Native American Myth

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Native American Myth
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• 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 FAMILY
• In 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.  

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What is myth?

• MYTHOLOGY
• Mythology
• 1)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 functionsmainly
  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.

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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.

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REASONS FOR MYTH

• PRIMARY Purpose
• Myths 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. 
•  
•   

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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

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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.

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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
  storiesmeaning 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.)

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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.

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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
  humanthis is called

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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.

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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.

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Creation Myths

• A 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.

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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
• Seedslife
• Ruling council rather than one ruler
• Cyclical nature of life
• Oral tradition and the importance of the spoken
  word
• Importance of music and singing

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Quotes
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• 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 TecumsehRespect the earth and that
  which created her. Respect yourself, children,
  elders and the beliefs of others. - Chief
  Rock-of-SafetyChildren 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 childrens bodies and focused
  their minds. - Dottie Raymer, in Kayas World

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• 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 ones 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 SnowAlready before birth, the child was
  thought of and cared for The mothers 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)

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• Nature is a teacher. From a childs 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 mans 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 influenceOut of the
  Indian approach to life there came a great
  freedoman 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 relationsKnowledge 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 earthThis appreciation
  enriched Lakota existence. Life was vivid,
  pulsing nothing was casual and commonplace. The
  Indian livedlived in every sense of the
  wordfrom 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.

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• 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 palTry to do something for your
  peoplesomething 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.