Native American Mythology

1. Native American Mythology

2. Oral Literature Oral traditions- stories that were passed down from one generation to the next as they were told and retold in the privacy of households and in tribal ceremonies Before Europeans arrived, N.A. had hundreds of thriving nations Each had own unique culture and heritage Tribes past and close relationship with natural world Literature is timeless Not one author, but by the people as a whole

3. Creation Myths Myth- anonymous, traditional story that explains a natural phenomenon, an aspect of human behavior, or mystery of the universe Creation myths- tell how the world and human beings came to exist Origin myths- explain how natural phenomena, such as the stars, moon, and mountains, came to be or why a society has a certain belief and customs

4. Example of creation and origin myth: “When earth was still young and giants still roamed the land, a great sickness came upon them. All of them died except for one small boy. One day while he was playing, a snake bit him. The boy cried and cried. The blood came out, and finally he died. With his tears our lakes became. With his blood the red clay became. With his body our mountains became, and that was how earth became.” - Taos Pueblo people

5. Archetypes • Archetype- symbol, story, pattern, or character type that is found in the literature of many cultures • Myths share common archetypes • Ex: children with opposite qualities who are born of the same parent. • In an Iroquis myth, Sky Woman gives birth to twins, one good and one evil. This event explains the eternal struggle between light and dark and between order and chaos.

6. Tricksters Trickster- character type, frequently an animal (coyote, raven, mink) that speaks and displays other human traits, has two sides to its personality Rebels who defy authority and cause trouble Clever and creative creatures who can unexpectedly reveal wisdomw

7. Trickster example: (Hitchiti- tribe in Southern GA) Bear and Rabbit were traveling about together. They had become friends. Bear said to Rabbit, "Come and visit me. That red house way off yonder is my home." He went off. At the appointed time Rabbit set out and came to where Bear lived. Bear's home was a hollow tree. At the bottom of the tree was a hole. There was where he lived. When Rabbit came Bear said, "Sit down." So Rabbit sat down and both talked for a while. Bear went around back of his house while Rabbit sat watching him. He went out of sight. When he came back to where Rabbit was sitting he had a lot of good lard. He put the lard into some beans which were cooking and when the beans were done he set them out for Rabbit, who ate all he could.

8. Now when Rabbit was preparing to go home he said, "Come and visit me, too. I live way over yonder where you see that white house. That is my home." Bear said, "All right." By a white house Rabbit meant white grass. On the appointed day Bear started to visit Rabbit and reached his place. His house was made of dry grass. When Bear got there Rabbit said, "Sit down." So Bear sat down and they talked. Then Rabbit stood up and went round back of his house. Bear saw him and thought "He may hurt himself." While Bear was sitting there he heard Rabbit cry out "dowik." He started out and when he reached Rabbit found he had cut his belly and sat with a little blue [fat], hanging out of it. "Oh, I alone can do that. You have hurt yourself," he said. He took Rabbit and laid him down in his house.

9. Then Bear went out to look for a doctor. Finding Buzzard, he said to him, "My friend, Rabbit has hurt himself badly. I am looking for a man able to treat him." "I make medicine," said Buzzard. So Bear led him back to the place where Rabbit was lying. When Buzzard saw him he said, "Make some hominy and place it near by and I will treat him." The hominy was prepared. "Now shut up the house and make a hole in the roof and I can treat him," he said. So the house was shut up and a hole was made in the roof. Then Buzzard sat in the room where Rabbit lay eating hominy. Presently Rabbit said "dowik." "What are you doing to him?" they called out. "He is afraid of the medicine," said Buzzard. As he sat there with Rabbit he struck at him, killed him, and ate him. He ate him all up and flew out through the roof. Then he said to the people, "He is lying there waiting for you," and he went away. Bear entered the house and found only Rabbit's bones lying there.

10. When Bear saw this he was very angry. Just then an orphan with a bow who was traveling around came to the place and Bear said to him, "We asked Buzzard to doctor Rabbit but he devoured him and has flown away. Shoot at him and see if you can hit him." The orphan shot at him and brought him down. Bear beat him and killed him, and hung him up. He lighted a fire under him and smoked him, and Buzzard hung there many days. He came to look yellowish, it is said. Therefore, because the little boy shot him and they hung him in the smoke, he is yellow.

11. Functions of Myths Emphasize a strong spiritual bond between Creator, humanity, and entire natural world It is the duty of human beings to maintain a balance within the natural world

12. Functions of Myths cont. Totem- in many N.A. cultures, each family/clan/group believed it descended from a particular animal or natural object Bear clan- honored the bear as their ancestor The bear served as clan’s guardian spirit, protecting family members Bear clan was responsible for preserving the myths about the bear

13. Functions of Myths cont. Continue to play important cultural role: Order and identity Heal the sick Ensure plentiful supply of food Teach moral lesson Initiate young people into adulthood Wisdom of the tribal past