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Week 1
Indigenous Peoples
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Most indigenous peoples have creation stories where they believe the Creator or Great Father in the Sky made the earth, the animals and all humans.
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Many believe that they have lost touch or even forgotten about a Creator that their ancestors knew, but disobeyed. They believe the dark gods of the spirit world are the ones to be afraid of or to placate. Thus they believe that the Creator God, if there is one, is distant, removed and angry with them.
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Humans are often seen as lost or wandering from a true path that was lost to the ancestors long ago. Humans are seen as capable of good or bad and under the influence of curses, vows, incantations, or evil spirits. In this sense, they may be animistic. Many have a special shaman or witch doctor who is supposed to help them connect to the spirit world.
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Good and evil are seen as forces that compete for dominance in a person and in the world. Sometimes there is an ethnocentric idea that ‘our’ group is the good one and all outsiders are ‘bad’. This idea can lead to wars and conflicts.
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The idea of the path or the way or a lifeway is their main idea of salvation. It is the path to the good. This idea is closely aligned with a responsibility for nature and this world. Oneness with nature is for some seen as a goal of life. Others see ‘salvation’ as surviving and not being defeated by the dark spirits, thus having a long life.
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Some groups have a notion of an afterlife, but others do not. For example, some Native American groups believe in a “Happy Hunting Ground’ or that one goes to be with the ancestors and/or the Great Spirit. Many indigenous peoples are terrified of death and use their rituals to ward it off.
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Varies by country or group. Some have animal sacrifices or smoke various substances in a ritualistic manner. Dance is often used to express stories and tales of the tribe or group or the gods. Body decoration, paint, garments and drums are often used in the ritual dances. To placate the spirits, they may also cut themselves or in some cases engage in cannibalism or headhunting. An example: the Sawi people of New Guinea make peace with an enemy by swapping infants between the tribes. As long as the children live there will be peace between the two tribes. One family per tribe agrees to take in the other child and give up their own.
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Varies by country or group. Some have celebrations tied to the seasons of the year. Others have celebrations of victory in war or at weddings. The birth of children is often a time of great celebration. Death is universally observed in various ways depending on the culture and local beliefs. The finding of good prey when hunting would be a cause for celebration as well. Communal meals are common. For example: the Native Americans shared food with the Pilgrims who came to America.
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