The arrival of Europeans marked a major change on Native society and it's spirituality. Native Americans have been fighting to keep their spiritual practices alive. Right from the beginning, Native American religious practices were misunderstood and forbidden. The United States government tried to force Christianity upon the Indians in a desperate attempt to destroy their traditions and to assimilate them into white Christian society. Many of the Native Americans were forcibly converted to Christianity.

Some would agree that freedom of religion is one of America's most important laws. When it come

Another old, known Lakota people's ceremony is the Ghost Dance.

The Sun Dance amongst the Plains Natives is perceived as a replay of the original creation. It fulfilled many religious purposes: to give thanks to the Creator, to pray for the renewal of the people and earth, to promote health, etc. It also gave an opportunity for people to socialize and renew friendships with other groups. It was successfully suppressed in most tribes by the Governments of the US and Canada. However, it survived elsewhere and is now being increasingly celebrated.

There are many religious festivals in the Native American's tradition, which are local and special in character, symbolizing a prayer for success in hunting or warfare, or for rain and bountiful harvests.

In all these spiritual and war ceremonies as well on other occasions a special pipe is used. It is considered a very special ritual and only those specifically "chosen" may use it. The broken up weed is mixed with aromatic bark of the red willow, and pressed lightly into the bowl of the long stone pipe. The worshiper lights it gravely and takes a whiff, standing upright he holds it silently toward the Sun, his father, and toward the earth, his mother. Inhaling the smoke is symbolic. They believe that as the pipe is shared among the people, they are filled with The Great Spirit and become one with the sky and earth. The bowl of the pipe is representative is always treated with the greatest respect. It is carefully wrapped in a cloth and kept in a special bag. Warriors of old, as well as today's pipe carriers, considered the sacred pipe their most prized possession. It is often richly decorated. The bowl and stem are always stored separately with the stem facing east when not in use.

Many Native families today have been devoted Christians for generations. Others, particularly in the Southwest have r

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