Great Plains Ceremonies and Beliefs By whitney
The Great Plains Native Americans Ceremonies and Beliefs
The Native Americans were interesting people, especially the Great Plains Native Americans.They believed that everything had a spirit and that the land was not their land, but it was given to them by nature or the gods. So they had to respect it .
The Native Americans thought that everything had a spirit, they even used ceremonies to talk to the spirits or great gods. Different ceremonies were held for different reasons, some were held to give thanks, ask for the gods to heal the sick, for forgiveness, or just for a tradition. They were holy and sacred.
The buffalo was used for practically everything. So when they hunted the buffalo they used every single part of it, they never wasted a bit. Most people think that they only used it for food, but that is not true. They used the buffalo for food, clothing, blankets, shields, tools, weapons, and much more.They gave appreciation to the buffalo because it provided almost everything they needed.
Native Americans believed in spirits, the also believed that death was not an ending, but a new pathway to life. The Ghost Dance was to fight on the dead’s behalf. They also did this for fear, luck, and hope during the coming of the “White Invaders" or the Europeans.
During the ceremonies the wore regular clothing that maybe had patterns or symbols of important things that happened that year on them. A Lot of times the medicine man was picked to lead the dance, but other times it was the chief , a valued hunter, or a person from the village. It was an honor to be picked to lead or participate in a ceremony or special sacred dance . It was a honor even to attend or watch a dance or ceremony.
The Grass Dance was originally done by a warrior but has evolved over time.The movement of the dancer is to be swift, gusty, swaying, old time etc. This dance included tying grass around their belts.The movement comes from how before a dance the grass had to be stomped down. This is where the stomping movement in the dance comes from. Afterwards the grass would be tied around the warriors (at the time) belts at the end of the ceremonie. The clothing consists of moccasins, a shirt, trousers, aprons, decorated belts, and usually a headband that matches the moccasins.
This is a dancer performing the Grass Dance
With the coming of the Europeans there was a lot of pain. They took their children, and destroyed many homes. But then, there was the sweat lodge. The sweat lodge could be used for physical and spiritual healing, as well with purification with the coming of alcohol. It was a place to get answers from the gods when it was needed. The traditional sweat lodge was a wickup made up of slender widths of aspen, willow, other supple saplings, or whatever could be found or made by hand. It was sanctuary in their hands, and helping close by.
This is a sweat lodge
This is 3 men who seem to be standing next to the sweat lodge
This is a smaller sweat lodge
This is a picture of three men inside a sweat lodge
The Great Plains Native Americans were amazing people, with what they built how they lived and how hard life was. Though the first Great Plains Native American may be gone, his beliefs, great-great-great-grandchildren, hopes, and ceremonies still live on.
Grass Dancer
The Ghost Dance
Hunters following the migration of the buffalo
A tribe standing outside thier tepees
This is a picture of a Native American man in everyday clothing, by the designs and details, he is probably chief , or Shaman.
Sources:
Spiritual Life By:Victoria Sherrow
Native American Festivals and Ceremonies By: Jenna Glatzer
http://www.powwows.com/
http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_plains5.html
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h3775.html