Hi Sara,
Thanks for coming by to post your picture. I think you will learn how our government has mistreated the Native Americans in many ways, take for instance the Trail of Tears.
Native Americans were forced out of those homes, children were torn from their parents and made live like the Americans. Also, look how they were called savages. It is typical of the Americans if you don't agree with me you are the bad guy, is this not true.
Here is a article on Spirituality, I hope you enjoy it.
Native American Spirituality
Development of Aboriginal culture.
Absorption of Native beliefs & practices.
Tribal recognition.
Development of Aboriginal culture:
Because of the wide range of habitats in North America, different native religions evolved to match the needs and lifestyles of the individual tribe.
Religious traditions of aboriginal peoples around the world tend to be heavily influenced by their methods of acquiring food, whether by hunting wild animals or by agriculture. Native American spirituality is no exception. Their rituals and belief show a blending of interest in promoting and preserving their hunting and horticulture.
The arrival of Europeans marked a major change in Native society. Millions died due to sickness, and programs of slavery and extermination. 1 Europeans and their missionaries looked upon Native Spirituality as worthless superstition inspired by the Christian devil, Satan. Many of the survivors were forcibly converted to Christianity. The U.S. and Canadian governments instituted policies to force Natives onto reservations and to encourage them to become assimilated into the majority culture. 2 During the middle decades of the 20th century, whole generations of children were kidnapped, forcibly confined in residential schools, and abused physically, sexually and emotionally. In Canada, these schools were operated on behalf of the Federal Government by the Roman Catholic, Anglican, United and Presbyterian churches. Both the government and these religious institutions have settled a multi-billion dollar class-action lawsuit. Claims against the Anglican Church were much greater than the Church's current assets. The was a concern for a while that the church might be forced into bankruptcy due to legal costs.
Native spirituality was suppressed by the U.S. and Canadian governments. Spiritual leaders ran the risk of jail sentences of up to 30 years for simply practicing their rituals. This came to an end in the U.S. in 1978 when the Freedom of Religion Act was passed.
Some suicidologists believe that the extremely high suicide rate among Natives is due to the destruction of their religion and culture by the Federal Governments. This suppression is still seen in the prison administrations; Canadian prisons have only recently allowed Native sweat lodge ceremonies; many American prisons routinely deny permission.
Natives today follow many spiritual traditions:
 | Many Native families today have been devout Christians for generations. |
| Others, particularly in the Southwest have retained their aboriginal traditions more or less intact. |
| Most follow a personal faith that combines traditional and Christian elements. |
| Pan Indianism is a recent and growing movement which encourages a return to traditional beliefs, and seeks to create a common Native religion. |
| The Native American Church is a continuation of the ancient Peyote Religion which had used a cactus with psychedelic properties called peyote for about 10,000 years. Incorporated in 1918, its original aim was to promote Christian beliefs and values, and to use the peyote sacrament. Although use of peyote is restricted to religious ritual which is protected by the US Constitution, and it is not harmful or habit forming, and has a multi-millennia tradition, there has been considerable opposition from Christian groups, from governments, and from within some tribes. |