Spiritual beliefs and political conflict in Native American cultures

¶ … Worldview of people in many cultures [...] political functions in human societies. Anthropologists have long noted that beliefs about the supernatural (and organizations, rituals, and behavior that derive from them) are central to the worldview of people in most cultures.

WORLDVIEW

How people view the world around them is an integral part of society and culture. Many cultures have deep and abiding spiritual beliefs in the supernatural, and organize their rituals and much of their everyday behavior around these strong beliefs. For example, Native American culture is deeply rooted in the spiritual rituals which surround everyday actions in their lives, from coming into adulthood to growing crops and annual rainfall. Thus, many Native American rituals are incredibly important to their culture, and to their perceived welfare. Politically, until the Native American peoples were uprooted from their normal lives, and resettled on reservations, their system for government and culture was centered on the land, and on their own tribal laws and beliefs. While all the tribes did not always get along, there was a certain measure of peace and well being among the tribes. Their culture was centered on living of the land, and their rituals and religion centered on the creatures of the land, such as the eagle, the raven, and the buffalo. Their worldview was small, as their world consisted of the area where they made their homes, and the land surrounding their homes. When these areas were invaded, whether by whites or other tribes, they fought to hold on to what they felt was theirs. Their lifestyle totally changed when they were forced to leave their homes and live on reservations.