Plains Indian Flashcards
(6 cards)
“Great Mysterious”
The source of all creation, origin of origin
Beyond rational thought, like Atman or Nirvana
Sun and rays, every natural phenomenon is like a ray from the divine sun
Wankan Tanka
The belief that all elements of nature—animals, rivers, trees, mountains, weather—possess spirit or consciousness.
- everything in nature is alive with spiritual presence.
- nature participates in the sacred order and communicates spiritual truth
- like a buffalo, an eagle, or thunderclouds, not just physical entities but manifestations of spiritual power
- This is reflected in the way rituals like the vision quest or the smoking of the pipe engage directly with natural elements as teachers or intermediaries of the divine.
Animism
The view that the divine is present in all things, or that God and nature are one.
- wankan tanka is present throughout the natural world, in earth, sky, animals, and humans
- for example, the sacred pipe includes parts from under the earth (stone bowl), on the earth (wooden stem), and above the earth (feathers)—symbolizing that the entire cosmos is imbued with sacredness.
Pantheism
shows how visions are not private fantasies, but shared spiritual truths meant to guide and uplift the entire community.
- a ritual that brings the spiritual vision into the physical world.
- represent directional forces, each tied to a color and spiritual quality
- North (White): Purity and detachment
Horse dance
a large communal ceremony focused on spiritual renewal, sacrifice, and healing—for both the individual and the community
- involves dancing for several days, fasting, and often piercing the body (typically the chest) with skewers attached to a central pole
- participants offer their bodily pain and endurance as a form of prayer and sacrifice, echoing the idea of giving oneself to the Creator
- embodies the Plains Indian understanding that true religion requires sacrifice, discipline, and alignment with the natural world.
Sun dance
