Take Our Land, Deny Us Our Culture, and Compromise
Our Religious Freedom- Native American Indians
Abstract:
Religious rituals are an important part of the lives of Native American Indians and were performed daily. Based on a cultural belief, rituals are repetitive acts performed through religious ceremonies. The sweat lodge, Snake, Sun, and Ghost dances were among rituals performed by the Pueblo and the Sioux Indians. Therefore, as every aspect of their lives revolved around their tie to the earth and belief in spirits, religion was a part of their culture. The claim of witchcraft in the 1600-1700s and the banning of ceremonies on the reservations in the 1800s, diminishes the significance of the rituals; separates religion from culture; and impacts the Native Americans’ freedom of religion. As the Europeans made these claims and banned ceremonies of the Pueblo and the Sioux, this endorses that a piece of their culture, tradition, and religious freedom was taken from the Pueblo and the Sioux and from history by Europeans. I believe rituals should be part of their religious practice. Therefore, the integrity of the rituals, as a part of culture and religious practice, will be upheld by focusing on the importance of religious beliefs and ceremonies; ceremonies claimed as witchcraft; impact of colonization; and the ban on ceremonies. Lastly, historian’s opinions on religious freedom will be addressed.