Native American Views on Death and The Afterlife

The Maya of Southeastern Mexico believed that the spirit of the dead made a journey, but during the journey the soul was tested by the rulers of the underworld. If the tests were passed, the spirit gained a carefree eternal life. Failure condemned the spirit to wonder forever through the underworld, which was thought to be a dangerous place from which the soul could never escape. The Underworld was ruled by the Lords of Xibalba (Shi bal ba), who controlled harmful and infectious diseases.

Hunapa (wan a pwa), and Xbalanque (SHi BA lan KAY) traveled to the underworld and used trickery to pass the cruel tests. They killed One-Death and Seven-Death, two of the Lords of Xibalba (Shi bal ba), and because of their bravery were put in control of human fate. Hunapa became the sun, the symbol of life and heavenly power. Xbalanque, (SHi BA lan KAY) however became the jaguar (symbolized by the star of Venus) and was put in charge of the underworld and death.

Aztec Men that were killed in war, were believed to have gained a special place in the afterlife. They escorted the sun as it made it’s way across the sky, then after four years they found eternal life as hummingbirds drinking nectar from flowers. The flower was a symbol of war, representing the heart of a slain enemy, while the nectar was his blood.

Another means of pleasing the souls of the dead was to insure they were adequately provided for on their journey from this world to the next. Food, water, moccasins, and items necessary for a long journey were buried with the body.

The Hopi believed in reincarnation, that the soul of a dead person would come back to life in another form or body. However, reincarnation did not happen for everyone. Those who were most likely to be reincarnated were very young children who had died. It was said that their death occurred because they were not ready to live in the present and would be better suited for a future, more peaceful life.

While death ended life in this world, it was only an introduction to existence on another plane, which in turn would end with reincarnation. Those who died a natural death journeyed through a thorny forest and crossed a river to the Town of the Dead, (the cemetery with grave houses). They would warm themselves by the cremation fires, subsisting on the food and drink put into the fire by their relatives, or consumed in their memory at Potlatches. Those who died by violence went to a “heaven,” or land above the sky. The very wicked (liars, thieves, witches) went instead to “Raven’s home” or “Dog Heaven.”

At death, the deceased individual was transported by canoe to the land of souls. Relatives blackened their faces, cut their hair short, dressed poorly, ate little, and walked with a staff as if very weak. Large painted sculptures could form a leading Chief’s memorial.

A chief upon losing a close relative such as an eldest son would make death companions for the lost one by killing slaves or sending warriors against one another tribe.

Native Americans Volume 1 and 3.
2000 Grolier Educational

Handbook of Native American Indians Volume 7 and 8. Smithsonian Institution

Encyclopedia of Afterlife Beliefs and Phenomena
1994. Lewis, James R. 133.903 L674e

Book of the Hopi
1963. Waters, Frank

Mythology of the North American Indian and Inuit Nations
2003. Molyneaux, Brian L.

The World of the American Indian
1974. National Geographic Society

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-transmig.html

http://nativeamericanfirstnationshistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_afterlife

http://www.theosophy-nw.org/theosnw/world/america/my-moff5.htm

http://www.esalenctr.org/display/confpage.cfm?confid=9&pageid=93&pgtype=1