— A Different Lens—
Native American spirituality is not a single set of doctrines or ideology but rather it represents a quilt of diverse tribal-specific practices across indigineous Nations in North America. While every tribe has its unique creation stories, languages and ceremonies, there are several core foundational indigenous beliefs. Here are a few of them. Everything in existence, humans, animals, trees, plants, rivers, fire, wind, etc. possess a living spirit. There is no separation between the sacred and the secular. The Creator or Great Spirit is not a human-like deity but a vast cosmic mystery and energy. Humanity is part of nature and not the master of it. Humans take only what they need to survive and offer prayers, gratitude and thanks thereby insuring proper cosmic balance. Time is not solely perceived as linear but rather circular. Thus we have the changing of the seasons and the sacred circle of life, death and rebirth.
Native American spiritual traditions are vibrant, evolving, and actively practiced today by millions of Indigenous people across urban and reservation communities.
Historical colonization of North American systematically attempted to suppress or eradicate Indigenous spirituality. Traditional ceremonies, languages, and dances were legally banned in this country for decades. Thankfully, Native Americans are now guaranteed by law the right to practice their traditional religions freely. A primary focus of contemporary Indigenous spirituality is the preservation of ancestral lands. They are living sanctuaries vital to specific tribal ceremonies and creation narratives.
There is often an unique spiritual and ceremonial role played by lgbtq Native Americans . Rather than viewing sexuality and gender through a strict binary lens, Native American nations traditionally recognize a third or fourth gender role that encompasses both masculine and feminine traits. Because these individuals carried the spirits of both genders, they were believed to have the ability to see the world from multiple perspectives simultaneously—a concept often described as “seeing twice.” This dual nature made them ideal intermediaries between the physical and spiritual worlds, as well as between men and women within the tribe. A person’s path into these roles was typically triggered by supernatural intervention, such as powerful dreams, visions, or spiritual signs during puberty.
In conclusion I would like to share a short reflection by Black Elk, a renowned Oglala Lakota medicine and holy man and second cousin to the war leader Crazy Horse. Born on the Little Powder River (in modern-day Wyoming), Black Elk experienced a foundational spiritual vision at age nine that shaped his life’s work and his deep concern for the unity and survival of his people. He died in 1950.
Here are his words: “The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness, with the universe and all its powers; and when they realize that at the center of the universe dwells the Great Spirit; and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us.”
A wise man, indeed!