System of Symbols

Geertz's definition of religion: A system of symbols which acts to est. powerful, pervasive, and long lasting moods and motivations in men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic.

The effigy mounds in WI are a religious symbol for the Ho-Chunk (who created them).

The mounds were sometimes created in the shape of humans or animals and sometimes contained human burials. It is important to note that the mounds were in the shape of animals because different animals/images had important meanings to Native Americans. "Bird imagery, representing the upper-world in cosmology of Native Americans, carries through to the modern day, appearing in such forms as thunder birds" ( page 83). Bird symbols represented the upper-world and the lower-world was shown with symbols of bears (earth)and water spirits (water).

In " Indian Mounds of Wisconsin," Mallam states that " most effigy mounds fall into three classes corresponding to the three natural realms- air, earth, and water...because of this, he theorized that mounds had been built to symbolize and ritually maintain balance and harmony with the natural world" (page 113). The religion of the Native Americans at this time was all about their connection with the natural world and the resources it provided- therefore, it only makes sense that the mounds they built to bury the dead were natural images so that the people buried in the mounds would still be connected to nature even after their life on earth.

The book states (118) the the Ho Chunk are divided into three groups headed by the thunderbird, bear, and water spirit which is important because not only does it define the parts of the natural world, but it is also the most common types of effigy mounds. The effigy mounds very much reflect the system of symbols set up by the Ho- Chunk not only for their religion, but for their entire way of life.