American Indians

American Indians Death Beliefs and Burial Customs

Santee Sioux • Dakotas, Nebraska, Montana, Manitoba and Saskatchewan • Death Beliefs: 4 souls • 2 souls served old Sioux funeral rites • 1 soul never leaves the body/vicinity • 1 soul sets out on 4 day journey to the land of the spirits

When Death Occurs • tearing/renting garments • cut their hair • inflict pain on themselves • men paint their face black • fire single gunshot into the air

Preparation of the Deceased • women perform this task • face painted red • hair trimmed • dressed in their best clothing

Platform • constructed by men for temporary burial • clipped horse and human hair • represented the “Air” stage of burial • deceased left on platform for 1 year • food and gifts

Community Mound Burial • shallow grave: “Earth” stage • graves fenced in to keep away dogs and wolves

Four-Day Rites • First Day: families gather • food is brought and eaten • possessions burned if not suitable • Second, Third, and Fourth Day: • quiet and sober • food passed through cedar smoke

Mourning • end of the Four-Day Rites • child: usually 1 season • adult: usually 1 year

Lakota Tribe • 3 distinct ceremonies surrounding the death of Tribe members

“Wacekiyapi” (First) • 4 day mourning period • burial scaffold • deceased placed on scaffold after 4 days • belongings placed on scaffold

“Spirit Keeping Ceremony” (Second) • elaborate • lasts 1 year • portable tipi • lock of hair wrapped with special clothing: “spirit bundle” • bowl to feed the spirit

Third Ceremony • after 1 year to release the spirit • special clothing • painted likeness of the deceased • pole is dressed in new garments • pipe ceremony and prayer • tribe elder or medicine man will close the ceremony: “Spirit Road” • feast • “community burial mound”

White Buffalo Ceremony • most elaborate of the burial rituals • done in conjunction with the “Spirit Keeping Ceremony” • white buffalo skin • skin is adorned with various symbols • headdress for the tribe leaders

American Indians