The Native American tradition of spirituality differs significantly from that of the European tradition. The reason for this disparity can be in part attributed to the origin of each group's particular belief system. The focal point of the Native American's culture and spirituality revolves around the centrality of the land, where dogma often tends to lie at the heart of European and Western religions.

Native American religious traditions tend to be more nature-oriented stressing the importance of the land, which aides in the feeding and sheltering of their people, or in other words supports the existence of an entire culture. European religious traditions, or more specifically Judeo-Christian traditions however, tend to be focused more on theological rhetoric.

In N. Scott Momaday's, and most Native American authors' writings, it is easy to find textual examples that illustrate the importance of nature to their people...