Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Imagining Native American religions: -- First impressions: Columbus and Vespucci -- The formation of early images of 'Indians' -- Colonization and Christianization -- Explorations and early scientific records -- Legislation of Native American religions; -- 2. Religious world view: a matter of place: -- Place as a language of value and religion -- Place symbols in oral traditions -- Place symbols in ritual and formal actions; -- 3. Nonliteracy, language, and oral traditions: -- Language: a constitutive force of reality -- Song -- Prayer -- Charms, spells, and evil thoughts; -- 4. Sacred objects and actions: -- Art, design, and religious world view -- Sacred objects -- Ritual Art -- Dance -- Acts of Reversal; -- 5. Religion and the cycle of life: -- Pregnancy, birth, childhood, and naming -- Acquiring religious knowledge and coming of age -- Health and healing -- Death and destiny; -- 6. Sustaining life: -- Hunting -- Fishing and whaling -- Agriculture; -- 7. The Indian and new religions: -- A history of prophecy and the rise of Indian identity -- Peyote religion, or the Native American Church -- Persistence and change.

Also issued online.