The primary function of these "medicine
elders" (who are not always male) is to secure the help of the
spirit world, including the Great Spirit (Wakan Tanka in the
language of the Lakota Sioux), for the benefit of the entire
community.
Native American and First Nations cultures have diverse religious
beliefs. There was never one universal Native American religion or
spiritual system.
Though many Native American cultures have traditional healers,
ritualists, singers, mystics, lore-keepers and "Medicine People",
none of them ever used, or use, the term "shaman" to describe these
religious leaders.
Rather, like other indigenous cultures the world over, their
spiritual functionaries are described by words in their own
languages, and in many cases are not taught to outsiders.