Native American Literature Engelbert 2015 Grade 11

Many of us have formed negative stereotypes of Native Americans based on Hollywood depictions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hJFi7SRH7Q Who owns the land? Native Americans saw themselves as caretakers of the land. Tribes did not understand the European concept of land ownership. There were more than 300 different Native American cultures in North America and more than 200 languages. Common Activity – storytelling Common Theme – reverence to nature Due to European diseases, some tribes lost as much as 90% of their people

The World on Turtle’s Back ~ Onondaga Myths : Creation Myths : The purpose of myths is to seek to explain or rationalize one or more aspects of the world or a society. Myths usually have religious or supernatural elements and have a character that is immortal Origin myth— a myth that explains how something began Many cultures around the world have stories about creation. Three Native American creations myths: The World on Turtle’s Back ~ Onondaga When Grizzlies Walked Upright ~ Modoc Navajo Origin Legend ~ Navajo

Types of Stories Descriptions of natural processes—water cycles, inter-species relationships, life cycles of plants, earth movements and soil types Survival accounts—hunting, gathering & farming stories talk about how to collect, prepare & eat foods Oral maps for travel—describe historic & on-going migrations of tribe for subsistence & holy journeys Magical tales of transformation— articulate the mystery & complexity of being human Symbolic—refer to larger bodies of oral literature Lessons—describe how & why things are the way they are Instructions from spirit mentors— explain how to conduct ceremonies Adventures in love, romance & marriage

These myths had to come from somewhere These myths had to come from somewhere. There were Native Americans that wrote these myths many years before the English arrived. Most of these myths are not believed today but many of there moral points still relate to our society.

Oral Language : The languages of Native American tribes were never written down before the English arrived from Europe. Their stories were passed verbally through the generations. The tradition of storytelling in Native American culture serves many purposes. In most instances, these stories are meaningless without understanding the story's significance and purpose. Stories have been used to entertain, to teach moral lessons, to pass on personal family stories, and to teach tribal beliefs. Many stories were--and still are--the personal property of families. Traditionally, myths were spoken or sung. This created an attentive & respectful relationship between the storyteller & the listeners.

Language of North America :

Forgotten Languages : The population of the native civilizations of the current territory of the United States fell from about 20 million to the present level of less than 2 million. Beyond the shrinking size of the ethnic populations, the languages have also suffered due to the prevalence of English among those of Native American ancestry. Most Native American languages have ceased to exist, or are spoken only by older speakers, with whom the language will die in the coming decades. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3N0XQe25Zc

Remaining Speakers : Only 8 indigenous languages of the area of the continental United States currently have a population of speakers in the U.S. and Canada large enough to populate a medium-sized town. Only Navajo still has a population of greater than 25,000 within the U.S. Remaining Speakers

Code Talkers in WW II: During World War II, bilingual Native Americans, mainly Navajo, transmitted messages through codes for the United States Army. The codes were never broken by the enemy. The Navajos could encode, transmit, and decode a three– line message in 20 seconds. Machines used at that time to perform the same operation took 30 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rSvm3m8ZUA

The World on the Turtle’s Back Onodaga -- Iroquois Creation Myth

WARM-UP DAY B (Please write the answers to these questions on a new page for Day B. 1.) What is one life lesson you can take away from “The Earth on the Turtle’s Back”? 2.) What is the purpose of a myth? 3.) Why have many Native American languages disappeared over time?

Onondaga The Onondaga (Onöñda'gega' or the People of the Hills) are one of the original five constituent nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. Their traditional homeland is in central New York State. In the American Revolutionary War, the Onondaga were at first officially neutral. After an American attack on their main village on April 20, 1779, the Onondaga made an alliance with theBritish. Thereafter, many Onondaga followed Joseph Brant to Six Nations, Ontario, after the United States was accorded independence. On November 11, 1794, the Onondaga Nation signed the Treaty of Canandaigua with the United States, in which their right to their homeland was acknowledged by the United States in article II of the treaty. Those Onondaga remaining in New York are under the government of traditional chiefs nominated by clan mothers, rather than elected. On March 11, 2005, the Onondaga Nation of, filed a land rights action in federal court, seeking acknowledgment of title to over 3,000 square miles (7,800 km2) of ancestral lands centering in Syracuse, New York. In doing so they hope to obtain increased influence over environmental restoration efforts at Onondaga Lake and other EPA Superfund sites in the claimed area.

Time period and literary style : This story is a legend that was told by the Onondaga Tribe. It displays the emphases they placed on dreams It was most likely written before the Europeans came to America in the late 1400’s. There is no exact time period in which it was written. This legend was passed down from generation to generation. Today more than 25 versions of this story exist

Author’s purpose : Origin myth which describe the creation of the earth. Shows that weaker and smaller animals can accomplish things that larger and stronger animals have failed to complete teaches that you have determination nothing will stand in your way. Sometimes it is good to be curious. If no one was ever curious than we would not have the newer, better things in the world today.

Figurative Elements Imagery—images formed in reader’s mind relating to story example: tree, water world, turtle Repetition—repeating something over and over example, when the Muskrat was swimming, the author repeated the idea of swimming deeper to show how much determination the Muskrat had Twins play a central role in many Native American myths Transformation of a character to explain a natural phenomena

Let’s watch! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5V05OOcFCc

Let’s Review! Starting from 1492… -America was already populated by several hundred native American tribes -12,000 years before Christopher Columbus, nomadic people had migrate across the Bering Land Bridge from Asia and come to settle in the Americas. Europeans explorers, fortune seekers, missionaries, and those fleeing religious persecution along with enslaved African Americans settled along the Eastern seaboard all the way to New Mexico. By 1776, 13 colonies declared independence from England.

Woodcrafts and Weapons If it wasn’t for the gifts of the Indians, the settlers wouldn’t have survived the bitter cold. CORN Sleds Snowshoes Woodcrafts and Weapons

When Grizzlies Walked Upright Modoc

Modoc The Modoc tribe is a group of Native American people who originally lived in the area which is now northeastern California and central Oregon. They are currently divided between Oregon and Oklahoma. Modoc County, California and Modoc, Indiana are named for this group of people.

Time period and literary style : Time period—Before the Europeans came to American in the late 1400’s by the Modoc tribe Origin myth explaining “The Sky Spirit” creates the earth, and the creation of the Native Americans. Time period and literary style

Author’s purpose : Explains the creation of Mount Shasta and the land and animals nearby. Tells how the daughter of the Sky Spirit marries a bear and their children become the first Native Americans. The Native Americans living around the mountain would never kill a grizzly bear because of this story. This myth teaches us that when you disobey someone, such as your parents, you can get other people punished for your mistake.

DIALOGUE The Sky Spirit had cursed the grizzlies by saying, “Get down on your hands and knees. You have wronged me, and from this moment all of you will walk on four feet and never talk again.” The Sky Spirit Chief behaved like a human when he used anger to punish the grizzlies.

Questions According to this myth ("When Grizzlies Walked Upright"), does the Chief of the Sky Spirits discover or create the earth? Explain your answer. Explain why the original audience might have considered Mount Shasta to be sacred after hearing this story. What does the Sky Spirit tell his daughter not to do and why does she disobey him? What did the grizzlies do to be cursed? Was this a justified punishment? Explain your answer. Why would the audience feel more respect for the grizzlies after hearing this story?

The Iroquois Constitution

Iroquois Six separate tribes – Seneca, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Mohawk, and Tuscarora Fighting between the tribes put them at risk of attack by the Algonquin tribes The tribes formed the Iroquois League to negotiate with foreign nations and resolve conflict among the tribes. The tribes have a shared culture and similar language Today the tribes fight for environmental protection and increased recognition from the US and other governments

WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN? "The Iroquois Constitution" was first thought to have been written in the 1500's, but a newer theory believes it to be between 1090 and 1150 A.D. Five Nations that formed the Iroquois Confederation included the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca tribes. Time Period

IMAGERY The author uses imagery to help the reader picture what the author is describing. “Tree of the Great Peace” can be picture in your head. The author also uses symbolism. The tree symbolism the Iroquois Confederate The roots of that tree symbolized peace and strength. Imagery & Symbolism

LAWS The Iroquois Constitution set forth a series of laws, forming a government that any could join if they wished to obey the laws. At the beginning of counsel meetings, the Iroquois gave thanks to the Creator for the natural world. Government

Post-Reading Questions Explain the comparison between the agreement made in this document ("The Iroquois Constitution") and the "Tree of Peace". This document mentions several agreements made among the people. List the three most important agreements in paragraphs four through seven and explain why they are important. Explain what characteristics a council Lord must have. What values does this document advocate (to argue in favor of something)?

Review and Assess

Respond: The Modoc chose grizzly bears, and the Navajo chose corn to represent the sources of their human existence. What symbol would you choose for twenty-first century America? Why? (a) Recall: In "The Earth on Turtle's Back," what does the chief's wife do to get life started on Earth? (b) Draw Conclusions: Based on the conclusion of the myth, how do you think the Onondaga view women in their culture? (a) Recall: According to the Iroquois, what is the Great Law? (b) Hypothesize: In what way might the Great Law affect not only the living Iroquois but also their future descendants?

Literary Analysis - Origin Myths List those who share in the process of bringing about human life on Earth in (a) "When Grizzlies Walked Upright," and (b) "The Earth on Turtle's Back,” Each of these origin myths focuses on explaining different aspects of human origins or on varying natural phenomena. What can you conclude about the lives and interests of each culture from the focal points in each myth?

Comparing Literary Works Why do you think literature of an oral tradition might include repeated words or phrases? Literature of the oral tradition was often performed in dramatic formats at group gatherings. How do the structure, language, and content of the myths lend themselves to dramatic presentation?

Reading Strategy -- Recognizing Cultural Details What cultural details concerning Modoc family structure does the grizzly bear community suggest in "When Grizzlies Walked Upright"? Use cultural details from The Iroquois Constitution to determine the qualities that the Iroquois believe a lord should possess.

What is your heritage? Interview a classmate about his or her heritage. Ask about: A family tradition An important belief or value A story about his or her family’s roots How has his or her heritage affected his or her identity