Date of Award

2016

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Leadership (MAL)

Department

Leadership

First Advisor

Norma Noonan

Second Advisor

Eric Buffalohead

Abstract

This qualitative study focuses on the modern-day approaches to Native American religion and Christianity in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN metro area. The spiritual leaders interviewed were asked about the varieties of spirituality practices in the Native American community today, the potential conflicts or areas of compatibility among these various spiritual practices, and the role of spiritual practices in cultural revitalization and community activism. The results of thestudy present a spectrum of spiritual practices and approaches to Native American religion and Christianity including those who practice Christianity exclusively, those who blend Christianity with Native culture and practices, and those who practice Native American religion exclusively. Those who are represented on either end of the spectrum experience more conflict between the religious perspectives and those in the rniddle of the spectrum experience more compatibility. Native American spiritual leadership seems to have direct impact on cultural revitalization.

Identifier

SC 11.MAL.2016.McCleave.CDW

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