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Religious Beliefs: The plains people believed in Manitou, the Great Spirit. They also believed that the land had been created by the Great Spirit for all the use and that everything on earth was sacred. Life was held to be a sacred circle from birth to death. They believed that each animal had a spirit that would give them luck and strength. They also believed in many gods that showed themselves in the form of the sun, moon, starts and anything that was strong or strange, such as an animal, person, or even an odd-shaped rock. Folktales: Like many cultures the elders were venerated for their spiritual and historical knowledge. One ritual that was common was at the age of 14, a man-to-be would retreat to a quiet place to pray and fast for several days. He would petition for a vision from the Great Spirits, then take instructions for his coming life as a hunter, warrior, chief or shaman.. He would also be taught how to gather and use special stones, plants and other objects. Another very widely observed ritual was the elaborate and demanding Sun Dance, held to thank the spirits for the past years successes and petition them for plenty in the coming year. It was typically held by each tribe, men, women and children during the summer solstice. The dance lasted from four to eight days to celebrate the regenerative continuity between life and death.
Approximate Word count = 903
Approximate Pages = 3.6
(250 words per page double spaced)
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