Native American Spiritual Traditions
The indigenous peoples of North America developed rich, diverse spiritual traditions over thousands of years, each uniquely adapted to their lands and ways of life. From the desert Southwest to the Pacific Northwest, from the Great Plains to the Eastern Woodlands, these traditions share common themes of respect for nature, the interconnectedness of all beings, and the importance of maintaining balance with the spirit world.
A Note on Cultural Respect
Native American spiritual traditions are living practices, not historical artifacts. Many ceremonies and teachings remain sacred and are not shared outside their communities. This exploration presents publicly available knowledge with deep respect for the sovereignty, dignity, and ongoing spiritual practices of indigenous peoples. We encourage learning directly from indigenous voices and supporting Native communities.
Explore Native American Traditions
Discover the spirits, teachings, and wisdom of indigenous North American cultures:
Spirits & Sacred Beings
Meet the powerful spirits that guide, teach, and protect - from Coyote the Trickster to the mighty Thunderbird.
- Coyote - The Trickster
- Thunderbird - Sky Spirit
- Spider Woman - Creator
- View All Spirits →
Creation Stories
The diverse origin narratives that explain how the world, animals, and people came to be - each unique to its nation.
Coming soon...
Sacred Ceremonies
The rituals and practices that maintain harmony between the human and spirit worlds.
Coming soon...
Medicine & Healing
Traditional healing practices and the sacred plants used in ceremony and medicine.
Coming soon...
Featured Spirits & Deities
The sacred beings honored across many traditions, each carrying teachings for humanity.
Coyote
The Trickster, Teacher, Creator
A shape-shifting figure who teaches through chaos and humor, bringing fire to humanity and challenging the cosmic order.
Navajo, Crow, Shoshone, many Western tribes
Thunderbird
Spirit of the Storm
The great supernatural bird whose wings create thunder and whose eyes flash lightning, guardian of the upper world.
Plains, Northwest Coast, Great Lakes nations
Spider Woman
Weaver of Life, Creator
The ancient grandmother who wove the world into being and continues to guide humanity through her web of wisdom.
Navajo, Hopi, Pueblo peoples
White Buffalo Calf Woman
Sacred Messenger
The holy woman who brought the sacred pipe and seven rituals to the Lakota people, teaching the ways of prayer.
Lakota, Dakota, Nakota nations
Raven
Creator, Transformer, Trickster
The one who stole the sun and brought light to the world, shaping the landscape and teaching through cunning.
Tlingit, Haida, Pacific Northwest peoples
Regional Traditions
Native American spirituality encompasses hundreds of distinct nations, each with unique traditions shaped by their environment and history:
Southwest Traditions
Navajo, Hopi, Pueblo, Apache, and Zuni peoples developed rich traditions in the desert lands, featuring kachinas, emergence stories, and sand painting ceremonies.
Plains Traditions
Lakota, Cheyenne, Blackfoot, and Crow nations followed the buffalo, developing the Sun Dance, vision quests, and the sacred pipe ceremony.
Pacific Northwest
Tlingit, Haida, Kwakiutl, and Salish peoples created elaborate totem traditions, potlatch ceremonies, and transformed animal spirits.
Eastern Woodlands
Iroquois, Cherokee, Ojibwe, and other nations developed the Great Law of Peace, the Green Corn ceremony, and the Midewiwin medicine society.
Core Teachings
- All My Relations (Mitakuye Oyasin) - The interconnectedness of all beings - humans, animals, plants, stones, and spirits are all related
- The Sacred Hoop - Life moves in circles; what we do returns to us. The medicine wheel represents this eternal cycle
- Walking in Balance - Harmony between the physical and spiritual, between individual and community, between humanity and nature
- Seven Generations - Decisions should consider their impact seven generations into the future
- Respect for Elders - Wisdom comes through age and experience; elders are the keepers of sacred knowledge
- Vision and Dreams - The spirit world communicates through dreams, visions, and encounters with animal spirits
- Sacred Reciprocity - Taking from nature requires giving back; offerings honor the spirits of what sustains us
Cross-Cultural Parallels
Native American spirit beings share archetypal patterns with figures from other world traditions: