land theft, forced migration and other atrocities) most recently the Supreme Court ruled on in 1990 in Employment Division of Oregon v. Smith “that the Bill of Rights---specifically the ‘free exercise of religion’ clause in the First Amendment …does not extend to the Native American Church because of its sacramental use of Peyote.” (One Nation Under God: The Triumph of the Native American Church) {Objective 1a. Voiceless and Choiceless} The explanation centered around the use of peyote, deemed a psychedelic drug similar to acid by the courts; however, this natural substance found in cactus, does not possess the same addictive qualities as the common use of alcohol that serves as an integral part of ceremonial tradition in many religious practices of the dominate culture. Prominent advocates of this religion, including spiritual leaders, could face prison if caught practicing these ancient rituals (One Nation Under God: The Triumph of the Native American Church).

Further, as Christian beliefs were forced upon them, Native Americans were given the choice to assimilate into the mainstream culture, or suffer the consequences as well. {Objective 4: personal sacrifices} As a result, a type of syncretism developed, ultimately robbing future generations of Native Americans to experience the vital framework of Native American Spirituality and tradition. “Since the Christian Church was the primary weapon of cultural genocide and an important means by which native land was colonized…(this) created strained relationships with Christianity (among the Native Americans)” (Spirit and Resistance: Political Theology and American Indian Liberation) Most shocking of my research; however, was found in a court statement made by the Lakota Indians where they are outraged by “non-Indian wannabes and self-styled New Aged Shamans” using inappropriate and misguided interpretations of the spiritual aspects of this tribe for financial gain in books, movies, etc. The Lakota Tribe asserts that the actions of these people subjected their already degenerated fragile spirituality by “further contaminating, desecrating and abusing their spiritual traditions.” (Declaration of War Against Exploiters of Lakota Spirituality) This documented statement dated from 1993 shows promise and possibility of a newfound strength which may ignite a fuse for Native Americans to fight back against the establishment to restore some of the inherently powerful believes deeply rooted in the core of their soul. {Objective 2c. “Quick Check—relation to the law}

As a true believer in the importance of one’s spirituality as defined by oneself, my research left me awestruck. I found the foreclosure of Native American spirituality disturbing and completely in contrast to the constitutional rights regarding freedom of religion. Further, Native American loss and survival is personified in yet another way. Fear of legal action against them for practicing their age-old tradition, forced them to conceal their beliefs to future generations, which could eventually wipe out the ideas altogether. The closest connection to true Native American beliefs can be found in pieces of literature and narratives that seem to be regarded as folklore rather than true ideas. Sadly, it seems that attempts to disrupt the very soul of the Native Americans both literally and culturally was advocated and accepted as necessary. This type of control is wrong and should be eradicated. If I continued my research, I would find it interesting to explore attempts made by Native Americans to save or preserve their cultural background through secretive traditional teachings and other attempts to sway the government to alter or altogether revolutionize the current standing on acceptance of their distinctive, irreplaceable beliefs.

Works Citied

"Cultural Genocide." Wikipedia. 7 May 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_genocide.

"Native American Myths." Living Myths. 7 May 2007 http://www.livingmyths.com/Native.htm#Spirituality.

"Native American Spirituality." Native Spirituality. 7 May 2007 http://users.ap.net/~chenae/spirit.html.

Smith, Huston, and Reuben Snake. "One Nation Under God: The Triumph of the Native American Church." Religion and Psychoactive Sacraments: An Entheogen Chrestomathy (1996).

Tailman, Valerie. "Declaration of War Against Exploiters of Lakota Spirituality." Lakota, Dakota and Nakota Nations. Eyapaha, 22 Aug 1993.

Tinker, George E. Spirit and Resistance: Political Theology and American Indian Liberation. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004.

W., Bill. Alcoholics Anonymous. 4th. United States: The A.A. Grapevine Inc., 2001.