Haunted Courage And The Way To Rainy Mountain

The texts, “Undaunted Courage” and “The Way To Rainy Mountain” depict the land as a spiritual entity that’s worth being worshipped and respected as shown by man’s praise of it. The way man, rather than exploit it for profit, respects the land through animism shows their gratitude for it. From the detailed descriptions that give the reader an illustration of what man has seen, it is clear to say that man had this religious relationship again, but was also in tune with the lay of the land. In “Undaunted Courage” it tells the tales and findings of Lewis and Clark when it came to the surveying of the land during the Western Expansion for President Andrew Jackson. During this survey they came in contact with many Native American tribes for example
the Sioux. The Sioux believed in many things but their belief in animism was repeatedly shown throughout their interactions with Lewis and Clark. Animism is the belief in a supernatural power that organizes and animates the material universe. During their celebration on page 175, Clark described that during the dancing, “the women Came forward highly Deckerated in theire way, with the Scalps an Trofies of war of ther father Husbands Brothers or near Connection,” as well as included how many of the instruments also consisted of animal skin or parts. As well as the fact that they lived off of the buffalo, whether they migrated or not, and lived off the land based off of this strong belief that all animals, plants and humans came from Mother Earth. These findings link back to animism because the Sioux’s dance celebrations were their way of renewing their win-win relationship with the land and all spiritual beings that helped them. The wearing of animal skins was merely the way of life for many Native tribes as they didn’t want to disrespect what Mother Earth had provided for them.