What role did nature play in many native American religious beliefs?
Native americans recognized what they termeds the great Spirit. Nature played a big role in their beliefs and practices. How one worshiped however was up to the individual for there was no assembly for worship services. Animals were considered a gift from the Great Spirit and were not to be killed unnecessarily. The primary Spiritual leader among early Americans were the medicine men or Shaman. Some on occasion gives record of Holy men or Holy Women who were thought to be better able to communicate with the Great Spirit. Some Native Americans held animal life to be symbolisms the Spirit communicated through. Some, when slaying an animal for a necessary purpose would then apoligize to the animal, explaing why it had to be killed.
