1. Origin Stories
Native American Myths

2. Native American Oral Tradition
The oldest Native American Indian tradition— 40,000-20,000 BC
Stories were passed down verbally because they had no written language
They preserved culture, legends, and historic truths
They were used as a method of teaching
Some were historically accurate events but most were fictional
They commonly were thick with images and/ or symbols

3. Myths
Myths are traditional stories, often about immortal beings, that are passed down from generation to generation.
Creation myths are symbolic narratives of a culture, tradition, or people that describe how humans came to exist
When these stories tell about the origins of natural phenomena, they are called origin myths.

4. Characteristics of Origin Stories
Origin myths often share one or more of these characteristics:
A birth of something
Something is created
A mother / father figure
However, a mother/father are not always the figures that create the life
Sometimes, the creation doesn’t occur until later in life
A supreme being
This being triggers the events that create the phenomenon

5. Characteristics of Origin Stories
The idea of above or below
Not every origin story begins on earth, so some origin stories have this idea of things happening “below” the earth
The “diver-myth”
Stories that begin with water covering the earth and earth being brought to the surface
The idea that animals and humans co-existed peacefully at one time
However, due to something that happens due to human error, they end up not getting along

6. Characteristics of Origin Stories
A relationship of people to the earth
People naturally interact with nature
A moral or lesson
The point of these stories is to explain how a natural phenomena came to be. Therefore, there is a lesson for humans to learn.

7. Native American Stories

8. The Key Elements of NA Stories
They commonly illustrated the Native American Indians’ appreciation of, and relationship with:
The four elements: water, land, wind, and fire
Animals
Most traditional NA stories do one or more of the following:
Explain the origin of human existence
Describes the purposes of people and their relationship with the earth
Articulates religious beliefs and spiritual philosophies
Teaches morals and lessons