What responsibility did a shaman play in traditional Native American societies? In Native American culture, the shaman is generally referred to as a medicine man or medicine woman. How was the responsibility of a medicine man alike to or different from, the role of a modern doctor or priest? What religious and healing duties did the medicine man perform?

This solution gives an overview of answers to the above problems and lists helpful sources on Native American culture and the role of the medicine man, or shaman. Focusing on the Native American cultures of the Western United States, this solution will describe the role of a medicine man and how it distinct from the contemporary roles of doctors and religious officials in the modern societies.