Mind’s On – Think Share   With your group discuss 3-4 stories/fairy tales/myths you remember as a child   Beside each title write down what you believe is the moral/lesson of that story

Indigenous Myths and Creation Stories

Different Types of Myths Creation Myth   Explains how human lives came to exist   Explains the workings of the natural world   Supports and validates social customs Origin Myth   Explains why natural phenomena like the stars, moon, and sky came to be and why certain animals have certain characteristics Trickster Myth   A trickster is a crafty creature or being who uses cunning to often cause mischief.   He disrupts the order of things, often humiliating others and sometimes himself.   In Native American traditions, the trickster takes many forms. Heroic Journey Myth   Tells about a commonplace hero who finds himself on a journey   Usually returns home with a new wisdom or worldview

What are Creation Stories?   Creation stories of the origin of the world and nature are key to Indigenous identity around the world   Through oral history a cultural continuity is established that defines worldview and reinforces the importance of language   Example – In Canada, different versions of the Turtle Island myth tells of the creation of North America by the Sky Woman

Characteristics

#1 Purpose and Order   Stories seek to explain how things came to be   They also explain that nothing is by chance

#2 Value of Land   The land is a giver   We have a responsibility to the land (stewardship)   Important landmarks are also explained

#3 Relationships   Everything is interconnected   Relationships can exist between humans, humans and animals, humans and the land, etc

Activity – Reading a Story Title Brief Summary Purpose and Order Value of Land Relationships Moral/Lesson