Our Sacred Spaces: Don't Touch


We all have a set of beliefs explicitly involving devotional and ritual observances which are governed by moral codes with which to conduct human affairs. Do questions arise concerning beliefs – what is the purpose of life? Who created the universe? Who created me? Let's reflect on the beauty of nature: a bird's song, the blend of colored leaves on a tree during fall foliage, snow that resembles powdered sugar on bare tree branches, a kayak ride on a phosphorescent lake that glows with each stroke of the paddle, a beach with pink sand, lavender flower meadows, a bike ride through the Cotswolds. All these things should stir up deep admiration and regard for the environment’s natural aesthetics; slowly it is destroyed, not by nature’s hand, but by humankind.

“For most Americans, the Holy Land exists on another continent, but for Native Americans, the Holy Land is here on public land, and private property. Native Americans are fighting for hundreds of sites." The Lakota, Hopi, and Wintu fight to keep their sacred places, they do not pretend to own it but to respect it. The Lakota (Devil’s Tower), Hopi (Woodruff Butte), and the Wintu (Panther Meadows) recognize the sacred land as their church. (Vimeo).


The Lakota’s Devil’s Tower (climbers are permitted to climb during their June ceremonies)

Westerners perceive land ownership (sacred land) as private property in contrast to indigenous traditions which value land as an intimate tie to their Creator that profoundly connects them to their religious beliefs. (Trim). The Western mindset of land ownership declares that they will continue to climb Devil’s Tower, even during indigenous sacred ceremonies. The Hopi’s Woodruff Butte summit was leveled, destroyed by rock mining, pumice extraction, and depletion of the water springs interferes with the Hopi ring of shrines – where shall they give offerings and prayer? One of the miners insensitively commented, “I don’t mean to sound cold, but they lost the war, and the land is not theirs.” Panther Meadows almost became a ski resort, but the prospectors met with a relentless fifteen-year opposition which the Wintu won. (Vimeo).


The Hopi Woodruff Butte before excavation (miner called it nothing but ugly rocks)

A Wintu grandmother said it best, “I don’t want to see it die out!” (Vimeo). I believe she meant that the Wintu sacred traditions, like all other religious customs and beliefs, should continue to exist for Native Americans from generation to generation.


Wintu Panther Meadows at Mt. Shasta (almost a ski resort)

__________________

References:

Coyote, Peter and Cardinal, Tantoo. Vimeo.com. On Demand. (September 18, 2017). “In the Light of Reverence: Protecting America’s Sacred Lands.” Documentary. Accessed on October 2, 2018, from https://vimeo.com/ondemand/inthelightofreverence/106639248. 


Trim, Hannah, n.d., “Indigenous Religious Traditions.” Colorado College. Accessed October 2, 2018, from http://sites.coloradocollege.edu/indigenoustraditions/sacred-lands/devils-tower-climbing-on-sacred-land/.

Comments

  1. Prof. Nicole NesbergOctober 4, 2018 at 3:26 PM

    Beautiful. One of the major differences between American Indian spirituality & religion and western religions is that our geography is in our backyard. Our creation stories & myths are wrapped up in the landscape of our homeland. N

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownOctober 5, 2018 at 9:25 AM

    I was so touched by the grandma in the video when she told the park ranger, "tell them not to touch our churches!" I felt her pain. The Native American church is so unlike the western version which is enclosed - I love the idea of a natural without walls place of worship (church) the type that the Wintu grandma has enjoyed. She got to keep her church and I was happy for the Wintu tribe that the ski resort was nixed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownOctober 11, 2018 at 11:29 AM

      Your thought about a place without walls being a place of worship reminded me of a poem I saw many years ago and kept. This is not my official blog post but I just wanted to share this:
      The Liturgy begins--
      loon intones the chant
      crow calls all to rise

      Squirrel descends the
      aisle of oak and
      places an acorn
      on the altar of the earth

      woodpecker taps out
      the first reading
      two yellow finches
      antiphonally cant the psalms

      sun rises from
      the presider's chair
      upon the dais of the ridge
      to proclaim the good news;
      another day is given!

      water-bugs wave their arms
      and dance upon the pond
      bee gathers sweet gifts
      from the faithful flowers
      as light fills the temple
      of the earth
      and clouds disperse
      to carry the message
      to all still enshrouded
      in darkness:

      light is victorious
      and life reigns!
      Let all the earth rejoice!
      Tom Ryan, CPS

      Delete
  3. Malgorzata SiatkowskaOctober 8, 2018 at 8:25 PM

    It is really hard to accept the ignorance of the American government that destroys the heritage of the people who created history of this land. Sacred places in the country that believes in religious freedom should be untouchable. These places carry the legends and stories that are the part of Native American's culture. Unfortunately, globalization brings the destruction not only to nature and environment but to the spiritual beliefs as well. American Indians remind me of Japanese shinto, that believes in powerful beings that influence our lives. The Japanese sacred places are scattered throughout Japan and as in Indian's religion might be represented by shrines like a tree or a just a sacred place formed by a nature. The difference between these two cultures is that in Japan the shrines are sacred and treated with respect and in America somehow this respect is dimmed by power of money.

    ReplyDelete
  4. CKaneOctober 9, 2018 at 9:19 AM

    Very nice pictures, and thankfully they are fighting for all of these outstanding views. There is so many reasons to the Native's that they have to be kept the way they are and were. So many stories, voices that come from those natural elements of the earth, that the Natives find sacred.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yakira KellmanOctober 28, 2018 at 10:00 AM

    I've read a lot about Devils Tower and the disputes about climbing, and it frustrates me to no end that climbers, who spend their time in the majesty of nature, don't understand how it is sacred to multiple tribes. It makes sense to me that mining companies would not care about nature, but the fact that these "outdoorsmen" do not comprehend how disrespectful their actions are is incomprehensible to me.

    ReplyDelete

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