Native South American religions

Beliefs and myths of the Native South Americans. Many have the concept of a supreme force or god, but this force is often so remote or great that it is not worshipped directly. There are many powerful spirits, including souls of the ancestors, that inhabit and influence the natural environment and the lives of humans. To maintain harmony with the forest, rivers, and animals, these spirits are respected. Animals associated with creation myths or seen as harbingers of good or ill luck are not hunted; for example, the anaconda snake among the Sarema people of the Amazon rainforest.