Without our ancestors, we would not have the gift of life. Therefore, one of the most important and common themes among Native stories are creation stories, which are universal among all cultures. Native creation stories explain how life began on Earth and how a particular tribal nation came to be. They talk about spiritual and mythical origins within real, physical landscapes and outline the “original instructions” or natural laws of how to live in balance with creation.

Stories are possessed with such power
that they have survived for generations
despite attempts at repression and assimilation. 


Types of Stories

::.. Symbolic—refer to larger bodies of oral literature

::.. Lessons—describe how and why things are the way they are

::.. Instructions from spirit mentors—explain how to conduct ceremonies

::.. Descriptions of natural processes—water cycles, inter-species relationships, life cycles of plants, earth movements and soil types

::.. Survival accounts—hunting, gathering, and farming stories talk about how to collect, prepare, and eat foods

::.. Oral maps for travel—describe historic and on-going migrations of tribe for subsistence and holy journeys

::.. Magical tales of transformation—articulate the mystery and complexity of being human

::.. Adventures in love, romance and marriage



Text Goes Here



Author Goes Here


"The stories of an Indian group make that group unique, but stories will be known only as long as they are told.
When someone ceases to tell a story, part of the cultural knowledge is gone." 
- exeprt from Tar Heel Junior Historian Association by the North Carolina Museum of History, Spring 2002
 about American Indian Storytelling

More Resources:

PBS: Circle of Stories 

where you can Learn about the storytellers and their tribes, or read and listen to their stories. 

All Good Tales

 


       


Font used is Turbayne Running Hand © 28 April 2003.
Lil Kitty Linkware Graphics - Native Series - The Story Teller ~
All graphics on this page are © of Lil Kitty, 2001-2003.