1. Native American Literature

2. As you Enter Class Please Grab an Orange Grade 11 Text Book
Turn to page 36 and begin reading the Background for “The World on the Turtle’s Back”

3. Background Information:
When Europeans arrived, there were around different Native American cultures in North America
200 different languages were spoken
Each tribe had different customs and traditions
Did not have a written language, instead stories, histories, myths, and legends were passed down through oral tradition

4. Tradition
A community's cultural and historical traditions passed down by word of mouth or example from one generation to another without written instruction.

5. Creation Myth Describes how the universe, the earth, and life began
Explains the workings of the natural world
Supports and validates social customs and values

6. Iroquois: A History
The term Iroquois refers to six separate Native American groups: the Seneca, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Mohawk, and Tuscarora.
They continually were at war with one another, which put themselves at risk of attack from the neighboring Algonquin tribes.

7. A History Continued
Between 1570 and 1600 they formed the Iroquois League, which was a confederacy that empowered them to negotiate treaties with foreign nations and resolve conflicts
For the next 200 years, the Iroquois managed to dominate other Native American groups and remained free of both British and French rule

8. Iroquois: Way of life
They had a shared culture of similar languages, beliefs, and ways of life
They lived in longhouses made of pole frames covered with elm bark and built fences around their village for protection
Up to 50 people occupied each longhouse
300 to 600 people lived in each village

9. READ “The World on the Turtle’s Back”Pg

10. The World Turtle
The World-bearing Turtle/ Cosmic Turtle/ Divine Turtle
Found in Hindu mythology, Chinese mythology, and Native American creation myths

11. In class Assignment/Exit Ticket
Use the text to write a brief description of the main characters:
Man
Wife
The Hero/ The Muskrat/ Earth-Diver
Mother Earth
Daughter
Right-Handed Twin/ Sapling
Left-Handed Twin/ Flint
Compare & Contrast
How does this myth compare with other accounts of the world’s origins? Create a Venn diagram to record these similarities and differences