I need a bit of help with history on American Indians?

Question: I need a bit of help with history on American Indians!?

I was wondering if in your own words you could tell me why American Indians (especially the Plains Indians) used the sweat lodge!.!.!.

I am having a bit of trouble to explain this so I need your help!.!.

and NO I am not asking you to do my homework!.!. I just need one answer OK!?

thank you and peace be with youWww@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Sweat lodges were for both practical and ritual purposes!. Sweat lodges allowed and helped with personal hygiene and they also provided rituals involving purification!.

There are other cultures that used sweat lodges, the most famous is the invention of the "sauna" in Finland about 2000 years ago!. The Fins are very fond of their saunas and the community role they play to this day!.

The Plains Indians had to be careful about water!. It wasn't always close, and sometimes a stream was just a mere trickle!. Indians were very conscious of water and how precious it was to their community's survival!. By bathing in a sweating ritual, then either dowsing in dust and rubbing the skin clean or taking a single plunge into a water source, actually conserved water as well as keeping it unpolluted, therefore drinkable!.

I'd so some research on the Finnish use of the sauna to help out with your assignment!.

Good Luck!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

the sweat lodge has many uses!.in the sundance,vision quests,naming ceramonies,pipe ceramonies-calming sweats,community sweat-
originally it was used to clean your scent off before a hunt!.
but later it was used as church!.
to pray!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I just visited a great site concerning the sweat lodge, it's history and uses!.
The site even gives instructions on how to properly construct a sweat lodge!.

crystalinks!.com/sweatlodge!.html

Good luck with your paper!.Www@QuestionHome@Com