Native American Literature 1

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Why Study Native American Literature? 3

Pre-Columbian History Originally migrated ~12,000 years ago 8,000 BCE - stable climate, cultivation of crops, rise in population 4

The Diversity of Native Americans Hundreds of languages Diverse societies Different forms of technology Varied governmental structures Differing mythological beliefs 5

(all of which were plentiful) Starting with Columbus’s discovery in 1492, Native Americans endured many invasions from European settlers for the following primary reasons: 1. land 2. gold 3. crops (all of which were plentiful) 6

Natives had a completely different set of values and traditions: Once explorers and settlers decided to stay and start building the natives could do nothing although they usually tried to fight back. Natives had a completely different set of values and traditions: - some wouldn’t fight back until they realized they would lose their land completely - they lived off the land and held it in high regard; earth was the mother - they never used more than they needed and they never wasted anything 7

European Settlers... Conquered and sometimes destroyed native lands Brought diseases Forced assimilation into their culture 8

1. the tribe “consent” to move Indian removal was legalized with the Removal Act of 1830, which stipulated: 1. the tribe “consent” to move 2. new land was to replace the old 9

This resulted in what would later be known as the “Trail of Tears” Efforts to “civilize” and “mainstream” Native Americans Boarding schools Language 10

Although great strides have been made in recent years for Indian sovereignty, Native Americans continue to struggle because of the events of the past. 11

Storytelling & Oral Tradition Before Europeans... Stories, histories, and legends were shared and preserved through oral tradition 12

 no known original author of stories Despite differences among tribes, the following are common characteristics of the Native American literary tradition:  no known original author of stories  open to personal interpretation  dramatic storytelling and audience participation were important  lack of a written language; stories remembered and told orally  no “physical boundaries” to stories  stories belonged to the tribe 13

 origin and creation stories  narratives Stories Include:  origin and creation stories  narratives  explanation and support of social customs  hero stories  trickster tales 14

Written transcripts are NOT equal to the oral tradition, but they are a way for us to understand the stories of Native Americans. 15

These oral stories were chanted, spoken, sung and repeated over and over until embedded into the memories of the next generations. The Native American oral tradition was the only way to pass on tribal history, heritage, and cultural practices. In order to continue hundreds of years of a tribe’s history the young had to listen and remember the stories the elders told in order to pass them on. 16

Some Dominant Themes & Motifs: relationships between humans and animals respect for mother earth and nature land as the strength of the people village/community/tribe as sovereign cyclical patterns: renewal and continuance importance of tribal traditions and history 17