Spirituality -- Indigenous -- North America, Spirituality -- Indigenous -- Central America, Spirituality -- Indigenous, Indigenous cosmology, Indigenous peoples -- North America -- Rites and ceremonies, Indigenous peoples -- Central America -- Rites and ceremonies, Indigenous philosophy, Indigenous peoples -- Rites and ceremonies 

"This volume includes a general introduction and five sections, covering a range of topics relating to the world view of Aboriginal people in North and Central America. Each section includes a separate introduction. The sections include:

- an introduction to cosmology
- the ways in which Aboriginal people deal with the spirit world
- concerns relating to time and space
- the practical effects of spiritual beliefs
- the Lakota experience, outlining significant elements of Lakota belief and ritual.

Many of the authors whose work is featured are Aboriginal. Although some of the papers contained in this book were previously published, a number are out of print. Some were written especially for this volume."--Back cover. 

Contents:
Cosmology --
Diversity in cosmology : the case of the Wind River Shoshoni / Ake Hultkrantz --
Coyote in Navajo religion / Guy H. Cooper --
Contests of power in Blackfoot life and mythology / Alice B. Kehoe --
Shadow and substance : a Mopan Maya view of human existence / Anne E. Fink --
Dealing with the spirits --
Nonempirical environment of the Arctic Alaskan Eskimos [Alaska, Inuit] / Ernest S. Burch, Jr. --
Beaver dreaming and singing / Robin Ridington --
Kutchin concepts of reincarnation / Richard Slobodin --
Cosmological impliactions of pan-Indian sacred pipe ritual / Jordan Paper --
Dealing with time and space --
Star clocks : Mescalero Apache ceremonial timing / Claire Farrer --
Medicine wheels, sun circles, and the magic of center shrines / Robert L. Hall --
Seneca Iroquois concepts of time / Thomas McElwain --
The Lakota experience --
Sun Dance / Margot Liberty --
Native American resistance to integration / Bea Medicine. Voice of the Blood : suffering and compasion / Colleen Cutschall --
The road to the Center / Arthur Amiotte --
Eagles fly over / A. Amiotte --
Prayer to the west / A. Amiotte --
The Call to remember / A. Amiotte --
The real world of cosmology --
Coyote's Eyes : Native cognition styles / Terry Tafoya --
Non-authority in Nicola Valley Indian culture and implications for education / Robert sterling and Yvonne M. Hebert.

Includes bibliographical references.