Did North American Indians consider the planet Mars as sacre

[Brian-Ghilliotti]

I was not sure where to place this question. I know the Mayans most likely were aware of and probably attached religious significance to Mars. I know that North American Indians revered the Moon, Venus, and the Sun. What about Mars?

Brian Ghilliotti

[jones]

The Pawnee tribe kept astronomical records, and both Venus & Mars had mythological significance. The Skidi Pawnee band's sacrificial Morning Star Ritual was supposedly associated with Mars.

[jones]

The following excerpt from "Account of an Expedition from Pittsburgh to the Rocky Mountains" (Major Long's expedition in 1819-20) is a bit off topic except for the astronomical information.
books.google.com/books?id=iUlEAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA288&lpg=PA288#v=onepage&q&f=true

Their astronomical knowledge is very limited. They distinguish thenorth star (Polaris), and are aware of its being apparently stationary, while the others seem to revolve. Venus is known by the name of Me-ka-ka-tunguh, or Big Star. The constellation of the seven stars, (Pleiades) is called Tapa, or deer's head. The constellation ofthe great bear, (Ursus major.) is distinguished by the term Wa-ba-ha, or car for transporting sick or wounded persons on a march.The galaxy is called Wahconda-o-jungq, or the path of the Master of Life. When the moon is eclipsed, they say Me-om-bottsa, orthe moon is dead; and when the sun is eclipsed, they say the sun is dead. A comet they denominate Me-ka-ka-nare, or blazing star; this name, at least, was given to the comet of 1814; they regarded it as portending the death of some great chief; and as it happened, one of the great Pawnee chiefs did die the same year, which confirmed them in their motion. The three stars of Orion’s Belt, are called Mehuh-se or the goose-foot. 
Wangewaha the Hard heart, chief of the Ioways, has made himself considerably acquainted with the manners of the white people; he surprised Mr. Dougherty one day by inquiring, if it is true that the earth revolves round the sun; he was of course answered in the affirmative; when a sarcastic Indian of a group sitting near, was overheard to say in a low voice, that it was indeed a pretty story to tell - them, when any person could see the sun rise there, pass along in that direction, and set there, (pointing with his finger to the apparent course of the luminary.) The day is divided into morning, noon, evening, and night; and respectively indicated by the words, Cas-aht-te, Me-oÁons-ka, Paz-za and Hon-da. Any particular hour of the day, is denoted by pointing to the apparent place of the sun at the specified time. The years are denoted by the number of winters, and the months by lunations. Their geographical knowledge of the country, over which they roam, is remarkably exact.