Final answer:
The Native American equivalent of a shaman is often referred to as a medicine man or a medicine woman. These individuals hold spiritual and healing practices within their communities and play a crucial role in connecting with the spiritual realm.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Native American equivalent of a shaman is often referred to as a medicine man or a medicine woman. These individuals hold spiritual and healing practices within their communities and play a crucial role in connecting with the spiritual realm.
In Native American cultures, a medicine man or woman has the ability to communicate with spirits, heal physical and emotional ailments, and guide the community in various spiritual matters. They may also perform rituals, ceremonies, and use traditional remedies to promote well-being and balance in the community.
For example, among the Kwakiutl tribe in the Pacific Northwest, a shaman, known as a Hamatsa, would make contact with supernatural forces to bring about healing and spiritual guidance. Similarly, in the !Kung San tribe in Central Africa, individuals practice n/um tchai, a medicine dance, to draw upon spiritual forces within themselves for self-healing.