Religion was part of everyday life for the Sioux.
They believed everything had a spirit.
There were underwater spirits who controlled all
animals and plants. High in the sky, they believed there were spirits
called Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds were the most powerful spirits
except for the Great Spirit who was the most powerful of all. The
Great Spirit was the Sioux God.
Another spirit, The White Buffalo Woman, gave
each tribe a sacred pipe. They called these pipes Medicine Pipes. When
lit, smokers might be able to have a vision. Visions were powerful
things. They believed that dreams and visions were ways to talk to the
spirits.
They held religious ceremonies all year long.
There was usually only one medicine man per tribe. The medicine man
performed ceremonies. Each ceremony usually honored one spirit at a
time.
