1. Native American Literature
It takes a thousand voices to tell a single story.
Native American Proverb

2. Native American Literature
There are two types of Native American Literature.
1. Sacred literature is known to only a few in the tribal community and attempts to change the human conscience.
2. Popular literature is humorous and does not seek to change the world or the human conscience.

3. Native American Literature
The stories are meant to share reality and make connections between each other and the natural world.
Language is regarded as something very powerful.

4. The Oral Tradition Orality
Orality is having to do with the spoken word.
Orality can be seen in speeches, storytelling, ceremonies, and more.
Orality creates an all-knowing community.
Elders are encouraged to share experiences and history, or when the elders die, the knowledge is gone.

5. The Oral Tradition, continued
Repetition
There is repetition in traditional Native American literature for two reasons:
1. Repetition gives a holistic picture of the world.
2. In ceremonies, repetition “empties” out the mind to be receptive to healing.
Repetition is not for memorization.

6. The Purpose of Stories
Western cultures view the purpose of stories (literature) for necessity or for entertainment.
In Native American cultures, stories show you who you are and how you should live.

7. The Community Western cultures are very individualistic.
“Survival of the fittest.”
Native American cultures are community- oriented
“Working together.”

8. Lifeforms on Earth
Western cultures use a lifeform hierarchy. For example, a human is more important than an ant.
Native American cultures respect all lifeforms. They view animals as brothers and sisters even though they
kill them.
Sacred and equal

9. Higher Beings
Western cultures believe that God is all- powerful and all-knowing without the help of others.
Native American cultures believe their gods are neither all-knowing nor perfect. Living things are involved with the higher beings, especially creation.

10. Supernatural
Western cultures believe in a separation between mind and body. There is a split between the natural and supernatural.
Native American cultures believe in no separation between mind and body. Illnesses have a spiritual root. There is no split between natural and supernatural (magical realism).

11. Time
Western cultures view time as linear. There is a beginning and an end: past, present, and future.
Native American cultures view time as cyclical.

12. If we wonder often, the gift of knowledge will come.
Arapaho Tribe Proverb