The Sioux. The Sioux refer to themselves either by that name or by the ancestral tribal name Lakhota (An Alliance of Friends). In the traditional ways of the Sioux, life is viewed as a circle. Seen in this way, all life has spirit and time is not linear. In accordance with this view, some Sioux might not wear a watch or worry about missing an appoint- ment. They believe that if one opportunity is missed, another will come along. Within the life circle, a person is born and lives by feeding on plants and animals.
The number seven is another important concept for the Sioux. The Sioux Indians have seven directions, and so everything is in sevens. The directions are North, East, West, and South, the sky, mother earth, and the spirit within. The Sioux have seven councils, and each council has seven fires.
Traditionally, the Sioux hold strong beliefs in the influence and guidance of spirits and in the philosophy of Mitakuye Oyasin (we are all related). The Sioux also believe in an afterlife and prayers are sent to the grandfathers. Over time, Sioux beliefs have become a mixture of traditional values and modern Christian beliefs. However, the two often conflict. Outside influences have altered customs so much that in some areas even sweat lodge ceremonies have changed.
The Omaha. The Omaha Tribe of Nebraska follows the practices of the Native American Church (NAC). These include the ancient custom of smoking peyote (the dried fruit of a small cactus) at church meetings. Peyote contains the substance mes- caline, which has hallucinogenic properties. NAC members believe that when they smoke peyote they will have useful dreams or visions. These visions offer solutions to life’s problems and help guide the dreamer to live well. Since 1978, the use of peyote by indigenous people during religious ceremonies has been protected by the federal American Indian Religious Freedom Act. The NAC has numerous chapters throughout the country and membership is growing. Individuals from many different tribes belong. NAC teaches devotion to the family, right living, and abstention from alcohol. An NAC religious leader is called the Road Man or Road Chief. He is responsible for directing the chapter ceremonies and guiding individual members along the Peyote Road (the path to well-being and right living). The ceremonies are usually held in a special teepee and last all night. The leader’s wife is called Peyote Woman or Earth Mother. Depending on the chapter’s views, she may be the only woman allowed to attend the meetings.
The Sauk and Fox. The Sauk and Fox originally were two distinct Algonquin-speaking tribes living near the Great Lakes in Michigan. In colonial times, they united to fight bitter battles against the French. The French finally killed many of the Fox tribe. The Sauk hid the Fox adult survivors and adopted the children. In the 1860s, the Bureau of Indian Affairs relocated the Sauk and Fox tribes first to Kansas, later to Iowa, and finally to Oklahoma. The customs of the tribes were threatened by this migration. However, they have been able to preserve not only their beliefs but also the Algonquin language.
The Navajo. The Navajo have always referred to themselves as Dine (The People). They make up the largest tribe in the United States today, numbering about 200,000. The Navajo have maintained very strong tribal beliefs and customs. Historically, Navajo were skilled shepherds and farmers.
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VOICES FROM THE COMMUNITY: CROSS CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS OF GRIEF AT THE LOSS OF AN INFANT
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