Religions and Death 4/7/2013 1
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Native American Native Americans American Indians are a very heterogeneous group, made up of approximately 530 different tribes. But there are four universal objects important to Native American tradition from time immemorial: God; the self; relationships/family; elders, respected for their wisdom and life experience/ all is interconnected. The Last Dance authors DeSpelder and Strickland agree: Native Americans tend to share a holistic worldview with profound integration of the natural, social, and spiritual dimensions These values include: sharing, cooperation, harmony, balance, attention to nature, immediacy of time, extended family, and deep respect for elders (104). 4/7/2013 3
GOD According to Center on Aging Studies at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, these four universal objects are expanded upon below: God: the great power above everything and over everyone s destiny; this spiritual entity is positive, benevolent, and part of daily living. God is part of everything; thus all of nature s objects are to be respected as both spiritual and physical entities a term often applied here is animism. 4/7/2013 4
SELF integrated into the whole The self is an integral part of the universe and its total workings. Values that emerge from this understanding are bravery, endurance of pain and suffering with patience and silence, controlled emotions, honesty and strength, self-respect, self-worth, respect for others, and individual freedom provided it is in harmony with nature (similar to Daoism s value of non-interference; going with the flow in harmony and balance to optimize chi vital breath or energy. 4/7/2013 5
Relationships; Respect for elders Group sharing of knowledge and responsibilities is key. All my relations (connectivity to all) Generosity is valued Non-interference is valued Direct eye contact, especially with one s elders, is considered a sign of disrespect DeSpelder and Strickland suggest, in conjunction with indirect eye contact, good listening skills, silence, and the effectiveness of metaphor (105) 4/7/2013 6
Chief Seattle leader of the Suquamish people d.1866 To us, the ashes of our ancestors are sacred and their resting place is hallowed ground Be just and deal kindly with my people, for the dead are not powerless. Dead, did I say? There is no death, only a change of worlds. 4/7/2013 7
A good day to fight; A good day to die. --Crazy Horse 4/7/2013 8
It should be noted, however, that some tribes more than others fear and distance themselves from the dead. In some tribal traditions and mythology, the owl is a presaging of death or a symbol of pending death. Notice the distancing and fear of the dead in this Wintu tribe song (108): Burial Oration You are dead. You will go above there to the trail. That is the spirit trail. Go there to the beautiful trail. May it please you not to walk about where I am. You are dead. Go there to the beautiful trail above. That is your way. Look at the place where you used to wander. The north trail, the mountains where you used to wander, you are leaving. Listen to me: go there! 4/7/2013 9
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OWLS At Paul Frost s website where he considers the significance of owls in myths and tales, he observes varying, if not disparate symbolic usage among Native American nations. The owl might be seen: As omens of sickness and death some call death crossing the owls bridge As protective spirits As the souls of recently departed people As earthly incarnations of gods 4/7/2013 11
The 1970 s book, I Heard the Owl Call My Name, picks up on the significance of the owl as the harbinger or messenger of death. The author studied Kwakwak wakw culture in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and the picture here is a young Kwakwak wakw girl considered to be noble, as indicated by the abalone sea shell earrings. 4/7/2013 12
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Only the rocks and mountains last forever; men must die. Sioux warriors 4/7/2013 14
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Section summary from The Last Dance Some tribes (for example, the Hopi and the Cocopa) fear the dead, but cope with this fear differently the Hopi want to completely avoid death; the Cocopa invite the spirits of the dead to join them in ritual / ceremonial celebrations. What do you find valuable about these two coping mechanisms? If you find neither helpful, why? (See page 108.) 4/7/2013 16
References Center on Aging Studies online, accessed 1/21/2012 http://cas.umkc.edu/casww/natamers.htm DeSpeler, Lynne and Strickland, Albert Lee. The Last Dance: Encountering Death and Dying,. NY: McGraw- Hill, 2011, pp. 103-108. Owls, Mythology, and Folklore, online. Accessed 1/21/2012 http://www.pauldfrost.co.uk/intro_o2.html 4/7/2013 17