Sacred Geography in Northwestern North America

[Terrance]

Although the concept of the "sacred" is employed widely in recent
discussions of
geography, no satisfactory definition of this fundamental idea has been
offered.
Until agreement is reached on a definition of the sacred, effective
enforcement of
the foregoing laws will be difficult. Likewise, enforcement will also be
difficult until
agreement is reached on the broad range of different types of sacred
geography.
This paper offers a definition of the sacred and a taxonomy of sacred
geography
as contribution toward resolution of these problems. 


Without an alternative definition and understanding of the sacred, we
might be
forced to rely on such conventional definitions in our study of Native
American
sacred geography as that advanced by Durkheim.

This classic distinction does not fit Native American conceptions of the
sacred in
Northwestern North American, because the sacred is not viewed as a
domain set
aside, distinct, and forbidden as Durkheim suggests.

Unlike Durkheim, Eliade's view of hierophanies is somewhat more
compatible with Native American views of sacred geography. Citing
Eliade, Carrasco says,  "In Elaide's view, all religion are based on
hierophanies or dramatic encounters which human beings have with what
they consider to be supernatural forces manifesting themselves...