Essay about Burial Rituals of Native American Culture

Burial Rituals of Native American Culture At some point in our lives, we all come to realize that death is a part of life. Cultural diversity provides a wide variety of lifestyles and traditions for each of the unique groups of people in our world. Within these different cultures, the rituals associated with death and burial can also be uniquely diverse. Many consider ritualistic traditions that differ from their own to be somewhat strange and often perceive them as unnatural. A prime example would be the burial rituals of the Native American people. Leslie Marmon Silko’s story entitled The Man to Send Rain Clouds describes a funeral service carried out by a Native American Pueblo family. Though many perceive the funeral†¦show more content†¦The feather tied to his hair is a prayer feather and the painting of the face is to ensure that he will be recognized in the next world by his ancestors who have crossed over before him. The colors are representative of the earth, sky, sun and water. The sprinkling of corn meal and water are said to provide the dead with nourishment on their journey to the next world. The pollen is representative of the earth’s renewal from the rainclouds that will be sent back by the spirit of the deceased. Silko frequently refers to a â€Å"red blanket† that the old man is wrapped in for burial (149). The Native American people often leave a cord hanging from the blanket which wraps the body of the deceased and is thought to provide a way for the spirit to be released into the afterlife. All Native American cultures have strong beliefs in life after death, although the means of reaching the next life may vary from tribe to tribe. They traditionally believe that death is a part of a natural cycle in which their spirits are transported back and forth between this world and the spirit world so that they can bring renewal and new life when they return. Most consider this transition to be an honor or privilege since it will ensure the survival of their people. In Native American culture, it is believed that neglect of tribal rituals can result in death and sickness, because the spirit returns without blessings, having been unable to enter the other world. AccordingShow MoreRelatedThe Man to Send Rain Clouds800 Words   |  4 Pagesindigenous cultures in America. During the period, diverse Indians moved from the reservations and they settled and eventually adopted the American culture. This text focuses on various aspects portrayed in the short story setting, the major theme expressed and the culture of the Laguna American Natives is symbolic. 　　　　The major theme expressed by Leslie Marmon Silko’s The Man to Send Rain Clouds is that of culture maintenance in the society. The Laguna Native Americans highly embrace their culture andRead MoreFlourishing North American Cultures1455 Words   |  6 Pagesin the New World, the last era of the pre-Columbian development began. North American cultures such as the Mississippian culture, the Hopewell Tradition, and the Hohokam culture experienced growth and environmental adaptation throughout this era. Major contributions and innovations of Native Americans have developed and been passed on through generations of ancestors. Originating in 700 A.D., the Mississippian culture expanded through the Mississippi Valley and out into the southeastern statesRead MoreGrief Programs: Native Americans and Death1722 Words   |  7 PagesGrief Programs: Native Americans and Death Lisa Shewmaker University of the Rockies Abstract This paper will look at existing organizations and programs that provide parent home visits for infant and child loss in culturally diverse populated areas in the United States. These programs generally do not encompass grief recovery for the Native American community. As social workers and providers of these services, it is important to understand this cultural group, know their rituals and beliefs surroundingRead MoreDeath And Burial Of The United States923 Words   |  4 Pagesdeath and burial as little as possible and is something people always put in the back of their mind. They do not think about it or discuss it until the proper moment has come. Someone dies, and we bury them. We do not go to great lengths to almost drag-out the experience of death, as other cultures do. There is an American tradition that people visit the person s grave or other sanctified spaces on occasion, but that s the extent of our interaction with the dead in American culture. This is alsoRead MoreTen sions Between Science And Religion1582 Words   |  7 Pagesbelieve that the burial site should be left untouched. Among this group of people fall the Native Americans. Archaeologists, on the other hand, think we should uncover the burial site to be able to discover more about the history of the land from which the grave lies. The Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act was signed into law on November 1990 by President George Bush. This legislation is the result of decades of effort by American Indians to protect the burial sites of their ancestorsRead MoreThe Man Fly Send Rain Clouds1138 Words   |  5 PagesEuropeans pushed the Native Americans off their land and into designated reservations, they had been free to live their lives how they chose, practicing their traditions. Now, they are on a reservation with a Catholic Church and European influence in their lives, families, and homes. The priests believe the Native Americans should bury their dead according to the Catholic Churches ways. The Native Americans have a tradition and ritual of burying their dead and how. Their rituals involve the cycleRead MoreCultural Influences On End Of Life Care916 Words   |  4 PagesHealth care providers interact with patients from many different cultures. It is important to be knowledgeable and respectable of other cultures. Health care providers will be able to improve the experience of the patient if they are more culturally. More than 500 nations of Native Americans exist in the United States with a population of over four million people. Each has their own language, culture, healers, and tribal customs and religions informed (B. Stuart, Cherry, J. Stuart, 2011). Read MoreAnalysis Of The Poem The Man Fly Send Rain Clouds By Leslie Marmon Silko948 Words   |  4 Pagesproceed to apply their cultural rituals for a burial. â€Å"Before they wrapped the Oldman, Leon took a piece of string out of his pocket and tied a small gray feather in the old man’s long white hair. Ken gave him the paint. Across the brown wrinkled forehead, he drew a streak of white and along the high cheekbones he drew a strip of blue paint.† (Silko, 439) Not knowing much about Native American beliefs I do know that feathers and face painting is a large part of their culture. This is the first clue givenRead MoreReligion And Sacred Sites Of The Sioux Tribe1114 Words   |  5 Pagesunderneath Lake Oahe that will damage Native American burial sites and will contaminate primary source of drinking water for the Sioux Tribe. First there will be a brief description of what happening with the protest at Standing Rock. Following these facts about this atrocity this paper will begin with a historical summary of the Sioux Tribe, the main set of protesters who are fighting to keep the pipeline from being constructed. Following this the paper will discus the culture and sacred sites that the pipelineRead MoreAnalysis Of The Man To Send Rain Clouds1205 Words   |  5 PagesPueblo tribe of Native Americans. Set in the desert southwest of the United States, the story is narrated from an omniscient point of view, and describes the discovery of the old man’s body, the preparation of the body for burial, and the interaction between the family of the dead man and the C atholic priest who lives on the reservation. The author uses very simple language and unsophisticated descriptions to describe an intricate and complex relationship between the Christian culture of the priest