Indian Perspectives of Sacred Space and Time

Indian Perspectives of Sacred Space and Time

Choose two tribes from the readings and discuss how their view of land as sacred is similar and different (consider their geographical differences and why they consider their land sacred).

The two tribes that view their land as sacred are the Ojibway tribe and the Wampanoag tribe. Native Americans consider specific geographic locations as being sacred. Firstly, Just like churches, these holy lands are deemed sacred places of worship that ought not to be damaged. One of the tribes that have worked so hard to protect these sacred places on religious grounds is the Ojibway tribe (Zimmerman & Molyneaux, 1996)

The Northeast region where the Ojibway tribe comes from is also forested, cold, and fertile. As such, the tribe practices a mix of economic activities, including agriculture and cattle rearing. Therefore, safeguarding their livelihood has partly informed the decision to label the land as being sacred. Winona Laduke says the best example is something called Manoomin, which is our word for wild rice. The word for the Creator is Gichee Manitou.” She goes on to say that “Gichee Manitou means “a gift from the Creator” (Huston Smith et al., 2007)

Indians in the Northeast also refer to some sites as being sacred due to their spiritual value. For instance, the Wampanoag tribe considers Peterborough to have reflective and spiritual significance (Zimmerman & Molyneaux, 1996). The prehistoric site contains a variety of drawings by different artists. The images range from human figures, solar illustrations, animals, birds, among others. As Laduke rightly puts it, “Our relatives are not only two-legged. Our other relatives are four-legged; other relatives have wings; our relatives have fins. We are alive today and able to live our lives because of them” (Huston Smith et al., 2007)

Interestingly, however, the Ojibway tribe considers Peterborough as a historical and educative place. This fact is unlike the Wampanoag tribe, which attaches religious value to the site. The motivation to protect sacred places, therefore, differs across tribes.

Why is displacement dangerous for the continuity of the tribe and its religion? (Think of the cases of Mauna Kea in Hawaii and Mount Graham)

One fear among Hawaiians opposed to the destruction of Mauna Kea is that people will lose a sense of identity and connectedness. Laduke argues that sacredness is not a mere label but a way of life (TEDx Talks, 2012). The natives feel that Westerners are eroding spirituality and replacing it with enlightenment ideology.

On the other hand, the destruction of Mount Graham threatens the Apache people’s religious beliefs. Also, some plants in the mountain provide medicinal value, whereas the mountain itself is considered an epicenter for spiritual energy.

References

Huston Smith, Cousineau, P., & Rhine, G. (2007). A seat at the table: Conversations with Huston Smith on Native American religious freedom. University Of California Press.

TEDx Talks. (2012). TEDxTC – Winona LaDuke – Seeds of Our Ancestors, Seeds of Life. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHNlel72eQc

Zimmerman, L. J., & Molyneaux, B. (1996). Native North America. Macmillan In Association With Duncan Baird Pub.

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Module 2 Overview – Indian Perspectives of Sacred Space and Time
Key Themes:
Rethinking sacred space and time
Mircea Eliade: What are the characteristics of holy time and space
Salient similarities and differences about holy space and time among Indian tribes in the U.S.
A survey of the major Indian tribes in the U.S.

Indian Perspectives of Sacred Space and Time

Land as sacred
What role does land play in the Indian cosmovision of the sacred?
Why is the loss of land directly connected to the loss of religious continuity and survival?
How does the concept of sacred land influence everyday life?
How can the indigenous view of land as sacred contribute toward the global conversation of environmental sustainability?
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:

Exploring the concept of Land as sacred
Understand “Indian Religions” as living and diverse living traditions
Identify American Indian groups by region
Note any differences that exist for tribes regarding borders between the US, Canada, and Mexico
Understand that Indigenous groups are grounded in the land, Mother Earth, as sacred and honored in ceremonies and rituals
Understand the Native approach to identity and kinship.
Evaluate how the identity and kinship of Native tribes have been affected and undermined by the use of boarding schools by the U.S. government.