Word shaman specifically originates from indigenous Siberian cultures rather than Native Americans

A closer look

Thanks to New Age festivals, 'shaman' is now a catch-all term for anyone with a feather in their hair and an expensive crystal collection. However, the word actually originates from the Tungusic language in Siberia, translating roughly to 'one who knows.' It specifically referred to local healers who entered trance states to communicate with the spirit world. Western anthropologists simply stole the word in the 19th century and broadly applied it to every indigenous spiritual practice globally because they couldn't be bothered to learn the local terminology.