Don’s Thoughts II

I had someone tell me that I needed to have an Exorcism because I use to follow the Apache belief system and now follow the Roman Catholic faith system (for the rest of my life…). This floored me and took me back in a big way!

I tried to explain to the lady that the North American Natives followed God, pre-Jesus, just like the Christians did. They just didn’t know Jesus as Jesus didn’t make himself known in what is now called the States… So, to give each of you a bit more information about the belief system of the Apache nation as I understand it, I present this:

Yes, I would like to tell you about Shamanism as it applies to the Native Americans. It can be and is different for those overseas that are called Shaman though! Shamanism was a name “tagged” to the those that lead a belief system different than the “tagger”. The Indians call the person Wakan, which roughly translates to Blessed. Wakan Tanka is “The Blessed Spirit” or “The Great Spirit”, which is personified in Father Sky and Mother Earth, as created by “Wakan Tanka”.

In the Nations, a Wakan/Shaman is a “Holy Man” or “Priest” to the Nation. They are the Keepers of the History of the Nation and “the world” as they knew it. The Native Americans of the old days, and even today some are thought to, at least those I have had close dealings with over the years, are strong believers that Wakan Tanka talked to the Wakan (Shaman) and helped them understand illnesses and how to cure them, provided them with the History of the world, which by the way included the parting of the waters, the Great Flood, and many other stories of the Jewish and Christian Bibles, and ways on how to live. Most nations started out as very peaceful, but there was always the rivalries and “stealing of women and horses” to grow and improve the Nation. Most of the Nations were very animal and nature oriented.

Near the end of 1800s and early 1900s, the Wakan in most nations became less a “physical healer” and tried to spend more of their efforts on the “spiritual” healing side of getting the Nations to go back to Peace taking care of their lands, animals, and crops, which the “White Man” had taught them how to raise.

One of their early stories talks about how after the Great Flood, Wakan Tanka split the peoples up and moved them all over the world. The Nations (of North and South America) were one of the “prized people” with whom Wakan Tanka went with in Peace. Aside from inter-Nation horse stealing and spouse stealing, until the early 1800s most of the nations were peaceful. In the early 1800 the Apache Nation as well as other Nations wanted to travel more broadly around the Northern Continent and the other Nations did not want it, so the Apaches began fighting stronger battles to expand their
nomadic way of life. As they grew into new areas, they would leave a Tribe behind to “watch over that area”, typically a water hole or grazing area. The Tribe I was associated with is the Mescalero Tribe of the Apache Nation, which was based out of New Mexico in the mountains, which had a great elk and deer herd, as well as a great water source. This tribe was less nomadic, but did provide warriors for the Nomads.

If you look DEEPLY into the Apache Nation belief system, you will find that they believe that Wakan Tanka, by way of nature through the animals and plants teaches them how to get along in life. They fought for what was theirs, but in most cases would rather live in peace. Very similar to the Catholic Church over the years in protecting our (I’m Catholic now) belief system.

A Wakan of the Nations job is to “preach” the Stories of the Nation to his or her People, to remind them of what the Great Spirit wants them to do, which is to live in peace and harmony with those around them. This is done in Sweat Lodges, where the “sins” are washed off in steam, at campfires in dance, and on “Journeys”. In the Old days the Journey consisted of living on the land for up to a year, learning how to survive in the Great Spirit’s world.

To somewhat equate that to the Catholic Church, you have the Church building where we gather and sing and pray to God. In the Sweat Lodge, you chant and pray to the Great Spirit. Some of the chants of the Nation are actually very similar to the Psalms, but the names are different, and the “location” is different. Many of the songs deal with great harvest, strong herds, and strong Nations.

Part of the reason that the Christian Churches condemned the Native American Belief system was they were not familiar with it, and would not nor did not take the time to understand it. (Now mind you, if they had sat down and learned about the Ways, they still might have condemned it, but we will never really know…) When these “heathens” came to their camps dressed in loin clothes, carrying crude weapons, offering peace, the “immigrants” were initially frightened. The “Red Man” helped them get over the fright, and for a short time there was Peace. “White Man” wanted to grow out and take over more land, and the Indians did not want to give up their lands. Strife grew and the “White Man” became more negative about the “Red Man”, which was not a name given to the skin color, which was more a dark brown, but to the way the Indians live in a communal way, to include their faith and belief system. This same happens now with “unknown” faiths, and even “known” faiths that are different.

The other “Shamanistc” faiths are another story and I would not be able to describe them or answer the question there.

It goes to show how closed people are to what they don’t know.