Celebrate the first peoples culture and contributions to

human civilization.

We are honored by the contribution of Native American peoples to the evolution of true humanity!!! We respect the genius and talent reflected in Native American communities way of life!!!

The global community must learn from our Native American sisters and brothers  how to honor and respect

All our relatives!!

 

 

Native Americans

White Buffalo Calf woman

Native American religions

Some Course Objectives

1. To help students understand more fully the nature and function of religious diversity and community.

2. To help students develop some skills in deciphering the religious and cultural meanings of symbol, myth, and ritual in Native American Spirituality..

3. To acquaint students with some of the variety in cultural and religious patterns among Native American societies (especially in this decade of the Anniversary of the Columbus landing and European encounter with the indigenous people of America).

4. To help students understand and appreciate some of the characteristic features of Native American religions.

5. To help students discover new depths in their own spiritual traditions through appreciative study of Native American religions.

6. To encourage students toward a respectful concern for the place and conditions of Native Americans in contemporary American society.

7. To help students develop their skills in library research and writing.

NATIVE AMERICA RELIGIONS

Theology 364

Syllabus 2009-2010

Course Description

A study of the most common religious features found in Native American societies north of Mexico.  Attention is given both to the older traditions and to the more recent religious developments.

Required Texts The land looks after us Joel martin

Spirit and Reason Vine Deloria Reader

Native American Religions Sam Gill

On Library Reserve

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, by Dee Brown (Bury)

The Sacred Pipe, by Black Elk, edited by Joseph Epes Brown (Pipe)

Teachings of the American Earth, by Barbara and Dennis Tedlock (Earth)

Indian Givers: How the Indians Transformed the World, by Jack Weatherford (Givers)

Native Roots: How the Indians Enriched America, by Jack Weatherford (Roots)

Crying for a Dream, by Richard Erdoes

“An Easter Liturgy: The Creative Syncretism of the Arizona Yaquis,” by Edgar P. Senne, in

The Cresset, March 1986, pp. 6-14.

The Gift of the Sacred Pipe, by Black Elk, special edition with art work by Louise Drysdale

Native American Traditions: Sources and Interpretations, by Sam D. Gill

Black Elk Speaks, by John Neihardt

Course Requirements

1.  Regular attendance in class is required.  Excessive absences will be reflected in the course grade.  A student may have an absence recorded as “excused” by filling out an “Excuse Me” form, available from the instructor.     Administration of this attendance policy is detailed on page seven (7) of this syllabus.

2.  Reading and/or writing assignments for each class period should be done on time, since this makes in-class participation much more helpful to all.  Quizzes may be used to check this discipline.  Assignments will sometimes be adjusted from class period to class period.  Even if absent, students are responsible for adjusted    assignments.

3.  Students will produce one research paper and presentation on subjects identified in course

1. Two examinations, a midterm and a final will be given.
2. .  Topics for course papers and titles for book reports may be determined in consultation with the instructor.  Those choosing the course paper option will submit a prospectus on a specified date.

Attendance Policy

As stated in first course requirement, regular attendance in class is expected, and excessive absences will be penalized in the assignment of the final course grade.  The administration of this policy is here specified:

Native American Leaders

http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=3476

More of vine Deloria jr

http://www.knowledge.co.uk/xxx/cat/deloria/

A Cree Warrior

Native American dancers

Honor All of our relations!!

Celebrate the contributions of these GREAT PEOPLE!!

Apache Warrior.

The land is always the most sacred thing.

Respect mother Earth and All Life.

To disrespect the earth and all of life is to brake the sacred hoop. We must learn from our mother earth and bend our will towards peace and understanding.

To be a man does not mean you must dominate and control all of life.

To be a man means that you have understood that all of life is a lesson in wisdom and must be learned before you and I can move forward.

To enter into right relationship is the goal of all good spiritual journeys.

To claim one belief is better and more profound than another is a detour in your goal to be one with All things.

http://www.tahtonka.com/spirituality.html

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/union-generals/sioux-indians/sioux-indians.htm

Native American Dancers

We must strive to live in peace with all life everywhere.

We must always seek to mend the sacred hoop of life!!

The Ghost dance seeks to reclaim and make right the lost and injustice done to a people!

Respect the spirit and journey of this people!!

Respect ALL LIFE AND PEOPLE!

Visit this blog and make comments on the issues of violence facing our communities.

We will always focus our concern toward the end of violence in the global community as we build this course offering for the Valparaiso university community.

The question of violence is a prime root issue that reflects a less than civilized perspective  regarding social and cultural problem solving.

We will attempt to explore a means to address issues without the use of violence to gain some spiritual perspective to these concerns.

we invite your comments as we construct this new theological approach.

War is not a Game.

Until we learn how to live in peace we are not fully Human!

Violence and the quest for global sentience

There are two kinds of people who inhabit the earth. There are people who operate in a reality that reflects the products

of self interest, material, and intellectual fabrication; and there are people who from the intimate caverns of their

heart, operate in a reality of freedom and love for all life. There are no people who sit in the middle of this division of operation.

Both peoples are vexed by the inability to grow beyond the present violent reality within the world they inhabit.

Both groups have not been able to claim the sentient intellect of a civilized global community.

Each of these groups would strive to be “better” or more civilized as a people; however both still employ systems of violence to exist as

a community.

The first group makes no pretense in their desire to control and dominate the reality they inhabit.  The world they understand

to be real is for their manipulation and use. All existence belongs to those who show the power, ability and desire to exploit

everything in that  reality. Anything that does not exist within the material reality is not worth their interest. Violence is a necessary tool

to be used by those who need to control others that are contrary to their interest.

The other group recognizes that violence to life forms is an error in judgment, however the quality of life that they are accustomed to is

Supported by the violent actions of first group. They face a seemly unanswerable quandary. To reject the actions of the first group is to cause issues and problems to arise in their own group.

Thus the simple solution has been to avoid any communication at this level with anyone but those who agree and understand this concern.

The time for silence has ended. These two groups of potential sentient life on this planet must communicate and remove the use of violence

From human community.

If we do not act to remove violence this might be our future;

http://www.army.mil/-news/2009/02/06/16536-army-creates-electronic-warfare-career-field/