Introduction to Mortuary Science 1010

American Indian Burial Customs

Term Paper

Lenora Glass3/31/2011

I chose to write my paper on American Indians burial customs.

I chose this subject because I know that there is not much

documented about it. Being an American Indian myself, I thought

that this could give me the opportunity to learn other tribal

customs. Tribal burial customs are very sacred and therefor

specific information is not readily available, it is also frowned

upon to give out such specific details. Death for American

Indians does differ from tribe to tribe, by their regional

environment; some customs were taken from the early Christian

settlers. In respect to those tribes and their sacred traditions

I will not add or note details of those sacred traditions.

American Indian burials have been referred to as “Naturally

Green” given that the American

Indian religious belief is based

on Mother Earth. It is believed

that there should be respect for

the planet and all that is found

upon it. Birth, life, and death

are all part of the great circle

of life. Death is not the end.

“Native American traditions

follow the belief and practice

that the natural world is truly

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sacred. Many religious ceremonies are specifically tied to a

specific location, and to harm that place would be contrary to

Native American beliefs. Because of this, Native American funeral

practices have always been eco-friendly.” (rpaskin, 2010)

As I have researched this topic, I have found that many of the

burial customs are similar to that which we have studied in

class.

As times have changed, so have the customs of American

Indians. Traditions are slowly fading away and being replaced by

modern practices. I have found that many of the tribes tend to

have some of the same mourning customs, even to this day, as they

had long ago. Some of those practices are still carried out, for

instance, the cutting of hair. Men and women both would and have

worn their hair long. Of course, this isn’t always the case

today, but some women and some men continue in that custom. As a

sign of respect and their loss, the hair was cut. Another reason

for cutting hair short was to indicate a person was in mourning.

Dakota Indians never cut their hair. Quote “The hair cut, never

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under any other circumstances, is cropped off even at the neck.”

(Yarrow, 2008)

Fasting was also a big part of the mourning process. Mourning

could last until burial or for several days.

Several tribes, including my own, Ute Mountain Ute, bury their

decedents with their belongings. Larger items such as their

house, cars, and items that are too big, or items of value were

given away, or dispersed after burial. (Eyetoo, 2011) As I was

growing up, I remember the adults would gather up many of the

belongings to be buried alongside the decedent. They would take

their belonging on their journey after life. Any of the other

items such as jewelry were given to those who had attended the

funeral. As recent as when I was a child, all belongings that

were not buried with the decedent would be burned.

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Like the Greeks, women were the ones who prepared the decedent

for burial. This included: washing, clothing, and grooming.

Only the women who were preparing the decedent were allowed to

touch the decedent. Handling the decedent for any other purpose

than preparation was and has been viewed as taboo. To this day,

female relatives will come and wash, dress, and groom their loved

ones.

Only their belongings were allowed to accompany the decedent.

Anything that belonged to someone other than the decedent was not

allowed. Adding items that belonged to anyone else would

interfere with the rest of the decedent, causing the spirit to

remain here or interfering with its travels. This includes

crying over the body. Tears or even a single hair was not to be

included with the decedent. (Eyetoo, 2011) My grandmother,

Stella Eyetoo has said, “You do not kill the beaver, if you were

to kill the beaver he would take the water with him, leaving you

with no water, without water you too would eventually die.”

Having something of yours included in a burial would cause a part

of you to be taken with the decedent.

Burial sites varied with tribes. Many southeastern tribes

practiced secondary bone burial. Secondary bone burial ment that

they would dig up the remains of the decedent, clean off the

bones, and then rebury the cleaned bones. (Unknown)

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California tribes used cremation. Western Mountain tribes,

including the Ute tribe, buried the tribal members in caves or

rock caverns. Probably the most well know practice is that of

the Great Plains region. They buried their decedents in the soft

ground. If they were unable to do so they buried their tribal

members on tree platforms or scaffolds. (Unknown)

Atlantic tribes such as The Cherokee Nation, use lavender oil

to wash the decedent and then wrap them in a white cotton cloth

or sheet. The burial is to be performed the same day or the next

day before sundown. (Dear, 2011) Again, similarities with what

we have studied this semester.

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The Navajo Nation would have an in-law, no blood relative;

remove the decedent after wrapping him or her in a blanket. They

would then take the decedent north of where they once lived, by

horse. Once they had gone far enough they would bury the

decedent, and then kill the horse. (Unknown, Historic Funeral

Traditions: Native North American, 2009)

Just as the Ute tribe packed the decedent’s belonging for their

journey to the afterlife, the Navajo, killed the horse so that

the decedent would have a strong horse to help him in his

journey. (Unknown, Historic Funeral Traditions: Native North

American, 2009)

Many tribes like the Cherokee Nation and the Ute Mountain Utes

do not embalm their decedents, nor do they practice donation of

organs or body parts for medical purposes or any other purpose

for that matter.

As I have researched the previous topics, I have learned so

much about my tribe and the many other tribes. I have really

enjoyed this opportunity.

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BibliographyDear, P. S. (2011). Cherokee Blackfeet Culture Circle. Retrieved 04 24, 2011, from Cherokee Blackfeet

Cultural Circle>Funeral Instructions: http://CherokeeBlackfeetCulture.bizolaweb.com/Default.aspx?tabid=668510

Eyetoo, L. (2011, 04 21). Ute Mountain Ute tribe burial customs. (L. Glass, Interviewer)

rpaskin. (2010, 10 27). Funeralwise.com. Retrieved 03 11, 2011, from Funeralwise: http://www.funeralwise.com/customs/green_native_american

Unknown. (2009). Historic Funeral Traditions: Native North American. Retrieved 04 24, 2011, from http://www.deathcare.com/2009/historic-funeral-traditions-native-north-american.html

Unknown. (n.d.). American-Religion.html.

Yarrow, C. H. (2008). googlebooks.com. Retrieved 04 16, 2011, from ForgottenBooks.org: http://books.google.com/books?id=Wb7T_ybFVBwC&pg=PA81&dq=mourning+customs+of+american+indians&hl=en&ei=2BCqTfacLYy4sAPC27n6DA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=book-thumbnail&resnum=2&ved=0CE4Q6wEwAQ#v=onepage&q=mourning%20customs%20of%20american%20indians&f=false

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