Native North America - Larry J Zimmerman

Beginning with an historical perspective on Native North American peoples, this book presents an account of the spiritual traditions of the tribes, from the Tlingit of the north to the Navaho of the southwest. A chapter on the sacred looks at Native American spiritual life, examining unseen powers, the interdependency of all things, worship and community consciousness and the importance of preserving tradition. It also addresses Native American sacred history, relating the creation myths of the Earth Diver and Great Spirit and activities of cultural heroes and tricksters. A chapter on ceremonial life illuminates the expression of the sacred in such forms as initiation rites, death cults, shamanism, thanksgiving celebrations and personal ritual.;The main body of the book concludes with an analysis of the predicament of the tribes in the 19th and 20th centuries and their revitalization in the late 20th century. The book is illustrated with images of tribal life, sacred landscapes, and native artefacts.