Native American Literature

1. Native American Literature It takes a thousand voices to tell a single story. Native American Proverb

2. Native American Literature • There are two types of Native American Literature. • 1. Sacred literature is known to only a few in the tribal community and attempts to change the human conscience. • 2. Popular literature is humorous and does not seek to change the world or the human conscience.

3. Native American Literature • The stories are meant to share reality and make connections between each other and the natural world. • Language is regarded as something very powerful.

4. The Oral Tradition • Orality • Orality is having to do with the spoken word. • Orality can be seen in speeches, storytelling, ceremonies, and more. • Orality creates an all-knowing community. • Elders are encouraged to share experiences and history, or when the elders die, the knowledge is gone.

5. The Oral Tradition, continued • Repetition • There is repetition in traditional Native American literature for two reasons: • 1. Repetition gives a holistic picture of the world. • 2. In ceremonies, repetition “empties” out the mind to be receptive to healing. • Repetition is not for memorization.

6. The Purpose of Stories • Western cultures view the purpose of stories (literature) for necessity or for entertainment. • In Native American cultures, stories show you who you are and how you should live.

7. The Community • Western cultures are very individualistic. • “Survival of the fittest.” • Native American cultures are community-oriented • “Working together.”

8. Lifeforms on Earth • Western cultures use a lifeform hierarchy. For example, a human is more important than an ant. • Native American cultures respect all lifeforms. They view animals as brothers and sisters even though they kill them. • Sacred and equal

9. Higher Beings • Western cultures believe that God is all-powerful and all-knowing without the help of others. • Native American cultures believe their gods are neither all-knowing nor perfect. Living things are involved with the higher beings, especially creation.

10. Supernatural • Western cultures believe in a separation between mind and body. There is a split between the natural and supernatural. • Native American cultures believe in no separation between mind and body. Illnesses have a spiritual root. There is no split between natural and supernatural (magical realism).

11. Time • Western cultures view time as linear. There is a beginning and an end: past, present, and future. • Native American cultures view time as cyclical.

12. If we wonder often, the gift of knowledge will come. Arapaho Tribe Proverb