Indigenous religions
What to know
Indigenous religions is an umbrella term for the spiritual traditions and practices of Indigenous peoples across the world. Definitions of Indigenous vary, but a common definition refers to peoples who are native to the land on which they live and whose ancestors lived there prior to the colonization of those lands. Just as there is a diversity of Indigenous peoples and traditions, there is a diversity of Indigenous religious systems and spiritualities.
While they are diverse, Indigenous religions and cultural traditions often share some characteristics, such as oral transmission of tradition, emphasis on interconnectedness with all beings, embeddedness in particular land, and connectedness to natural cycles. Indigenous religions tend to emphasize relationships with land and human and non-human beings and don’t usually articulate or reinforce doctrines and systems of theology. A current example of how Indigenous spirituality centers on relationships with land is the Land Back movement in the United States and Canada, as well as other parts of the world, which seeks to restore Indigenous control of their ancestral lands. While this movement is political and economic, it cannot be separated from Indigenous religion, which is place-based and centered on interconnectedness with beings on that land.
One example of a subgroup of Indigenous religions is African traditional religions (ATR), sometimes called African Indigenous religions, which predate the Christian and Islamic colonization of Africa. Some of the shared elements of this diverse group of religious traditions include the spiritual power of ancestors and spirits, seasonal shifts, the fertility of the natural world, the connection between physical and spiritual health, and communal values. Many African traditional religions in both African and African diasporic communities have undergone a process of syncretization (blending) with Christianity and other religions, creating religions like Haitian vodou. Popular cultural representations of ATR and African diaspora religions often associate these traditions with demonic activity, a harmful stereotype that is connected to the history of colonialism and imperialism imposed on African and African diasporic communities.
When reporting on Indigenous religions, you might encounter potentially racist or misleading terms such as “primitive,” “savage,” “fetishism,” “juju,” “pagan,” “heathen,” “animism,” “idolatry,” and “polytheism.” Understanding the histories and nuances of these words in relation to Indigenous religions and how these words have caused harm to Indigenous communities might help avoid perpetuating racist and inaccurate stereotypes.
Using the term “Indigenous religion” as a broad category might give the false impression that all Indigenous religions are essentially the same. Using the general term may make sense when referring to trends across various Indigenous cultures (like oral tradition, non-proselytizing, and relationships with land as the center of spirituality). Naming these similarities while also pointing to diversity helps avoid stereotyping all Indigenous peoples and religions. In cases where specific groups of people are the subject of reporting, understanding and naming the particular religious traditions of that group (e.g., the Seven Sacred Rites of the Lakota) ensures clarity and accuracy.
Additional resources
- Introduction to Native Peoples’ Traditions (Harvard University Pluralism Project
- Who are indigenous peoples? (United Nations)
- Native Hawaiians believe volcanoes are alive and should be treated like people, with distinct rights and responsibilities (The Conversation)
Summary
Indigenous religions is an umbrella term for the spiritual traditions and practices of Indigenous peoples across the world. Indigenous religions tend to emphasize relationships with land and human and non-human beings and don’t usually articulate or reinforce doctrines and systems of theology. Using the term “Indigenous religion” as a broad category might give the false impression that all Indigenous religions are essentially the same. Using the general term may make sense when referring to trends across various Indigenous cultures (like oral tradition, non-proselytizing, and relationships with land as the center of spirituality). Naming these similarities while also pointing to diversity helps avoid stereotyping all Indigenous peoples and religions. In cases where specific groups of people are the subject of reporting, understanding and naming the particular religious traditions of that group (e.g., the Seven Sacred Rites of the Lakota) ensures clarity and accuracy.