IN NATIVE AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY ANIMALS ARE REGARDED AS HOLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE POWERFUL SOULS. ALL ANIMALS HAVE A SPECIAL SPIRITUAL STATUS TO INDIANS. ANIMALS WERE PRESENT IN THE DREAM TIME. IN MYTHICAL STORIES ANIMALS ARE ALWAYS TREATED WITH RESPECT. WHEN THEY HUNTED THEY JUSTIFIED THEIR ACTIONS BY BELIEVING THAT THEIR PREY'S SOULS WOULD BE REINCARNATED INTO THEIR VILLAGE. THE PREY'S SOUL MIGHT SAY - I'LL RETURN IN MY NEW LIFE TO THAT HUNTER. HE IS GOOD AND GENEROUS. THEY SHARE WHAT THEY HUNT.
IF THE HUNTER DID NOT RESPECT THEIR PREY, THE ANIMALS COULD USE THEIR SOUL POWERS TO ENDANGER THE HUNTER OR CAUSE HIM TO BE ILL. THE BEAR WAS THE MOST FEARED ANIMAL SOUL AS THE KWAKIUTL HUNTERS KNEW.
THE SPIRITS OF ANIMALS COULD ALSO BE INVOKED FOR HEALING OR SELF TRANSFORMATION.
TOM LOWENSTEIN
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