The spirit world could be reached with the help of a shaman, who it was believed had close contact with the spirit world. Shamans were sometimes called medicine men or medicine women because their tasks included treating the sick.
Listen to a 'shaman' chanting
sun dance
The Plains People held a number of religious ceremonies. These involved chanting and dancing, accompanied by the music of rattles and drums. They believed the buffalo dance would help them be successful in hunting buffalo.
The sun dance was the main ceremony of the Plains people. They performed it to get power from the Great Spirit or to repay a promise in return for a special favour. A sun dance lasted several days.
Many Plains people began to dance a 'Ghost Dance' in the late 19th century. This would bring great trouble on them.
