Native American Myth

Oral TraditionOral tradition

• is the passing of knowledge from one generation to the next by speaking (orally). Skills such as building houses, making clothes, using tools, medicine, religion, basic survival were all taught by telling and showing.

• What did people do before written language?

stories, songs, historical events, etc. were all passed orally • The poet

was an important member of the early societies because he knew all of the names, places, and stories of the past.

• THE FAMILYIn most cultures, family is responsible for the raising of children. They pass on values, beliefs, and customs from one generation to the next. Information is passed on orally.

What is myth?• MYTHOLOGY

Mythology1)A telling of tales or legends, 2)a branch of science that investigates myths and relationships between myths in difference countries or peoples.

Function of myths According to Northrop Frye“Myths have distinctive social functions…mainly to tell the society they

grow up in the important things for that society to know about their gods, their traditional history, the origins of their customs, and class structure… They play a leading role in defining a society, in giving it a shared possession of knowledge… Its proclamation is not so much ‘This is true’ as ‘This is what you must know.’ Myths express human beliefs and fears and anxieties and passions and aggressions.”

What happens when a society no longer believes its myths?

• Myths become purely literary; they can entertain us, inform us of the historical past, teach us of other cultures, help us see into ourselves, etc.

REASONS FOR MYTH

• PRIMARY PurposeMyths are intentionally arranged as a literary work of art with specific structure or form. They are intended to create a specific effect.

• SECONDARY Purpose Myths reveal their purpose for being told. They tell a society what is important to know and establish a class structure.

Reasons for Myth• Define• Teach• Explain• Entertain• Imitate • Satirize• Establish• Transform• Elaborate• Catalog• Glorify• Portray human nature- to teach us about ourselves • Reveal complexity of human nature

Traits of Native American Myth• Many Native American myths could equally be called

folktales: they seem to be about ordinary people, not gods. However, the Native American attitude is that everything is animated by divinity. Hence ordinary people, animals and places are divine. Often the people are not even named, or are given a convenient tag, such as Rabbit Boy – raised by rabbits. Nor is there much attempt to characterize them. Universal principles are held to be more important than individual traits.

• Whereas Greek myths were shaped and ordered by classical authors, few Native American myths were written down before the late 19th century. Thus the apparent inconsistencies of the right-brain oral tradition are still very much present.

Characteristics of Nat. Amer. Lit.• Most items occur in groups of four: four directions

(N,E,S,W), four leaders, four tribes, etc. (watch for this in the myths we read)– Often, the hero of the tale will suffer through four trials before

being helped by a divine figure• Unlike the myths of Greeks, Romans, etc., the Native

American tales usually were independent stories…meaning that though some characters were in many tales, usually each tale introduced new figures.

• Native American myths are very repetitive; the characters will repeat certain tasks.

• Animals and people may shift forms. (A boy might before a wolf.)

Spirituality

• Among all tribes there is a strong sense that behind all individual spirits and personifications of the divine, there is a single creative life-force, sometimes called ‘the Great Mystery’, which expresses itself throughout the universe, in every human, animal, tree and grain of sand. Every story, too, is a working out of this life-force.

The role of animals• An aspect of this outlook is the major role

played in the stories by animals, who often speak to humans and assist them. Most tribes thought of individual members of a species as expressions of the spiritual archetype of that species, which in turn embodied a particular spirit power.

• Often animals are given human traits and characteristics, even behave as if they are human…this is called…

ANTHROPOMORPHISM• Anthropomorphism is when an animal is given human

characteristics. • An example: Eagle flew over the world. He could see the humans planting

seeds and swooped low to speak to them. “What do you plant, Boy?” Eagle asked as he scratched his head

and licked his beak.

Notice in this example that Eagle not only speaks, he scratches his head and

licks his beak. He is described as if he is a human.

The Four Directions• Another key feature of the Native American

spiritual outlook is found in the powers ascribed to the Four Directions, which occur either literally or in symbolic form throughout the stories. These are often represented by particular colors, or by animals.

• The Four Directions have to be in balance for all to be well with the world, and often a central point of balance is identified as a fifth direction; for example, four brothers represent the outer directions, and their sister the center.

Creation MythsA creation myth is one which relates the beginnings

of man and the earth.The primordial environment for many tribes is one

that is watery. The earth is formed by different beings bringing up mud to form the land. (We call this Earth-Diver myths)

Another type of creation myth is the Emergence myth. In this type, creation happens when creatures move from below the earth to the surface, or they travel through different “worlds” to get to this one.

Many characters make up these tales: elks, bears, gods, monsters, and even Coyote, the trickster.

Themes and Motifs in Nat. Amer. Myth• Equality between man and animal• Equality between man and earth• High value placed on children and their thoughts

and opinions• Fantastical events combined with the realistic• Food is the driving source for all creatures– Seeds=life

• Ruling council rather than one ruler• Cyclical nature of life• Oral tradition and the importance of the spoken

word• Importance of music and singing

Quotes

• Indians do not make fun of each other or of their children. If a child is trying to do something, a dance or whatever it might be, that is good. This gives the children courage to dare to do things. - Black Bear (Mohawk)

Children were taught that true politeness was to be defined in actions rather than in words. They were never allowed to … speak while others were speaking, or to make fun of a crippled or disfigured person. - Chief Luther Standing Bear (Oglala)

Show respect to all people, but grovel to none. - From the teachings of Tecumseh

Respect the earth and that which created her. Respect yourself, children, elders and the beliefs of others. - Chief Rock-of-Safety

Children exercised constantly, running footraces, riding horses and playing ball games. Girls took part in all these activities and were as skillful as the boys. All these lessons conditioned children’s bodies and focused their minds. - Dottie Raymer, in Kaya’s World

• It was our belief that the love of possessions is a weakness to be overcome. Its appeal is to the material part, and if allowed its way, it will in time disturb one’s spiritual balance. Therefore children must early learn the beauty of generosity. They are taught to give what they prize most, that they may taste the happiness of giving. - Ohiyesa (Lakota)

The Ten Commandments of White Cloud (Talataw)- Remain close to the Great Spirit.- Show great respect for your fellow beings.- Give assistance and kindness wherever needed.- Be truthful and honest at all times.- Do what you know to be right.- Look after the well-being of mind and body.- Treat the earth and all that dwell thereon with respect.- Take full responsibility for your actions.- Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good.- Work together for the benefit of all mankind.

• In Native American culture, each child is seen as a great gift - the ultimate gift - a gift lent by the creator. “Your children are not your own, they are lent to you by the Creator.” - Chief John Snow

Already before birth, the child was thought of and cared for: “The mother’s spiritual influence was supremely important. Her attitude and secret meditation must be such as to instill into the receptive soul of the unborn child the love of the Great Mystery and a sense of connectedness with all creation…” - Ohiyesa (Lakota)

• Nature is a teacher. From a child’s earliest years, nature instructs him in the value and sacredness of the world around him. With this wisdom imbued into his consciousness, a child will love the earth and care for it. “The old Lakota was wise. He knew that man’s heart away from nature becomes hard; he knew that lack of respect for growing, living things soon led to lack of respect for humans too. So he kept his youth close to its softening influence…Out of the Indian approach to life there came a great freedom—an intense and absorbing love for nature; a respect for life; enriching faith in a Supreme Power; and principles of truth, honesty, generosity, equity, and brotherhood as a guide to mundane relations…

“Knowledge was inherent in all things. The world was a library and its books were the stones, leaves, grass, brooks, and the birds and animals that shared, alike with us, the storms and blessings of earth…This appreciation enriched Lakota existence. Life was vivid, pulsing; nothing was casual and commonplace. The Indian lived—lived in every sense of the word—from his first to his last breath.” - Chief Luther Standing Bear (Oglala)

Silence was a way of life for the Indian. From early on children learned to be attuned to the world around them and to revere it. “Training began with children who were taught to sit still and enjoy it. They were taught to use their organs of smell, to look where there was apparently nothing to see, and to listen intently when all seemingly was quiet. A child who cannot sit still is a half-developed child…” And in the midst of sorrow, sickness, death, or misfortune of any kind, and in the presence of the notable and great, silence was the mark of respect. More powerful than words was silence with the Lakota.” - Chief Luther Standing Bear (Oglala)

• “From childhood I was consciously trained to be a man; that was, after all, the basic thing; but after this I was trained to be a warrior and a hunter, and not to care for money or possessions, but to be in the broadest sense a public servant.

• “The whole tribe would be kind to the orphans and the aged. Although a reputation for bravery in fighting would be eagerly sought, that same mighty warrior, when at home with his wife and children and old parents, was gentle as he smoked his pipe by his wigwam.” – From material sent to Jon by his pen pal

“Try to do something for your people—something difficult. Have pity on your people and love them. If a man is poor, help him. Give him and his family food, give them whatever they ask for. If there is discord among your people, intercede.

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