She observes how closely the tribe obeys the taboos and releases her animals to the hunters accordingly. The Angakut or Shaman is the spiritual leader of each tribe. In a manner similar to Shamans in may other cultures, he enters a trance with the aid of drum beating and chanting. This allows his soul to leave his body and traverse great distances to determine the causes of sickness and other community problems. Eastern Subarctic, Eastern Woodlands, Plains and Southwest Cultures Native religions in these areas share some similarities, and differ significantly from Inuit culture described above.
Tribes also differ greatly from each other.
There are also spirits which control the weather, spirits which interact with humans, and others who inhabit the underworld. Simultaneously the Creator and the spirits may be perceived as a single spiritual force, as in the unity called Wakan-Tanka by the Lakota and Dakota. One set of themes found in some tribes describes that in the beginning, the world was populated by many people. Most were subsequently transformed into animals. Natives thus feel a close bond with animals because of their shared human ancestry.