Naming Practices of Indigenous Peoples
Many Indigenous Peoples have both a legal name and a traditional name (called a "spirit name"). Sometimes names are given at birth.
Descriptive Indigenous Place Names
Indigenous place names are descriptive, communicating either what the place was utilized for or its spiritual significance.
Spiritual Connections and Beliefs
The Great Spirit is the concept of a life force, a Supreme Being or god known as Wakan Tanka in Lakota, Gitche Manitou in Algonquian, and by other, specific names in Native cultures.
Ancestral Spirit Names
Native Americans have an ancestral spirit name and a legal name. Spirit names connect people to ancestors. They represent the person’s strengths and life purpose. Spirit names are given in ceremonies and visions.
The Concept of "Spirit Animal"
While the ‘spirit animal’ has roots in Indigenous tribes, it has evolved into meme culture, often neglecting its origins.
Importance of Names in Indigenous Cultures
Warriors earned spirit names like "braves." Their names and feathers marked adulthood. Names still shape Indigenous identity. Respect the languages and cultures behind them.