A drummer makes an offering.
He sprinkles a pinch of tobacco on the drum. A hunter thanks a bear for dying so that his people may eat. People who gather wild fruits also give thanks. They may leave behind a basket with a cornmeal dumpling inside.
Every part of Native American life is connected to spiritual beliefs. Each tribe has its own beliefs, myths, ceremonies, and sacred places. But all Native American cultures have two things in common. They revere, or worship nature. They also respect all forms of life.
Europeans who came to America had different beliefs than Native Americans did. The Natives wanted to live in harmony with nature. The newcomers wanted to rule over it. They had no respect for the Natives’ values. They thought getting rich was more important than preserving nature’s balance. Today, many Americans see how that attitude has hurt our planet. Some look to the ancient ways of Native Americans for guidance.
