Bison And Sacred Practices

Native spiritual practices range from a variety of different origins. For example, tobacco is commonly scattered across sacred lands to form a “bond” between the Native community and the land, a very different use of tobacco than people are used to. Wind is also commonly used as a representative of spirits, someone that one can feel but can't see. Bison is one of the most important animals in the Native community. Since the dwindling down of the Bison population, it has been very hard for Natives to connect to this part of their spirituality. To combat this, the Cherokee Nation has been dedicated to a nation-wide Bison resurgence. This will hopefully lead to both a spiritual and cultural awakening, reclaiming old traditions with Bison at the center like the practice of not only hunting Bison but using every single part of them in order to respect the animal itself. This signals the fact that Natives view animals as very close to humans, awarding them the same level of respect as well. Natives believe Bisons originated from the supernatural realm and are the center of many words and songs. It is vital for other Native nations and the United States in general to follow in the Cherokee’s lead and treat these sacred animals with the dignity they once had and deserve once more.