1. Aboriginal Beliefs

2. "Rather than going to church, I attend a sweat lodge; rather than accepting bread and toast [sic] from the Holy Priest, I smoke a ceremonial pipe to come into Communion with the Great Spirit; and rather than kneeling with my hands placed together in prayer, I let sweet grass be feathered over my entire being for spiritual cleansing and allow the smoke to carry my prayers into the heavens. I am a Mi'kmaq, and this is how we pray." Noah Augustine, from his article "Grandfather was a knowing Christian," Toronto Star, Toronto ON Canada, 2000-AUG-09.

3. Beliefs
Aboriginal beliefs share many similarities, but they also differ from each other in significant ways
All Aboriginal peoples are Animistic  believe all things both living and non-living have a soul → animism is the root of ALL religion
Most aboriginal peoples believe in a supreme creator, however they also believe in personified spirits, and that animals have spirits and even the sea or the forest can have spirits.
Example: Inuit  call the sea “Sea Woman”
Lakota → the Creator and the spirits are perceived as a single spiritual forcecalled Wakan-Tanka

4. Spirit World:
Aboriginal religions believe in a powerful spiritual force
Ojibwa & Algonkians  Manitou
Sioux  Wakan
Anything acting out of the ordinary or displaying unusual qualities was considered to have this power
Could be applied to trees, stars, sun, spirits

5. Afterlife
All aboriginal societies have many different visions of the afterlife
Reincarnation as another human or animal
Jouney to another world
Remain here as a ghost or spirit
The afterlife could also be a some combination of the above ideas

6. Some believe in an immortal spirit that will bestow rewards or punishment:
Rewards  feasting, pleasure, festivals, dancing etc…
Punishment  cast into unpleasant land, exposed naked to the bites of mosquitoes, no meat or nourishment.

7. Purification Rites:
Must undergo a purification rite if one has violated a ‘tabu’ or offended the spirits.
Ritualistic cleansing
Fasting
Walking on fire
Self mutalation
Shaving head

8. Function of Religion in Aboriginal Society
Aboriginal peoples require a high degree of social conformity → Need for people to act in unison with group → Survial
Religious ritual and custom → reinforces group cohesion → establishes group identity → unique culture
Religious ritual also gave aboriginal peoples a sense of control over the mysterious forces at work in the world

9. Creation Stories:
Variety of stories, each related to physical surroundings of tribe
Ojibway  creator was a muskrat
Plains Indians  people came from sunset
Northwest Pacific  a raven coaxed people out of a clamshell onto the land
Most creation stories include a story of a great flood
The Northeast Woodlands  after a great flood a muskrat brought mud to the surface of the water and Sky Woman spread the mud on the back of a turtle to create North America

10. Rituals and Festivals

11. The Morning Dance Practiced by the Ojibwa nation every spring
Communal ritual that pays homage (respect) to the Tree of the Universe
All members of the community participate by dancing to a drum around a tree - a each dancer passes the tree they touch it to give thanks
Dance lasts from dawn until noon
Participants must cleanse themselves before the ritual and a feast is served after the dance

12. The Sun Dance Practiced by the nations of the Great Plains
Very powerful ritual whereby the body is offered as sacrifice to the Creator
By enduring pain and shedding blood, others will not have to suffer
Also, allows the individual to renew their commitment to their faith and community
Dancer (male) embeds sharp hooks into his chest and attaches them to a tall pole – tree of the universe – with leather straps. The dancer pulls back on the straps causing them to tear his flesh
Circle represents the Sun –giver of life
Banned in Canada between

13. The Potlatch Practiced by the Northwest Pacific Nations
Wealth distribution ritual – the hosts gives a feast and distributes gifts to the guests
Potlatch could be held to celebrate important events – marriage or funeral, or to atone for some transgression
The more that is given, the higher the social status of the host
Potlatch ceremony would include dancing , singing and feasting
Also banned by the government until 1951

14. The Sweat Lodge Practiced by the Great Plains and Woodland nations
Ritual helps the participant to commune with the spirits and renew his/her soul
A sauna like structure is created and an shaman leads the participant through the ritual
Represents both physical and spiritual cleansing

15. The Shaking Tent Practiced by the Great Lakes nations
Ritual allows the participant to communicate with the spirits
A circular tent is created which is open at the top to permit the spirits to enter
A shaman will communicate with the spirits to solve problems or provide guidance