The Great Spirit

Understanding the Beliefs of Our Ancestors

The Native American is a spiritual being with a deep rooted faith in a "higher power" who is the creator of all things.  Called the Great Spirit, Grandfather, and tribal names such as Wakan Tanka by the Sioux, the Indian has always honored the ultimate power of their supreme being.  They believed in an order to things and taught their children from birth to follow the beliefs of their ancestors.  When the white race overtook the land they also attempted to convert the Native Americans to their own religious views.  This was met with great resistance from the People and they held tightly to their faith in the Great Spirit.  Ceremonies were banned, religious artifacts were burned and the People were forbidden to worship in the ways of their ancestors but still they cried out to the only god they'd ever known.   I often wonder what will happen when we stand before our creator and discover that the "God" of the whites and "The Great Spirit" are one and the same.   Who will explain what was done to His red children in His name?

The following statements and prayers serve as testimony to the great faith our ancestors had in the religion of their ancestors.

From Wakan Tanka, The Great Spirit, there came a great unifying life force that flowed in and through all things---the flowers of the plains, blowing winds, rocks, trees, birds, animals---and was the same force that had been breathed into the first man.  Thus all things were kindred, and were brought together by the same Great Mystery.

Kinship with all creatures of the earth, sky, and water was a real and active principle.  In the animal and bird world there existed a brotherly feeling that kept the Lakota safe among them.  And so close did some of the Lakotas come to their feathered and furred friends that in true brotherhood they spoke a common tongue.

The animals had rights---the right of man's protection, the right to live, the right to multiply, the right to freedom, and the right to man's indebtedness---and in recognition of these rights the Lakota never enslaved an animal, and spared all life that was not needed for food and clothing.

This concept of life and its relations was humanizing, and gave to the Lakota an abiding love.  It filled his being with the joy and mystery of living; it gave him reverence for all life; it made a place for all things in the scheme of existence with equal importance to all.

The Lakota could despise no creature, for all were of one blood, made by the same hand, and filled with the essence of the Great Mystery.  In spirit, the Lakota were humble and meek.  "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth"---this was true for the Lakota, and from the earth they inherited secrets long since forgotten.  Their religion was sane, natural, and human.

Chief Luther Standing Bear
Teton Sioux

I think that wherever the Great Spirit places his people, they ought to be satisfied to remain, and thankful for what He has given them, and not drive others from the country He has given them because it happens to be better than theirs!

This is contrary to our way of thinking; and from my intercourse with the whites, I have learned that one great principle of their religion is "to do unto others as you wish them to do unto you!"  The settlers on our frontiers and on our lands never seem to think of it, if we are to judge by their actions.

For my part, I am of the opinion that so far as we have reason, we have a right to use it in determining what is right or wrong, and we should pursue that path we believe to be right.

If the Great and Good Spirit wished us to believe and do as the whites, he could easily change our opinions, so that we would see, and think, and act as they do.  We are nothing compared to His power, and we feel and know it.

Black Hawk
Sauk

Our wise men are called Fathers, and they truly sustain that character.  Do you call yourselves Christians?  Does then the religion of Him whom you call your Savior inspire your spirit, and guide your practices?   Surely not.

It is recorded of him that a bruised reed he never broke.  Cease, then, to call yourselves Christians, lest you declare to the world your hypocrisy.  Cease, too, to call other nations savage, when you are tenfold more the children of cruelty than they.

Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea)
Mohawk

Brother, you say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit.  If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it?  Why not all agree, as you can all read the book (Bible)?

Brother, we do not understand these things.   We are told that your religion was given to your forefathers, and has been handed down from father to son.  We also, have a religion which was given to our forefathers, and has been handed down to us, their children.  We worship in that way.   It teaches us to be thankful for all favors we receive; to love each other, and be united.  We never quarrel about religion, because it is a matter which concerns each man and the Great Spirit.

Brother, the Great Spirit has made us all, but He has made a great difference between His white and His red children. He has given us different complexions and different customs. To you He has given the arts. To these He has not opened our eyes. We know these things to be true. Since He has made so great a difference between us in other things, why may we not conclude that He has given us a different religion according to our understanding? The Great Spirit does right. He knows what is best for His children; we are satisfied.

Brother, we do not wish to destroy your religion or take it from you; we only want to enjoy our own.

Red Jacket ( Sagoyewatha)
Seneca Chief

We were lawless people, but we were on pretty good terms with the Great Spirit, creator and ruler of all.  You whites assumed we were savages.  You didn't understand our prayers.  You didn't try to understand.   When we sang our praises to the sun or moon or wind, you said we were worshipping idols.  Without understanding, you condemned us as lost souls just because our form of worship was different from yours.

We saw the Great Spirit's work in almost everything: sun, moon, trees, wind, and mountains.  Sometimes we approached him through these things.  Was that so bad?  I think we have a true belief in the supreme being, a stronger faith than that of most whites who have called us pagans....Indians living close to nature and nature's ruler are not living in darkness.

Did you know that trees talk?  Well they do.  They talk to each other, and they'll talk to you if you listen.  Trouble is, white people don't listen.  They never learned to listen to the Indians so I don't suppose they'll listen to other voices in nature.  But I have learned a lot from trees: sometimes about the weather, sometimes about animals, sometimes about the Great Spirit.

Walking Buffalo (Tatanga Mani)
Stoney Indian

A Native American Prayer

O Great Spirit of the North,
O Great Spirit of the South,
O Great Spirit of the East,
O Great Spirit of the West.
O Great Spirit, you are one.

You have given us our house,
Where there is food,
Where there is drink,
Where there are clothes.

You have given us our house,
Where there is fellowship,
Where there is companionship,
Where there is friendship.

You have given us our house,
Where we can grow,
Where we can learn,
Where we can know you.

O Great Spirit:
You are One,
Our house is One,
We are One!

Prayer Composed by Chief Yellow Lark, a Blackfoot Indian

Oh, Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me. I come before you, one of your many children. I am weak and small. I need your strength and wisdom. Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset; my ears sharp so I may hear your voice. Make me wise, so I may learn the things you have taught my people, the lessons you have hidden under every rock and leaf. I seek strength, not to be superior to my brothers, but to be able to fight my greatest enemy--myself. Make me ever ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes, so whenever life fades, like the fading sunset, my spirit will come to you without shame.

Spirit Voices
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