ABSTRACT
For those of us who are Indigenous peoples, native to each continent of the world, our spiritual traditions are based on the ongoing creation of life and the “natural” world. We live in relationship with the animals, plants, and other lives around us. Our ceremonies and rituals are based on gratitude for this sacred creation and are performed to ensure all life-forms may continue to exist and flourish. For us, the animals, plants, and other life-forms, including all the many sacred sites, are considered a part of The Great Holy. This is the most simple way to speak of our spiritual traditions or religions, which are not only elegant but also very complex.
