Religious Organization and Ceremonies | The Creation | An Arapaho Prayer
The Arapaho traditional religion shared many general features with other Plains Indian cultures, including the so-called "Sun Dance," sweat lodges, vision quests, and the story of creation by diving down below the ocean to bring up land. But the Arapaho religion also had many unique details not shared by other tribes.
To this day, the Northern Arapaho keep two sacred objects, the Sacred Pipe (also called "The Old Man") and the Sacred Wheel. These objects are connected with the creation and the Sun Dance ceremony which is held each summer. Their keepers are respected elders. The Arapaho also have a head of the Sun Dance ceremony, as well as a keeper of the sacred Eagle drum used at that ceremony. Finally, there are also the "Four Old Men," who are four elders chosen as the ceremonial leaders of the tribe generally. These are all important and honored ceremonial offices.
Today, many Arapahos also participate in either the Native American Church (the "Peyote Ceremony") or in various Christian denominations. Many people combine one or both of these with traditional religious practice, while others emphasize one of the practices above the others, or follow only one.