What Are Your 10 Sacred Native American Sites?
The land has always been important and sacred to the First Nations people across North America but have you ever which parts are the most sacred? I will be sure to put these places on my bucket list to travel before I die, Here is 10 Sacred Native American Sites.
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10. Crater Lake Oregon
The Klamath Indian tribes lived in the region around 7,700 years ago. I was that The Klamath Indians saw the catastrophic eruption of Mount Mazama and the creation of Crater Lake in one of their legends.
Their legend of a raging war between two great volcanoes, Mount Mazama and Mount Shasta.
The legend states that they were witness to a great battle between the sky god (Skell) and the god of the underworld (Lao-Yaina).
They hurled red hot rocks back and forth to each other (from Mount Shasta to Mount Mazama), causing great landslides. Terrible darkness spread over the area for days.
Attempting to calm the angry volcano gods and to make up for the sins of the tribe, 2 medicine men sacrificed themselves and jumped into the pit of the underworld. Impressed by their sacrifice, Skell fought even harder.
He finally beat Llao-Yaina , pushing Llao Yaina deep down into the underworld. Skell then collapsed the top of Mount Mazama to imprison Llao- Yaina forever.
Skell saw the horrible state the land was in and wanted peace and tranquility. So to cover up this dark pit, so he filled it with the beautiful blue water, and it still beautiful to this day.
9. Mount Shasta California
The Native Americans have always felt that the mountain was the sacred center of the universe. They even have stories that talk about it being the home of the creator.
Much like crater lake in Oregon, It was said that this was the god Skell also inhabited this place as well. It is said that he descended from heaven to the mountain’s summit. Skell fought with Spirit of the Lao-Yaina , as well who lived at Mount Mazama by throwing hot rocks and lava, probably representing the volcanic eruptions at both mountains.
It is also said that they might be a lost civilization hidden away deep in the caves of the mountian.
8. Mesa Verde Colorado
Once home to the Anasazi tribe a Navajo word for “the ancient ones” or “enemy ancestors”, Mesa Verde is known to be a sacred place among many people.
Found by a man looking for a lost cow, It was said that the architecture and life style found in this ancient place matched that of people living in Europe around 1000 a.d.
Many hieroglyphs and structures have been found here that are said to be dedicated to the gods. Researchers have found evidence that the people at Mesa Verde had sophisticated math knowledge, using the golden ratio, a mathematical ratio also used at the Giza Pyramids, to help construct a sacred Sun Temple.
There no clear answer to why these people suddenly disappeared, leaving behind half finished structures and other things
7. Cahokia Mounds, Illinois
Found near the St Louis River, These mounds were believed to be built by ancient Mississippi tribes of the area. There are 80 mounds all together and the largest of the mounds is called the monks mound.
The monks mound is said to been the home of the chief at this time. This prehistoric place was surrounded by a large barrier where the high class citizens would stay within the barrier and the lower class would stay on the outskirts .
The size of this ancient place was said to have taken up an area of 6 square miles. The sacred site is protected under UNESCO and the largest prehistoric site in North America that still exists today.
6. Chaco Canyon, New Mexico
Another ancient sacred site protected by UNESCO, Chaco Canyon is located near the Navajo Reserve and dates back over 1000 years.
Once the home of the Pueblos was said to be a sacred place where ceremonies took place. Things like pottery, tools and animal bone suggest they were a fairly advanced people.
Climate change is believed to have led to the emigration of Pueblo people and the eventual abandonment of the canyon, beginning with a 50 year drought commencing in 1130.
5. The Devil’s Tower, Wyoming.
This National Monument is located in the state of Wyoming.
Considered to be sacred to the Lakota Tribe and other small tribes in this area this sacred place stands over 5,112 feet tall. The Lakota people have a strong spiritual connection with this place.
It goes by many names like “ghost mountain” “Grizzly Bear’s Lodge” and “Mythical Owl Mountain”. Ceremonies are often conducted here such as fasting, praying, and others.
A legend that goes with the sacred place tells of a fierce warrior who was undergoing a vision and suddenly appeared at the top of this mountain. He was afraid and felt that there was no possible way to come down without losing his life.
After appealing to the Great Spirit he went to sleep. When he awoke he was very glad to find that he was again at the base of this high rock.
He saw that he was standing at the door of a big bear’s lodge as there were footprints of a very big bear there. He could tell that the cracks in the big rock were made by the big bear’s claws. So he knew that all the time he had been on top of this big rock he had been standing on a big bear’s lodge.
From this time on his nation called this big high rock Mato Tipila and they went there often to worship. The buffalo skull is still on top of this big high rock and can be seen on the highest point.
4. Mauna Kea Mauna Kea, Hawaii
Being the highest peak in the state of Hawaii, reaching nearly 14,000 feet and the native Hawaiian people have said this a sacred place.
From the peak of this massive dormant volcano, an amazing view of the stars can be seen due to the darkness of the ocean surrounding it.
For this reason, many astronomers want to build a massive telescope to peer into space. Native Hawaiians were not fond of this idea and protested the construction of the Mauna kea telescope on this sacred volcano.
They believe it is here where spirits of the supreme beings, divine entities live, and the meeting place for the god of the sky and mother earth.
It is also believed to be a holy burial ground. Many people protested the construction of the telescope back in 2015 and the native Hawaiians held a large gathering to block entrance to it. Many were arrested by authorities.
3. The Grand Canyon, Arizona
A tourist site for many people these beautiful canyons are sacred to Native American tribes. To the surrounding area, tribes like the Navajo, Havasupai, Hopi and Paiute Tribes.
Before the white man came here, Many tribes have a deep history in the grand canyon and there are several reservations here. The water that flows through the canyon is considered to be sacred to them, and the Havasupai people get their name from this.
Havasupai translates to “people of the green and blue waters. Stone structures nearby, overlook the Havasupai village, are believed to guard the tribe, and if they fall, it will mean the end of their civilization.
The highest peak in the Navajo Nation reserve and considered to be the area of the first-ever Navajo settlement. Their descendants, the Hopi, call Navajo Mountain “Tokonave” which means “Heart of the Earth”.
The Navajo people believe these mountains and their spirits can help cure the sick, protect the people and bring rain.
1.The Black Hills, South Dakota
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The Black Hills are said to be “the heart of Everything that is” by the Lakota Sioux people. This sacred place is believed to be where they are able to make spiritual connections with the creator.
Due to the gold rush many europeans flooded into the area in hopes of getting rich, many of the Lakota people were forced off their lands and later then Black Hills was illegally taken by the United States government.
Many Lakota people still refer to the black hills as a very sacred place and still try for the right to be given back the lands.
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