Native American Burial Practices

Abstract

The rich traditions of the hundred or so Native American tribes in North America can be expressed through an analysis of their burial practices. Burial practices are the one remnant that is left of all cultures. An analysis of mortuary and burial practices would yield a complete picture of the attitudes and values of a people toward dying and death. While much is known of their burial practices, they did leave behind artifacts that provide clues of some of their basic practices. The burial practices of the Cheyenne were like those of the Arapaho, Comanche, Kiowa, Kiowa Apache, and Sioux or Dakota tribes. Burial practices also seemed to remain stable for a remarkably long period of time among the tribes. The common elements of burial and mortuary practices reflect the values of a culture. Depending upon who died, the amount of public display will vary. The more display, the more highly valued the deceased.