The World We Used to Live In by Vine Deloria

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Vine Deloria, author of The World We Used to Live In, not only introduces his readers to indigenous Native American spirituality and traditional practices including ceremonies but also brings several important ideas of native spirituality to the forefront. He discusses the importance of having and maintaining a relationship with mother earth and all living beings; an interconnectedness with nature in all forms that is crucial to the understanding and practice of Native American spirituality. Dreams and visions were discussed as an important form of communication in indigenous spirituality. The important relationships with animal and plant spirits are discussed. The concept of power and what is considered power in Native Spirituality. Deloria talks about the importance of place in indigenous spirituality. It is believed that power and wisdom rests in places. The landscape holds memories of all that has ever happened. Through all the aspects Deloria discusses in his book, readers get a clear view and better understanding of Native American spirituality through various accounts of different tribal activities and interviews from both emic and etic perspectives of culture. By using a wide range of research, Deloria does a fairly good job of remaining unbiased which is a difficult thing for anyone to do. The first main idea Deloria discusses in his book is the importance of nature in Native American Spirituality. A relationship with mother earth is of the utmost importance to Native Americans as well as all of the living beings on earth; animals, plants and other human beings. Maintaining good relationships with nature and its living beings leads to harmony and balance in nature. Seeking to be a part of nature rather than a separate en... ... middle of paper ... ...r my parents allowing me to explore my desert surroundings and walk barefoot on the land. Even my small experiences pale in comparison to the understanding and connection that Native Americans have with the land and its beings. You can truly always learn from your surroundings and Deloria expresses the beauty of the knowledge possessed by medicine men in this book. If you are searching for information on indigenous people or just a new perspective on life, this book is the book to read. By sharing just some of this knowledge with readers he brings awareness to the importance of having a relationship and connection to the earth, and not thinking we are above it or any of our fellow living beings on this earth or in the next. Works Cited Deloria, Vine. The World We Used to Live In: Remembering the Powers of the Medicine Men. Golden, CO: Fulcrum Pub., 2006. Print.

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