Primary Source-
Title: Native American Religions in the Early South. Journal of Southern Religion, vol. 14. 21-42.
Publisher: Tracy Neal Leavelle, Journal of Southern Religion, vol. 14. 21-42.
Year of publication: 2012
Where you found it: Library Database.
Useful Information in the source
This article contains information on the religion of the Native Americans during the postcolonial history in the deep south of America. It focuses on the religious practice and ways of beliefs of the Indians and how that changed with time as the Europeans moved into America. The history which dates back to over 1000 years shows that there was very little interaction and contact between the Native Americans and the Europeans. Before the contact with the Europeans, the Native Americans had adhered to their mythical beliefs and religious practices. But as they get in contact with the Europeans, there was a slow change in the religious practices amongst the community.
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Until towards the 1950s, the religious practices of Native Americans did not have any sacred text or any form of fixed doctrines. There was also a lack of codes of conduct that govern a religion and people held a common belief in the supernatural being (Leavelle, 2012). Research has revealed an excellent transition that has taken place in the kind of faith that was practiced by the Native Americans in the precolonial periods. The indigenous Americans believed in their supernatural being which they worshipped using various ways. There were, however, no sacred worship places or even any morals that were written to guide a given religion. Nevertheless, members of the community were aware of the unwritten codes which they had to adhere to.
This source further provides additional information on how missionization took place and the effects it brought to the native people in the southern parts of America. When missionaries arrived, their effects were felt in the way of religious practice when they began to evangelize the natives. Initially, the Indians had a great Cherokee, a place that was considered sacred and where people could go to seek the divine powers. Europeans, however, led to the weakening of the Indian cultures and way of worship after they popularized their religion in the southern parts of Florida where the Indians had settled. This source is useful because it provides crucial information on the Native American faith and the transformation that took place when the Indians came in contact with the Europeans. It provides an understanding of the way in which the Indigenous Americans practiced their religion, their beliefs as well as their culture. This is thus important information for this topic making the source relevant and reliable.
Primary source-
Title: A brief history of Native American religious resistance.
Publisher: Lee Irwin, American Indian Quarterly journal
Year of Publication: 1997
Where you found it: Library database
The useful Information contained in the source.
This source provides important information on the Native American religion and the history of the way the native people resisted religious changes. The source provides information on the formation of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) with the primary purpose of protecting the religious rights of the Native Americans (Irwin, 1997). Initially, there was a lot of infringement on the religious freedom and rights of the Indians who then started resisting to protect their religious freedom. One of the major religions that were practiced by the Indians was known as Indian Shaker. This religion was founded by John Slocum and was majorly influenced by the Waasat religion. Its name, shaker, was established from the way people moved their body to brush off their sins. In this religion, there was a combination of both traditional Indians teachings and some content of Christianity.
The Native Americans practiced a religious ceremony which was known as sundance. This ceremony involved specific dances and singing of various songs which was either done in public or sometimes in the private places. There was the use of drums which was hit to produce soothing music for the dancers. People could also fast and pray while seeking the divine powers of the supernatural beings. However, there was the introduction of religious offences which prohibited the Indians from engaging in some religious activities. For example, there was a law which stated that any Indian who participates in sun dance, war dance or any other related feast shall be guilty of an offence and shall, therefore, be punished. There was also a code that banned any person from acting as a medicine man, and anyone found to do so was held guilty under the offence. These laws were aimed at ensuring that the Indians abandon their old ways and cultures which were considered to be barbaric. This led to the religious resistance amongst the Indians as they protested to protect their religious freedom.
The information contained in this primary source is useful for this research topic because it gives relevant information concerning the Native Americans religion. It covers on how the Indians worshipped, the kind of ceremonies they had and also the various rituals that were performed. At the same time, it covers the religious suppression that Indians underwent leading to resistance. This information is crucial for understanding the whole nature of the Native American religions.
Secondary source-
Title: From primitive to indigenous: The academic study of indigenous religions
Publisher: Routledge
Date of publication: 2016
Where you found it: Library
Useful Information from the source
This source provides useful information on the indigenous religious practices amongst the Native Americans. The book identifies various indigenous religious practices that existed in the historical times and how they affected the Native Americans. The author considers these traditional religious practices of the Native Americans to be primitive as compared to the modern religious practices. Amongst the indigenous religions that were practiced by the Native Americans include Erath Lodge religion (Cox, 2016). Founded in the northern parts of California, this religion spread to many other parts of America. It involves certain beliefs such as the existence of the end of the world and the return of the ancestors. Other religions also included the ghost dance which mainly served as a connection to the old ways of life. It was also done in honor of the dead which was believed will resurrect at some day.
Every religion that was practiced by the Native Americans had its meanings to the community. Rituals and ceremonies were done during certain periods with the aim of appeasing the supernatural beings. While there were attempts to suppress the religious practices of the indigenous Americans, freedom act was introduced which served to protect the Indians from any suppression and gave everyone the freedom to religious choice and practice. Most of the religious activities of the Natives were however viewed to be primitive. On their contact with the Europeans, the colonialists tried to introduce Christianity and do away with the indigenous religion which they thought was barbaric. This interaction led to the weakening of some of the cultures and religious practices of the natives. Some adopted Christianity as their religion and moved away from their traditional beliefs.
The information provided in this book is important because it provides detailed information on the history of the Native American religion and their contact with the Europeans. The book takes a more in-depth look at each kind of indigenous religion and how it affected the lives of the individuals. This is important information for the topic of the study as in increases understanding on the history of indigenous religion in America.
Secondary source-
Title: The Native American graves protection and repatriation act: Background and legislative history.
Publisher: Routledge
Date of publication: 2012
Where you found it: Library
Useful Information in the source
This article identifies the Native American religious belief which was based on the idea that the dead resurrects. Due to this belief, they community always offered protection to the graves with the aim that the dead will resurrect. Following this religious belief, the grave and protection act was formed to protect the rights and religious freedom of these group of people (Echo-Hawk & Trope, 2012). They have various rituals and ceremonies including sun dance which takes place at certain periods of the year to mark important religious events. The Native Americans also had religious leaders who led them and offered spiritual direction to the community. Religious leaders also led during prayers, fasting and other ceremonies in the society and they were highly respected people. The passage of the grave protection act allowed the Native Americans the freedom to practice their religious beliefs without any suppression.
The information contained in this source is important in giving more details on the topic of the research. By illustrating the passage of grave protection act, it provides an understanding of one of the major religious beliefs that the natives believed in. Also, it mentions the various religious ceremonies and rituals that the community practiced. All this information are important and relevant to the topic of the study.
References
Cox, J. L. (2016). From primitive to indigenous: The academic study of indigenous religions. Routledge.
Echo-Hawk, W. R., & Trope, J. F. (2012). The Native American graves protection and repatriation act: Background and legislative history. In The Future of the Past (pp. 23-48). Routledge.
Irwin, L. (1997). Freedom, law, and prophecy: A brief history of Native American religious resistance. American Indian Quarterly, 21(1), 35-55.
Leavelle, T. N. (2012): Native American Religions in the Early South. Journal of Southern Religion, vol. 14. 21-42.
