Tradition, performance, and religion in native America : ancestral ways, modern selves / by Dennis Kelley.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kelley, Dennis F., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Indians of North America--Ethnic identity.

Indians of North America.

Indians of North America--Religion.

Urban Indigenous peoples--North America.

Urban Indigenous peoples.

Identification (Psychology).

Spiritual life.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (132 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Routledge, 2015.

Summary:

"In contemporary Indian Country, many of the people who identify as "American Indian" fall into the "urban Indian" category: away from traditional lands and communities, in cities and towns wherein the opportunities to live one's identity as Native can be restricted, and even more so for American Indian religious practice and activity. Ancestral Ways, Modern Selves: Tradition, Performance, and Religion in Native America explores a possible theoretical model for discussing the religious nature of urbanized Indians. It uses aspects of contemporary pantribal practices such as the inter-tribal pow wow, substance abuse recovery programs such as the Wellbriety Movement, and political involvement to provide insights into contemporary Native religious identity. Simply put, this book addresses the question what does it mean to be an Indigenous American in the 21st century, and how does one express that indigeneity religiously? It proposes that practices and ideologies appropriate to the pan-Indian context provide much of the foundation for maintaining a sense of aboriginal spiritual identity within modernity. Individuals and families who identify themselves as Native American can participate in activities associated with a broad network of other Native people, in effect performing their Indian identity and enacting the values that are connected to that identity. "-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

1. Revitalization, renewal, and reprise : on the modern expressions of American Indian spiritual culture

2. Tradition, modernity, and spirituality : the intertribal powwow, traditional arts, and language revival as arenas for identity negotiation

3. Political activism as ceremony : experiencing the sacred through protest

4. Traditional identity and ommunal health : religion and well-being in Indian country

5. Jesus as the "Ultimate Sun Dancer" : on being Native and Christian in the city

6. Into a possible future : an epilogue.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-135-91712-4

0-415-82362-5

0-203-55057-9

9780203550571

OCLC:

912319261