The chief religious figure among the Algonquian-speaking Indians 
was the "medecine man," or shaman. The shaman was an Indian who 
claimed to have received dreams and visions, giving him power to 
heal the sick or drive out evil spirits. To convince the people of their 
power, shamans practiced such tricks as imitating animal cries. The 
drawing above shows an Algonquian shaman making his "medecine." 
He chants  as he mixes various ingredients together, while shaking a 
calumet (rattle).