Native American Religions: Dreams, Visions, And Healing

Native American Religions: Dreams, Visions, and Healing
Dreaming is something all humans have in common, whether we remember that time spent in unconsciousness or not. For Native Americans, dreams hold a much higher meaning in their religions. Dreams are seen as several things to the Native American people depending on the individual tribe. Be it a way to diagnose people’s illnesses, acceptance into being an adult in the tribe, or an answer to a posed question. Some Indians gain a rare skill where they can control their dreams. This is seen as an act of incredible power. The religious practices vary from tribe to tribe, however, most tribes use shamans or a medicine-man to help understand visions given to the people by spirits. Just as people …show more content…
Strmiska’s observations of Philip Jenkins’ book Dream Catchers, allows two educated incites, both agreeing that Americans have stolen something special from the Indian people. Jenkins infers Native American culture is rich and mystical, but Euro-Americans have taken that fact and made a profit. Strmiska is outraged by this very growing problem, arguing things like Indian’s dream catchers have lost their true meaning, just so they could be marketed easier. Through Strmiska’s careful examination of Jenkins writing, Strmiska is able to reemphasize and call attention back to the Native American culture and how much of what we know today is a cheap version of what they once practiced. Strmiska points out that in Jenkins’ writing he never took a side or expressed his feeling of what is becoming of the Native American religions. Strmiska, however, was adamantly appalled by the way Euro-America has treated Indian culture. This source will help shed light on what can happen to Native American …show more content…
Irwin also teaches many classes at the College of Charleston and is well versed in different religions. In this article, Irwin shows how dreams in the Plains Indians have power and are viewed more as scientific fact. Knowledge is gained from these dreams and it is extremely precious to all in the tribe. Spiritual forces are believed to give dreams to the people. Having them interpreted by a shaman is the only way to get answers to an illness, family trouble, problem with the tribe, or a life crisis. The most advanced form of dreaming for the Plains Indians occurs when the dreamer can control the dream they are having, thus gaining access to a great and sought after power. Irwin writes many times about this power and that if the Indians achieved it, they would then gain untold knowledge of the spirits they worshiped. In the same respect, much of this article entails how the Native Americans are trying to unravel the power behind dreams. The ones who can control their dreams are seen as advanced and blessed. They want to personally receive strength by tapping into an unseen world, the world you enter while dreaming. The author writes that a person who has the ability to control their own dreams is then responsible for helping others break into the unseen world. They themselves will either act as or become