Native American Oral Traditions American Literature IB: English A Mr. Parizo

Native American Beliefs “The earth was created by the assistance of the sun, and it should be left as was…The earth and myself are of one mind. -- Chief Joseph, Nez Perce

Native American Beliefs “All things are connected…Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth…This we know. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web he does to himself --Chief Seattle

How’d We Get Here? Our American identity as we know it is a product of our past. Our class will focus on literature that reveals its influence on today’s culture, as well as its historical backgrounds and its contemporary context.

Defined: “Historical Background”: The factors of society that lead to the creation of texts, ideas, and or movements. “Contemporary Context”: The importance of the text, ideas, or movement at the time of its creation.

Indigenous Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native to a land

Pre-Colonization Before European settlers, the land that would be known as the Continental United States held over 500 known separate Native American tribes.

Pre-Colonization (cont’d) It has been estimated with this statistic that over 80 million Native Americans were alive pre-European Colonization, although actual numbers do not exist.

Population Changes. 1492:100-80 million (estimate) 1800 US Census: 15 million 1900 US Census: 3 million 1990 US Census: 2.1 million 2000 US Census: 2.5 million (source: US Archives – archives.gov)

500+ Tribes Religious beliefs Languages Governments Histories Despite their relatively large numbers, Native American tribes all held different: Religious beliefs Languages Governments Histories Traditions

What We Do Know… More than likely, Native Americans crossed over into the Continental U.S. from Siberia area of Eurasia sometime during one of the Ice Ages (approx 12,000- 15,000 years ago).

Survivalists These people were able to adapt quickly to a harsh and unforgiving environment that was not friendly to human survival.

Origin of Respect for Nature? Native American ancestors learned to farm on infertile land, adapt to harsh weather, and cure diseases to achieve sustainable life by using the limited resources around them. These skills would become essential to keep generations alive.

“Cultural Genocide” The systematic destruction of traditions, values, language, and other elements which make one group of people distinct from other groups, or to emphasize the superiority of one culture over another. (Source: National Geographic)

Cultural Genocide: Breeding Farms It is common knowledge that Native Americans disappeared from existence due to disease, war, and mass murder by Europeans, but also, it was attempted to breed out Native American culture.

sd Cultural Genocide of Australia’s Indigenous Tribes (Rabbit Proof Fence – film - 2002)

Von Luschan’s Skin Color Scale

Slow Extermination of Culture Many Native American children were sent to boarding schools to learn the English language, history, religion, dress, and behavior. All Native American cultural actions/beliefs were met with harsh penalties.

The Effects of Cultural Genocide on Contemporary Native Americans? Highest suicide rate in the country. School Children perform lower on Standardized tests than any other identified race. Graduation Rate: 54% (white: 72% black: 51%) Lowest Avg. Age-of-Death Rate: 44 (white: 78 black: 73) 33.4% live in poverty (white: 11% black: 22%). (source: www.nlm.nih.gov)

Reversing the Trend For the past 100 years, there has been an increased attempt to preserve what remains of Native American culture and identity. One of the most important aspects of Native American culture to be preserved is “Native American Oral Traditions.”

Contemporary Context: Purpose of NAOTs. Because Native Americans did not have a written language, stories, legends, histories, myths, and religious tales were delivered through story- telling. Tribal elders performed NAOT to younger generations. These tales would be performed by several members of the tribe similar to a modern play.

Pre-Colonization Written Native American History “begins” with the arrival of European Colonizers. Little information is known about the history of Native Americans before the arrival of the Europeans.

Why? Native Americans never wrote their history and religious beliefs into written form because no form existed. In 1821, Cherokee tribe member Sequoyah (George Guest) created the first Native American Written Language. (Source: Echota Tsalagi Langauge Revitalization Project at Auburn University)

NAOTs Because there was no written language forms, tribal stories, legends, and religious beliefs were passed down in the form known as Native American Oral Traditions (NAOTs). As Native Americans disappeared from existence, so did many of their beliefs, history, and traditions.

Purpose? Origin Stories Political Systems and Documents NAOTs taught younger generations: Origin Stories Political Systems and Documents Social/Tribal Rules Histories Religious Beliefs

Spiritual forces with magical powers populate nature. Characteristic #1 Spiritual forces with magical powers populate nature.

Characteristic #2 Main characters may be animals or plants – often with human capabilities.

Characteristic #3 Main characters are “morality characters”: they symbolize a larger concept or idea

Characteristic #4 Used IMAGERY to describe places, events, and things; made them easier to remember and visualize as a listener so traditions and values can be passed down with little change.

Orders from Your King: Find examples of Native American Oral Traditions online, or go to my website and download the ones posted, that you feel represent several of the characteristics listed above. Print them out and highlight the portions that you feel serve as evidence of the characteristics. Bring these documents to our next class.