Women and North American Native Religions
My Religion My Tribe, My Life:
The Importance of women in Native American Religion
Introduction
"In February 1757, the great Cherokee leader Attakullakulla arrived in South Carolina to negotiate trade agreements with the governor and was shocked to find that no white woman was present. Because Cherokee women regularly advised his nations council on matters of war and peace."# For many years a lot had said about Native American religion. From the believing in spirituality to the Sun Dance ceremony, from the pipe, to the dreams, from the healing, to respect for nature and not forgetting the smoke. But in my introduction to north
American Native religion studies, little was mentioned about the importance and role women played. This paper discuses the importance of native American women to their religion and how they hold the religion together. In many of these tribes there was an equality in roles played by both genders and at times women were even superior. This surprised the first European missionaries as it was reverse in Europe which had Christian values. Gender roles over time have been influenced by Christianity and other religions.
Functions of women
The functions of women in native American religions varies in different tribes. Women 's roles go from raring children and the old, to farming, fighting wars all the way to be medicine women. Women cultivated and gathered food . "When the Europeans encountered the Cherokees in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, they were shocked to find that women had so much sexual freedom and held considerable political economic and domestic power".# Carolyn Ross Johnston shows how this differed from Christianity. "The Europeans viewed this reversal of patrical values as defiant, uncivilized, pagan, sinful and deeply threatening."# In Cherokee and many other native American religions, the women was the head of the family. She owned the land that was cultivated and the family name.
The Importance of women in Native American Religion
Introduction
"In February 1757, the great Cherokee leader Attakullakulla arrived in South Carolina to negotiate trade agreements with the governor and was shocked to find that no white woman was present. Because Cherokee women regularly advised his nations council on matters of war and peace."# For many years a lot had said about Native American religion. From the believing in spirituality to the Sun Dance ceremony, from the pipe, to the dreams, from the healing, to respect for nature and not forgetting the smoke. But in my introduction to north
American Native religion studies, little was mentioned about the importance and role women played. This paper discuses the importance of native American women to their religion and how they hold the religion together. In many of these tribes there was an equality in roles played by both genders and at times women were even superior. This surprised the first European missionaries as it was reverse in Europe which had Christian values. Gender roles over time have been influenced by Christianity and other religions.
Functions of women
The functions of women in native American religions varies in different tribes. Women 's roles go from raring children and the old, to farming, fighting wars all the way to be medicine women. Women cultivated and gathered food . "When the Europeans encountered the Cherokees in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, they were shocked to find that women had so much sexual freedom and held considerable political economic and domestic power".# Carolyn Ross Johnston shows how this differed from Christianity. "The Europeans viewed this reversal of patrical values as defiant, uncivilized, pagan, sinful and deeply threatening."# In Cherokee and many other native American religions, the women was the head of the family. She owned the land that was cultivated and the family name.
Bibliography: Dooling, D M and Jordan-smith Paul. I become part of it : sacred dimensions in native American life. New York: Parabola Books, 1989. Jacqui Popick: "Native American Women, Past, Present and Future." Lethbridge Undergraduate Research Journal. 1:1(2006) Johnston, Carolyn Ross Kehoe, A.B. (1995). Blackfoot persons. Women And Power in Native North America. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press,1995. Keller, rosemary and Ruether Rosemary. In Our own Voices: Four centuries of american women 's religious writing. New York: Harper Colllins, 1995. Medicine, Beatrice. Learning to Be an Anthropologist & Remaining "Native." Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2001. St. Pierre, Mark and Soldier, Tilda L. Walking in the sacred manner. New york: touchstone, 1995. Wall, Steve. Wisdom 's Daughters. New York: Harper Collins, 1994. Waltrip, Lela and Rufus. Indian Women: thirteen who played a part in the history of America from earliest days to now. New York: David McKay Company, 1964.