1. Indigenous Sacred Ways
September 2011

2. Keep In Mind…
This section will attempt to provide an overview of some general characteristics of indigenous sacred ways
What may be true for one culture may not be true for others
Indigenous sacred ways are subject to change over time and in response to different situations

3. Indigenous Peoples
As an adjective, the term “indigenous” refers to the original inhabitants of a geographic area
“Indigenous Peoples” is a term used to describe cultural groups distinct from the nation in which they live, who often have limited political influence
Indigenous peoples have often found their traditional ways of living disrupted by colonialism

4. Definition of Indigenous Peoples
It is difficult to formulate a definition of “indigenous peoples” that fits all who would identify as indigenous
In 1972, the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous populations put forward the following definition:
Indigenous populations are composed of the existing descendants of the peoples who inhabited the present territory of a country wholly or partially at the time when persons of a different culture or ethnic origin arrived there from other parts of the world, overcame them, by conquest, settlement or other means, reduced them to a non-dominant or colonial condition; who today live more in conformity with their particular social, economic and cultural customs and traditions than with the institutions of the country of which they now form part, under a state structure which incorporates mainly national, social and cultural characteristics of other segments of the population which are predominant.

5. Definition of Indigenous Peoples
In 1983, the following criteria were added:
(a) they are the descendants of groups, which were in the territory at the time when other groups of different cultures or ethnic origin arrived there;
(b) precisely because of their isolation from other segments of the country's population they have almost preserved intact the customs and traditions of their ancestors which are similar to those characterised as indigenous;
(c) they are, even if only formally, placed under a state structure which incorporates national, social and cultural characteristics alien to their own.
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples does not include a definition of indigenous peoples

6. Indigenous Peoples of the World
Many distinct populations around the world can be described as “indigenous peoples” in the modern sense
In the Americas, indigenous peoples are those who can trace their ancestry to pre-Columbian cultures, such as Inuit, First Nations, and Métis peoples in Canada
In Africa, with its wide ethnic and cultural diversity, some hunter-gatherer and herding societies have found themselves politically marginalized
In the Middle East, some Arab tribal societies such as Bedouin tribes can be considered indigenous peoples
Many different indigenous peoples exist in Asia, particularly in India and Asian Russia
Europe also has indigenous peoples in the modern sense, including the Basques, Sami, and peoples of the Caucasus
Oceania has a large indigenous population, including the Māori, Indigenous Australians, and others

7. Diverse Indigenous Cultures
Great diversity exists within indigenous cultures of the world
Many indigenous peoples have no direct cultural connection with other indigenous peoples
As such, it is difficult and often misleading to make generalizations about “indigenous culture” as a whole

8. Colonialism
From the 16th century onwards, European nation-states established colonies in many parts of the world
Through these colonies, European powers exercised political, economic, and cultural domination over local populations
This often included missionary efforts to convert indigenous peoples to Christianity
Colonialism often proved extremely disruptive to traditional ways of life; diseases and violence led to significant percentages of some indigenous cultures being wiped out
Colonialism also led to indigenous peoples being displaced from their ancestral homelands

9. Colonialism in 1914

10. Nation-States and Indigenous Peoples
Historically, many indigenous peoples around the world have fallen under the political control of larger empires
Today, indigenous peoples exist within larger nation-states
In both cases, attempts are sometimes undertaken to assimilate indigenous cultures
This may include attempts to replace traditional sacred ways with the religion of the dominant power

11. Indigenous Sacred Ways
Indigenous sacred ways are often part of an oral tradition preserved by trained specialists
Due to the disruption of traditional ways of life, these specialists have become rare in some societies
As a result, much traditional knowledge has been lost
Some indigenous peoples are working to recover their sacred ways

12. Understanding Indigenous Sacred Ways
It can be difficult for outsiders to understand or learn about indigenous sacred ways
Some indigenous cultures preserve their sacred ways in a secret, esoteric oral tradition that is not shared with outsiders
May be passed on through narrative, myth, music, art, etc
Indigenous sacred ways do not always correspond to “religion” in the Western sense
In many cases, no distinction is made between sacred and profane, natural and supernatural
Sacred ways are an all-encompassing way of life that form a complete worldview
Sacred ways are often community-based, rather than individualistic

13. Terms To Know
Oral tradition: knowledge passed by word of mouth, rather than through writing
Animism: the belief that spirits (or some similar life-force) exist within humans, animals and plants, and other physical objects or natural phenomena
Taboo: an act that is forbidden by a culture for moral or religious reasons

14. Syncretism
Syncretism: a combination of different religious or spiritual traditions
Some indigenous peoples practise syncretistic traditions, blending traditional sacred ways with larger religions
In the Caribbean and Americas, West African beliefs were blended with Christianity to form traditions such as Vodou (Haiti), Santería (Cuba), and Candomlé (Brazil)
In Asia, Buddhism was often blended with indigenous beliefs

15. Indigenous Sacred Ways And Nature
Many, but not all, indigenous peoples traditionally lived as nomadic hunter-gatherers, herders, or subsistence agriculturalists
Indigenous sacred ways are often closely tied to these ways of life, and to the land and natural cycles
When indigenous peoples are displaced from ancestral lands or adopt new ways of living, these traditions may change

16. Right Relationships
In some indigenous traditions, maintaining right relationships with nature and the spirit world is essential to the prosperity of the community
The totality and unity of these relationships is sometimes expressed with the symbol of the circle
Life and time can be seen as being cyclical
Rituals may be undertaken to maintain continuity within these cycles
Often, humans are not seen as being separate from natural cycles, but an integral part of these cycles with specific responsibilities

17. Relationships With Spirit
Some indigenous peoples believe in a “great spirit” – a supreme being or high god who may be seen as creator of the world
The Lakota worship a “Great Mysterious” called Wakan
Traditional Buryats of Russia believe in the spirit of the sky, Tengry
Some indigenous African groups acknowledge a high god who is called by attributes (“all-powerful,” etc).
Creator spirits are not always worshipped; they may be seen as remote from the world
Supreme beings may have male characteristics, female characteristics, both, or neither
Not necessarily analogous to Abrahamic monotheistic understandings of God

18. Relationships With Spirits
Animistic indigenous traditions see nature as being imbued with spirits
These spirits may be capable of helping and/or harming human beings, or controlling or embodying natural processes
Many indigenous traditions have rituals to contact spirits, request help, or banish evil spirits
Correct observance of these rituals may be seen as the means of maintaining right relationships with spirits, thus ensuring human prosperity
Some indigenous peoples, especially in some African traditions, understand the spirits as being departed ancestors who continue to affect the lives of their descendants

19. Kinship With Nature
Because the life of indigenous peoples is traditionally closely tied to nature and the land, a culture’s identity and beliefs may be closely tied to specific geographic areas
Certain areas or geographic features may be seen as having particular power
Some indigenous peoples have recently drawn on traditional wisdom to combat industrial environmental destruction