Spirtual life: "At the time of puberty almost every Plains Indian boy set out on vision quests-periodic  wilderness retreats in which the initaiate hoped to receive guidance form the spirit world. Only with the aid of special power beings-such as the spirits of eagles, hawks, or bears-it was believed, could a person gain that extra jolt of supernatural assistance needed to succeed in war, curing , love, or tribal leadership."

Through Indian Eyes
Reader's Digest
page 210