Indian Spirituality

" Spirituality, is not religion.

Speaking in the name of religion, is a good way to assure a battle.

Religion, since the beginning of time has always

been a way to pit humans against each other.

'In the name of my God,

I take your life and your land and your wampum.'

In the name of Allah or God or whatever,

it has been an excuse for a dominating country or race

to make servants out of smaller, less populated races or countries.

In the Creator's eyes, we are all servants of the master.

We need to spend more time learning how to serve the Creator

 and less time trying to make servants out of our fellow man.

The more we learn to serve the Creator,

the better everyone's life on Mother Earth will be."

Sachem Walkingfox

This page has information about

 one of my Mohegan Ancestors:

Preacher Samson Occum

This first reference resource is an excellent view of the effect

of the Europeans on the culture and spirituality of my people.

Especially note the references numbered 26-30 from the book

 reviewed and included in the link below of Professor Ryan.

George E. Tinker, Missionary Conquest:

The Gospel and Native American Cultural Genocide

This intriguing paper, written by John Barry Ryan,

Professor of Religious Studies at Manhattan College,

looks at the various aspects of American Native Spirituality.

Listening to Native Americans:
Making Peace with the Past for the Future

This subject is personally close to my heart as I spent many hours

with prisoners who had often been denied the right to practice

their personal, i.e. Native Spiritual believes while incarcerated.

Native American Indian Spiritual Freedom in Prison

A guide for those who teach about our Native spirituality,

has many good reference resources.

Native American Religion in Early America

The University of Virginia stores an extraordinary

 online collection of works by Native and Non Native writers.

This one by Marie L. McLaughlin is about the Lakota people.

Myths and Legends of the Sioux

An unverified, provocative collection of comments made

 by Seneca Red Jacket concerning American Indian Spirituality.

Red Jacket defends Native American Religion

The University of Virginia has kindly reprinted

this work by Simon Pokagon.

Indian Superstitions and Legends

One of the most beautiful works ever written

by an American Indian concerning Spirituality.

The Soul of the Indian by

Charles Alexander Eastman

This page lists Federal Laws or Acts concerning

the rights of American Indians,

in particular the American Indian Religious Freedom Act.

Federal Laws Affecting Indians

An extremely frank description of the Sun Dance,

the contents of this webpage may be difficult

for the young or very sensitive reader.

The Sun-Dance of the Sioux