Burial Rituals of Native American Culture Essay

At some point in our lives, we all(a) come to realize that death is a divorce of life. Cultural variation provides a wide variety of lifestyles and customs for each of the unique groups of people in our humans. Within these different cultures, the rituals associated with death and sepulcher faeces also be uniquely diverse. M whatsoever consider ritualistic traditions that differ from their own to be somewhat strange and often discriminate them as unnatural. A primeval example would be the burial rituals of the Native American people.Leslie Marmon Silkos bill entitled The Man to Send Rain Clouds describes a funeral service carried stunned by a Native American Pueblo family. Though many perceive the funeral service narrated in this story to be lacking in perception and also lacking respect for the passing of their loved one, it portrays a eucharist that is quite common land for the Native American communities. There is also a hint of conflict occurring between the character s in the story that ar carrying go forth their traditions while including an outside spectral figure in the ceremony.The death of an antiquated man sets the stage for this story and tells of the way his family goes about preparing him for his journey into the afterlife. A feather is tied(p) into the old mans hair, his pose was particoloured with blue, yellow, green and white paint, pinches of corn meal and pollen were tossed into the wind and finally his be was wrapped in a red binding prior to existence conveyancinged. agree to Releasing the Spirit A Lesson in Native American Funeral Rituals by Gary F.Santillanes, Pueblo Indians c atomic number 18 for their own dead with no funeral director involved. The family pull up stakes take the deceased, usually in their truck, clog up to the home of the deceased and wander him or her on the floor facing east to west, on a native covert. Depending on the deceaseds stature in the tribe, his face whitethorn be painted in the t raditional nature. A powdery substance is placed on the face of all the dead usually made of corn, traditional prayers and maybe dances be completed (www. umn. du).The feather tied to his hair is a prayer feather and the painting of the face is to fancy that he will be recognized in the beside world by his ancestors who piddle crossed over before him. The colors are represendative 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 attached world. The pollen is representative of the earths renewal from the come downclouds that will be sent back by the flavor of the deceased.Silko frequently refers to a 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 stron g beliefs in life after death, although the means of reaching the next life may vary from tribe to tribe.They traditionally swear 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 enactment to be an honor or privilege since it will ensure the excerpt of their people. In Native American culture, it is believed that neglect of tribal rituals can solution in death and sickness, because the spirit returns without blessings, having been unable to enter the other world. According to Who Were The Anasazi?Published by The Bureau of Land Management, religious concepts and levelts were associated with seasonal tasks similar farming (in spring and summer) and hunting (in fall and winter) which would be a credible explanation for the belief that the old man could send back rain clouds and also for cultural beliefs in the spir its returning to life (http//www. blm. gov/co/st/en/fo/ahc). Many tribes perform ceremonies which can include flesh out and colorful tribal dances. Modern rituals some time allow for outsiders to watch the ceremonies.During the burial process there are also practices that are more common to what many people consider to be normal. Bodies are dressed in nice clothing and some of their possessions are often placed next to them. The Native American people prepare food to be habituated to the families of the dead, members of the community visit to pay their respect to the deceased and at times a religious service is included. When these religious services are conducted, they are held in churches on their native land where they have their native religious beliefs with their own gods (www. umn. du). Native American religious specialists draw wisdom from genetical traditions.Priests bring rain through ceremony and prayer. They are thought to have a special level of communication with the spirits (www. umn. edu). The Native American culture often frowns upon outside religious rituals such as blend rites being included in the ceremonies. This is thought to be partly because of the statement surrounding the invasion of Catholics upon their land and partly because they believe that it will bodge the transition into the afterlife and condemn the soul of the deceased.Pallbearers are employed to transport the bodies to the grave site, but in several tribes, no one else is allowed to tincture the body or the grave. The pallbearers must eventually go through a cleansing ritual following the burial. Regardless of our cultural heritage, treating our loved ones with respect, tradition and dignity is usually our primary concern. Though we may not get a line the practices of other cultures, it does not mean that methods by which burials are conducted are any less spiritual or correct.We all tend to believe in our own gods and the fact that there will be something else waiti ng for us when we pass from the world in which we exist. We all feel the need to acquit sure that our loved ones are properly prepared for their journey by whatever means our traditions dictate. The only differences seem to be the methods in which we believe will help us make that transition. There is no dubiousness that family cohesion and socioeconomic status play an important role in the overall success of the transition but with the proper support system, even those in disadvantaged communities can make the best of a naughtily situation.