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Indigenous American beliefs are both spiritual and material practices that originate throughout the Americas, where they were once widespread before European colonization. While perhaps being defined as indigenous religions, many who practice them do not consider their beliefs to be religious, but more so as a way of life. It can likewise often be distinguished from western religion, in that ultimate authority is usually not found beyond nature and human reason, but is found within it.

Not every Indigenous person or member of an Indigenous community practices traditional beliefs. This can happen due to religious conversion; either forced or willing to a western religion or likewise different belief, the loss of traditional knowledge when it's not passed down to the next generation, or other factors. In some Indigenous communities, traditional belief was not completely replaced; instead adopting western religion into their own belief system and merging both or more, usually due to compatibility between beliefs or incomplete religious assimilation.

Indigenous peoples and their traditional beliefs

Indigenous peoples of the American Arctic

Aleut (Unangax̂) belief

Main article: Aleut

Aleut belief has been profoundly suppressed ever since colonization, and it could be that little of it remains. Aleut belief is believed to have incorporated the idea of two-spirited people or third and fourth gender people, known as ayagigux̂ and tayagigux̂ respectively. The Aleut also widely practiced tattoo art and piercing. These had various spiritual and material purposes.

Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit

Main articles: Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and Inuit religion

Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, or traditional knowledge, is the practical and epistemological knowledge and beliefs of the Inuit. One practice done by Inuit women is that of kakiniit, or facial tattoos. Traditional Inuit belief holds that all things have souls of equal measure, and so respect must be given to the living things around you, lest they or their spirit seek retribution. An Inuit spiritual leader is known as an angakkuq.

Yup'ik artist showing off a mask he is making in Chevak, Alaska.

Yup'ik Yuuyaraq

Main article: Yup'ik § Yuuyaraq

The Yuuyaraq or way of life of the Yup'ik people, is a fundamental view and understanding of the world to those who believe in it. Masks are sometimes made for ceremonies, and then are traditionally destroyed. The spiritual leader of the Yup'ik is called an angalkuq, among other names.

Indigenous peoples of the American Subarctic

Cree (néhinaw/néhiyaw/nihithaw) belief

Main article: Cree

Cree traditional belief is deeply spiritual, including the use of dreams, visions, and spirits to understand the world and one's own existence; and likewise, the belief that everything has a spirit. In Cree tradition, honor is found in death, just as it is in life. This is displayed in two ceremonies; the wake and the round dance. In these, laugher is just as accepted as crying.

Innu belief

Main article: Innu

In traditional Innu belief, animals are divided into kingdoms, or tipentamun, and each kingdom is ruled by an animal master, or utshimau. Named spirits are also abundant, and many are still relevant in daily life, being used as explanations of happenings, or to assist in cautionary advice.

Ojibwe (Anishinaabe(-g)) belief

Main article: Ojibwe § Culture

In Ojibwe belief, the sweat lodge is a structure used for ceremonies that have to do with the four directions. Each year, there is a social and a spiritual gathering (powwow), known as niimi'idimaa and jiingotamog. During these, female dancers wear what's known as a jingle dress. The dreamcatcher is derived from a traditional Ojibwe charm known as a "spider web charm", which is meant to spiritually protect infants.

Indigenous peoples of the Southeast

Cherokee (Tsalagi/Aniyvwiyaʔi/Anigiduwagi) belief

Main article: Cherokee spiritual beliefs

In traditional Cherokee belief, both the corporeal and spiritual world are united as one. Some examples of traditional dances include the tsu'nigadu'li, in which masks are used, and the stomp dance, which is practiced by numerous indigenous people groups. A Cherokee spiritual leader is called a didanawisgi.

Yuchi (Tsoyaha) belief

Main article: Yuchi

In Yuchi belief, the Green Corn Ceremony is held, a practice shared by multiple other nearby peoples. Similarly, the stomp dance is practiced. Black drink is also used in purification ceremonies.

Indigenous peoples of the Amazon

Guarani spiritual leader holding cross and rattle. The cross is an object that predates the arrival of Christianity.

See also

• Mythologies of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas
• Classification of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas