In Native American cultures prior to the establishment of the reservation system, religious rituals and ceremonies were a part of everyday life. Tribes performed these acts to help ensure the survival of the individuals in the community and the community as a whole. Native Americans believed that powerful, mysterious forces were responsible for maintaining life and these forces had to be acknowledged in order for the community to thrive. There were ceremonies to mark the important stages in a person's life, to cure illness, and to ensure a good harvest.

Fasting, drumming, singing, and dancing all played a part in these observances. After reservations were established, tribes were pressured by Christian missionaries and federal authorities to abandon their traditional rituals and ceremonies. In response, many Native Americans converted to Christianity, but they did not totally give up their traditional beliefs. Stanford Addison...