Martin, Joel W. : University of California, Riverside
Summary
Native Americans practice some of America's most spiritually profound, historically resilient, and ethically
demanding religions. Joel Martin draws his narrative from folk stories, rituals, and even landscapes to trace the
development of Native American religion from ancient burial mounds, through interactions with European conquerors
and missionaries, and on to the modern-day rebirth of ancient rites and beliefs. The book depicts the major cornerstones
of American Indian history and religion--the vast movements for pan-Indian renewal, the formation of the Native
American Church in 1919, the passage of the Native American Graves and Repatriation Act of 1990, and key political
actions involving sacred sites in the 1980s and '90s. Martin explores the close links between religion and Native
American culture and history. Legendary chiefs like Osceola and Tecumseh led their tribes in resistance movements
against the European invaders, inspired by prophets like the Shawnee Tenskwatawa and the Mohawk Coocoochee. Catharine
Brown, herself a convert, founded a school for Cherokee women and converted dozens of her people to Christianity.
Their stories, along with those of dozens of other men and women--from noblewarriors to celebrated authors--are
masterfully woven into this vivid, wide-ranging survey of Native American history and religion.
Table of Contents
Preface
Map: Indian Peoples
p. 2
Circling Earth
p. 5
Traditions and Crisis in the Eastern Woodlands
p. 32
Native and Christian
p. 61
New Religions in the West
p. 84
Homecoming
p. 114
Chronology
p. 140
Further Reading
p. 144
Index
p. 148
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.