What cultural practices were banned under the Dawes Severalty Act?

The Dawes Severalty Act of 1887 aimed to assimilate Native Americans into American culture by allotting them individual plots of land and promoting agricultural practices while undermining tribal sovereignty and communal land ownership. One significant aspect of this act was the restriction of cultural practices that were integral to Native American identity and spirituality.

The correct answer focuses on specific rituals, such as the Lakota Sundance and the Lakota Bundle ritual. These rituals held deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Lakota people, serving as important expressions of their beliefs, traditions, and community cohesion. By discouraging or outright banning such rituals, the Dawes Act sought to diminish the tribal identity of Native Americans, promoting instead a more Westernized and individualistic way of life. This was part of a broader effort to erase Indigenous cultures and replace them with Euro-American values.

In contrast, while traditional healing ceremonies, farming practices, and family gatherings may have faced challenges under the pressures of assimilation, the most direct impact of the Dawes Severalty Act was on spiritual and ritualistic practices that were explicitly targeted in efforts to suppress Native cultural identity.