Plains Indians : Beliefs

Question 1

what was their belief on nature; (give 4)

Answer 1

• everything in nature had a spirit, they could help or harm humans
• believe humans were a part of nature –> should work with nature rather than tame nature to obey them
• could contact the spirit would through ‘vision quests’, guided by spirit animals
• danced special ritual dances *Sun dance) to enter spirit world

Question 2

what were Plains Indians beliefs on land

Answer 2

• Land seen as the ‘mother’ of the Plains Indians. Some land were especially sacred
  
  • For the Lakota Sioux, the Black Hills, Paha Sapa were v. sacred - believed that their *people** had been created in a special cave in these hills y the Great Spirit

Question 3

what were Plains Indians beliefs on property

Answer 3

• some Plain Indians farmed lands - so these farming plots belonged to a family
• but for most ** no one owned land**
• land was not something that could be bought or sold

Question 4

what were the consequences of the PI belief of property (white settlers)

Answer 4

white settlers had very different views about property –> tension + conflict

Question 5

what were their attitudes to war

Answer 5

• PI Society was full of conflict but tribes developed aways to avoid too much killing since Young men were essential to tribes survival - hunters + protectors

Question 6

what were the ways in which PI society avoided killing

Answer 6

• raid would only go ahead it it looked like to would work
• war parties would run away if too much opposition
• Counting coup - warrior would hit or touch an enemy and get away without being injured or killed
  
  • demanded huge levels of skill + bravery –> success gained warrior lots of respect + honour