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Most creation myths were
part of the oral tradition and feature a Master Spirit who assumes many diverse
forms, including both the masculine and feminine. There are also many spirits
who control the weather and act as guides and caretakers of humanity. Besides
the oral tradition, some tribes preserved their spiritual beliefs in sacred
texts.
Storytelling, passed down through the generations, teaches valuable lessons by example. This
precious oral history of stories, legends, and the teachings of the Elders is
now being written down and recorded in order to preserve it for posterity.
The Clan that one is a
member of has profound meaning which impacts all areas of one's life (vocation,
marriage, responsibilities, duties, and familial and societal relationships).
Each person belongs to a clan which is represented by a Totem Animal.
Clans usually have Totem
Animals which correspond to where the tribe lives. For example, Deer for
Woodland tribes; and Buffalo for Plains tribes. There are many ways to determine
one's clan based on tribal customs.
In some tribes a person
takes their mother's clan; in some tribes a person takes their father's clan; in
some tribes a person undergoes a visionquest or a fast until the personal clan
is known; in some tribes, one's clan is verified by a Medicine Person with the
Gift of Clans; and in some tribes a child feels connected to and drawn to a clan
from infancy.
The Giveaway tradition exemplifies and embodies the essence of sharing what one has with
others. For instance, a Giveaway may be hosted by a family during a Powwow to
celebrate a family member's formal entry into the dance circle. Craft gifts,
beadwork, and blankets are given to visitors and friends. The gift giving is
then followed by dancing and songs.
Although there are many
concepts about the Earth and its dance in Creation among the various tribes, one
common theme is that the universe is comprised of multiple planes linked to a
World Tree with the natural world being in the middle sphere. This tree's roots
go far underground and reach upwards into the sky. Over the millennium Native Americans have faithfully and stalwartly held to a starcore of common beliefs and customs which include the Clan System; responsibility to the family, the village, and the tribe; the willingness to share with others; and the sacredness and interconnectedness of all life and all children of the earth... Go back  Explore Native American ArticlesAll are Kin Clans and Making Relatives, Clans Giveaways and the Keeping of Souls, Cosmology of Sacred Hoop Great Spirit, Drumming Smudging and Sweat Lodges, Glossary Terminology, Goddesses Gods and Star Teachers, Medicine Wheels and Four Directions, Native American Indian Spiritual Beliefs, Sacred Pipe Ceremony and Powwows, Visionquests and Power Animal Totems, Wakan Tanka and White Buffalo Woman
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Visit 
Native American Sacred Hoop Visionquest 
