Great Spirit facts for kids

The Great Spirit is a special idea found in many Native American and First Nations cultures. It's often seen as a powerful life force, a main god, or a "Supreme Being." Different tribes have their own names for it, like Wakan Tanka in Lakota or Gitche Manitou in Algonquian.

It's important to know that not all indigenous cultures share this idea, or they might understand it in different ways. For example, some people believe the Lakota term Wakan Tanka is better translated as the Great Mystery. This shows how deep and complex these beliefs are. When European missionaries first arrived, they sometimes used the idea of the Great Spirit to help explain Christianity to Native Americans.

Understanding the Great Spirit

The Great Spirit is often thought of as a powerful being who created everything. This being is sometimes seen as a "sky god" who cares about the world. Many believe the Great Spirit can even get involved in people's lives.

Some people are believed to be "speakers" for the Great Spirit. These individuals help people communicate with the spiritual world. They are often responsible for keeping their tribe's spiritual traditions alive. Spiritual leaders often look to the Great Spirit for guidance for themselves and their communities.

Even though many indigenous groups believe in the Great Spirit, their stories and teachings can be different. Each tribe might have unique tales and lessons about this important figure. These stories might even have different themes or details.

Wakan Tanka: The Great Mystery

In the Lakota language, Wakȟáŋ Tȟáŋka means "Great Sacred" or "Great Mystery." It describes the sacredness or power that exists in everything. This idea is similar to believing that every creature and object is wakȟáŋ (holy). The word Tanka means "Great" or "large."

Before Europeans came, the Lakota people used Wakȟáŋ Tȟáŋka to talk about a group of sacred spirits. Their ways were seen as mysterious and hard for humans to understand. This is why some scholars and activists, like Russell Means, think "Great Mystery" is a better translation than "Great Spirit." They believe it shows that Lakota spirituality wasn't originally about just one god.

Chief Luther Standing Bear (1868-1939), a Lakota leader, explained it well. He said that from Wakan Tanka, a great life force flowed through all things. This included flowers, winds, rocks, trees, birds, and animals. He believed this same force was breathed into the first humans. Because of this, all living things are connected by the same Great Mystery.

Manitou: The Life Force

Manitou is a spiritual and basic life force for Algonquian people. It's similar to the Iroquois idea of orenda. People who believe in Manitou think it is everywhere. It shows up in all living things, in nature, and in events caused by humans or by nature itself.

Manitou can show up in two main ways: as aashaa monetoo ("good spirit") or otshee monetoo ("bad spirit"). According to some legends, when the world was made, the Great Spirit, Aasha Monetoo, gave the land to the indigenous peoples, especially the Shawnee.

Gitche Manitou: The Creator

The Anishinaabe culture, which includes groups like the Ojibwe, also has a Great Spirit tradition. Gitche Manitou (or Gichi-manidoo) is an Anishinaabe word. It is usually understood as the Great Spirit, the one who created everything and gives life. It is also sometimes called the "Great Mystery." In the past, Anishinaabe people believed in many spirits. They would place images of these spirits near their doorways for protection.

According to Anishinaabe tradition, Mackinac Island in Michigan was the home of Gitche Manitou. Some Anishinaabe tribes would travel there for special ceremonies to honor the spirit.

Other Anishinaabe names for this figure include Gizhe-manidoo ("venerable Manidoo") and Wenizhishid-manidoo ("Fair Manidoo"). There's also Gichi-ojichaag ("Great Spirit"). While both Gichi-manidoo and Gichi-ojichaag mean "Great Spirit," Gichi-manidoo focuses on the larger spiritual connection. Gichi-ojichaag is more about an individual soul's connection to the Gichi-manidoo. Because of this, Christian missionaries sometimes used Gichi-ojichaag to talk about the Christian idea of a Holy Spirit.

Modern Beliefs

Today, belief in the Great Spirit is often connected with the Native American Church. In this modern tradition, ideas about the Great Spirit can vary a lot. They often mix Christian ideas of one God with older beliefs about spirits in nature. We don't know exactly how many people follow these beliefs today, but it's likely over 250,000 people.

See also

• Hail to the Sunrise, 1932 statue
• Native American religion