Native+American+Church

** Native American Church ** By: Jeremy Wittrock  The origins of the Native American Church have been disputed against for many generations. The common belief is that Native Americans believe in one God just like most religions but they call their God, “The Great Spirit.” The Native American Church is made up of many different types or kinds of religions. Some examples of these types are: : Christianity, Longhouse religion, Waashat religion, Dreamer religion, Drummer religion, Indian Shaker religion, Earth Lodge religion, Ghost Dance religion, Bole-Maru religion, Dream Dance, Feather religion, and of course the Peyote religion. The Native American Church can be closely related with to the religion of Christianity. For example, the Native Americans belief that if they draw a picture or symbol, of something they want, in the sand the Creator or Great Spirit will give them whatever they have asked for; this is very similar to the Christian belief of ask and ye shall receive. However, the Native Americans and Christians are even closer than that; both religions believe in Jesus and this leads us to The Native American Church.  Two of the more well-known religions in the Native American Church are that of the Ghost Dance religion and the Peyote religion. The Ghost Dance religion has been said to begin in December 1888, Wovoka of the Northern Paiute, who was thought to be the son of the medicine man Tavibo, fell sick with a fever during an eclipse of the sun, which occurred on January 1, 1889. Upon his recovery he made the claim that he had visited the spirit world and the Supreme Being and made the prediction that the world would soon end then be restored to a pure aboriginal state in the presence of the Messiah. Wovoka stated that all Native Americans should live honestly, and shun the ways of whites especially the consumption of alcohol. He called for meditation, prayer, singing, and dancing as an alternative to mourning the dead, for they would soon resurrect. Wovoka's followers saw him as a form of the Messiah and he became known as the "Red Man's Christ." This religion spread to many tribes on reservations in the West. A Ghost Dance gathering in December 1890 actually led to the massacre of Sioux, who believed their Ghost Dance Shirts could stop bullets, at Wounded Knee.  The more common Native American religion is that of the Peyote. Peyote can also be referred to as "Peyote Cult," "Peyote Road," and the "Peyote Way." This religion actually arose from a small cactus plant called the Lophophora williamsii plant or peyote. It contained a substance that Native Americans would use to smoke. Each and every participant in the ceremonies had to smoke peyote before the ceremony could begin. The peyote ritual begins at 8 p.m. Saturday and continues through the night. The ritual includes prayer, the eating of peyote, Peyote songs, water rituals, and contemplation. It ends with breakfast Sunday morning. The peyote ritual is believed to allow communion with God and the deceased, and to give power, guidance, and healing. The healing may be emotional or physical, or both.  Today the Native American Church is constantly battling the federal government. However in more recent years compared to their history they are gaining ground on being allowed to profess their faith. In 1964 the California State Supreme Court ruled in //State vs. Woody// that the use of peyote in Native American Church rituals was sacramental and did not pose a threat to the public. In passages of the Indian Civil Rights Act in 1964 and of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act in 1978 finally guaranteed members of the Native American Church the protection, regardless of whether they performed their rituals on reservations or not. Today, the Native American Church actively seeks to convert people to its teachings. At this time, the Native American Church has about 250,000 members in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Their rituals last all night, take place in tipis, and are usually on Saturday nights. The members pray, sing their personal songs and participate in the peyote ritual in their search for reconciliation, forgiveness and enlightenment.

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[]  Facts: On this website it talked about the twelve different ceremonies that Native Americans perform or go through when professing their faith. They include ceremonies such as: the birth ceremony, sacred breath ceremony, holy anointing ceremony, marriage blanket ceremony, passing on of spirit ceremony, potlatch ceremony, sacred prayer pipe ceremony, sacrament (peyote) ceremony, spirit dance (ghost dance) ceremony, sun dance ceremony, sweat lodge (Inipi and Amacheekee) ceremony, and the Vision Quest or Hanblecheyapi  Ceremony.

[] Facts: In this article it mainly talks about the spread of the peyote religion. It talks about how peyote or called green whiskey on this website was relatively unknown North of the Rio Grande until the Civil War when Americans were key in helping spread this new religion farther northward. It also talked briefly about how the Ghost Dance was the only known future for American Indians at the time peyote became known.

[] Facts: In this website it talks about how peyote or Peyotism is the most widespread indigenous religion among Native Americans in the United States. It explains that this religion uses a cactus called peyote. Also it explains more into the history of how it spread from pre-Columbian times to the Great Plains by the Apache.

[] Facts: This website talks about how the Native American Church is a loosely confederated religious organization with some 250,000 American Indians in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It also points out the use of peyote and that there are two main ritual forms, the Half Moon Way and the Big Moon or Cross Fire Way, both of which last all night and take their names from the shape of the altar used.

[] Facts: This website talks about how peyote began in the 1870s. It also expresses how in the 1880s the customs and rituals became more uniform. However by 1907, Peyotism's spread to the majority of Oklahoma tribes had been greatly facilitated by established patterns of intertribal visiting and intermarriage. On October 10, 1918, an intertribal coalition of Peyotists achieved legal definition for their religion through the incorporation of the Native American Church of Oklahoma.

[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Facts: In this article it talks deeply about the doctrines in which the Native American Church follows and some of their symbols. One of the most important things is that even though describing itself as a church, the Native American Church refuses to accept the doctrines of any one Christian sect. Also one of the most important symbols is that of the crescent moon, which provides the shape of the ceremonial altar on which the peyote is placed.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Facts: This website was very interesting because it brought out the common beliefs of how American Indians use different rituals to heal others. This article talks about how they believe that their practices with peyote can cure sicknesses such as cancer. They also talked about how the Ghost Dance was very important to them and were even used at Wounded Knee in 1890.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> Facts: This website briefly talks about the spread of Peyotism. It also talks about the various forms of peyotist beliefs that combine Indian and Christian elements in differing degrees. It also talks about how Christianity uses the Bible and sermons , which are rejected by the Half Moon followers, who, however, teach a similar Christian morality. In general, the peyotist doctrine consists of belief in one supreme God (the Great Spirit), who deals  with men through various spirits, which include the traditional waterbird or  thunderbird  spirits that carry prayers to God.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Facts: This website talks about how different the Native American Church is compared to our normal church services that we attend on Saturday night or Sunday mornings. They ask us to imagine a Christian church service that goes on all night and where there are fervent prayers and songs. Hymns are accompanied by symbolic banging of a drum, and the service is always held in a Plains-style tipi, even if the participants might be Navajo or Cherokee.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> Facts: This website talks in depth about how peyote was used and looked at in different ways. For instance, Peyote was used in form of a dual medium. It was used to come in direct association with the supernatural and was used as a form of medication. It also gives credit  to the Apache people who in the middle of the nineteenth century initiated the spread of the Peyote religion to the Great Plains area of the United States.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Facts: This website talks more in-depth about the founders of the Native American Church and peyotism. It also talks about how a roadman is who conducts the ceremony and who treats the people. Peyote is said to be created by Quanah Parker. It also talks about how at the beginning of a ceremony the participants ingest peyote.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Facts: This website talks about the historical origin and the basic beliefs of the Native American Church. It also explains how people must act. For example, the Native American Church teaches its members to live a high ethical life and is against immoral conduct. Alcohol and dangerous drugs are forbidden. They also teach respect and humility in the presence of one's elders. This website was interesting because a common stereotype is that Native Americans are alcoholics and within the Church they forbid the use of alcohol and drugs.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Facts: This website was very brief with the explanation of what peyotism is and the Native American Church. It does state that the Native American church is the last to be recognized as a religion in the United States because of their use of an illegal substance called peyote.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Facts: This article they talk about what peyote actually is and what the ceremonies are actually like. They also briefly talk about what they believe in. An example of this would be that Peyotism teaches an ethical doctrine much like those of the monotheistic religions. However, it eschews specific Christian theology, its exponents often stating that while Christ came to the whites, peyote came to the Native Americans. The Native American Church also identifies with some forms of Buddhism, specifically the practice of Zen.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Facts: This website was very brief overall but got to the point when it talked about what peyote is and the legal troubles that Native Americans have when they practice peyotism. It also talked about what the ceremony is actually like. The peyote ritual normally begins at 8 pm Saturday and continues through the night. The ritual includes prayer, eating of peyote, Peyote songs, water rituals, and contemplation. It ends with breakfast Sunday morning. The peyote ritual is believed to allow communion with Gods and the deceased and to give power, guidance, and healing. The healing may be emotional or physical, or both.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Facts: This website was a good source because it talked about what the Native American Church teaches its followers. For example, the Native Americans see every day as being Holy and that everything they do is for the Creator. It also talked about how the Native American Church is very close to Christianity. The Native Americans belief that if they draw a picture or symbol, of something they want, in the sand the Creator will give them whatever they have asked for; this is very similar to the Christian belief of ask and ye shall receive. But, the Native Americans and Christians are even closer than that; both religions belief in Jesus and this leads us to The Native American Church.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Facts: This website talks about the history of the Peyote religion. It also emphasizes on the <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">religious movement of the peyote. Also it talks about how federal law and state laws may <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">prohibit the use or practice of peyote within the borders. Because peyote is an illegal substance <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">there has been much debate whether or not the religion should be practiced.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Facts: This source was very interesting because it highlights and goes in depth on how the Native American Church had to sue the federal government because they were outlawing the substance peyote. The federal government was not allowing the Native American Church to express their religious freedom because they were using peyote in their ceremonies.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Facts: The website was important because it talked about how during the reservation period, religious and federal officials frequently disrupted church services and destroyed the ritual objects used in them, particularly those associated with peyote. Not until Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Indian Restoration Act of 1934 were the rights of Indians to practice their religious rituals, including those of the Native American Church, restored to them. It also talked about how the religion is today and how they got to where they are.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Facts: This source was very interesting because even though my other sources highlighted one or two different types of ceremonies or religions within the Native American Church, this source pointed out several. Some of the different religions include: Christianity, Longhouse religion, Waashat religion, Dreamer religion, Drummer religion, Indian Shaker religion, Earth Lodge religion, Ghost Dance religion, Bole-Maru religion, Dream Dance, Feather religion, and of course the Peyote religion. It also talked about the American Indian Religious Freedom Act and the Native American graves Protection and Repatriation Act.