Discussion and study questions for Native American Spirituality

1. Some Native Americans feel/felt there were two "souls". What is the nature to these two?

2. In what ways have encounters between Native American religions and Christianity affected Native Americans?

3. What beliefs have Native Americans held in relation to animals, rivers, stones, trees, etc?

4. What aspects of Native American religions have non-Natives found compelling in recent times and why?

5. According to traditional Native American healers (such as Rolling Thunder), what causes illness in the body and how do they heal them?

6. What are the purposes of traditional Native American dancing?

7. What is the Ghost Dance? Who was Wovoka? What is a Ghost Shirt?

8. What is a Native American vision quest and in what whys is it achieved?

9. Who or what is Wakan Tanka?

10. Traditionally, is Native American spiritually monotheistic, polytheistic or monistic?

11. How have Native Americans used sympathetic magic?

12. Black Elk tells a story of how his tribe came in possession of the sacred pipe. In short, what is the story?

13. Why does Black Elk think it important that his story be told? Do you think these are the same reasons John Neihardt had and why the University of Nebraska continues to publish the Black Elk Speaks?

14. In the second (1961) edition of Black Elk Speaks, John Neihardt changed the wording on the title page from "as told to John Neihardt" to "as told through John Neihardt." How do you interpret this change and the relationship it suggests between Neihardt and Black Elk or between Neihardt and Black Elk Speaks?

15. Comparing Black Elk Speaks with other biographical writings, do you see differences in terms of self-presentation (Neihardt and Black Elk), connection to history, choice of significant events, and literary form?

16. Did Black Elk fulfill his "destiny" in terms of his "Great Vision?" Why or why not?