1. The First American Literature
THE NATIVE AMERICANS
The First American Literature

2. ORAL TRADITION
Passed down from generation to generation through storytelling and performances.
Characteristics of N.A. oral tradition:
Always a performance, so always changing
Always a lesson to be learned
Intended to communicate culture and reinforce identity
Purpose is to explain origins and establish codes of behavior

3. Each tribe had its own language, but different tribes could communicate through sign language.

4. In oral tradition, oratorical skills are valued and good speakers are valuable members of the community.

5. TYPES OF N.A. LITERATURE
Creation myth: explains how the universe, earth, and life began
Trickster tale: shows how the world and its creatures were transformed to the present state
Ritual songs: part of ceremonies

6. TRICKSTER TALES
Feature an animal or human that engages in deceit, violence, or magic
Forces the community to look at mistakes
Most common tricksters are coyotes, crows, foxes
Form of entertainment
Coyote

7. NATIVE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
Living in harmony with nature is key idea and this is reflected in their literature.

8. HARMONY WITH NATURE MEANS:
The human and the nonhuman are part of a sacred whole
ALL parts of nature are seen as alive and aware
Human beings DO NOT have dominion (power, control, dominance) over nature
Humans must maintain a right relationship with the world around them.

9. Native Americans and Buffalo

10. White Men and Buffalo
In the early 1800s-60 million buffalo on the western plains
By the late 1800s – near extinction.
White hunters killed them for their hides, tongues, for sport, and to destroy N.A. food supply; left the meat to rot

11. OTHER N.A. PHILOSOPHICAL BELIEFS
Native Americans were NOT materialistic
Survival is cooperative
Community shares everything
Something has value when it is given away
No one could be hungry if there was any food available
Everyone plays a vital role and everyone is accountable to the tribe
No differentiation between genders as far as value of their work
Punishment – told once/next time dead in the eyes of the people

12. BALANCE Embraces the contradictory aspects of life
Creation myths show both “positive” and “negative” aspects of the world (food crops and poisonous plants; predators and prey)
Both sides seen as necessary

13. NATIVE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
Allows for all voices
No individual is greater than the whole
Government is about responsibility, NOT power
Each tribal group has own leader
Leads to misunderstanding with Europeans who have one leader (king, president, etc.)
For a treaty to be valid, ALL tribal leaders would have to sign

14. IMPORTANT N.A. SYMBOLS
THE NUMBER 4
THE CIRCLE-NO BEGINNING, NO END. It’s sacred as long as it’s unbroken.
Fire-Air-Water-Earth
North-South-East-West
Spring-Summer-Fall-Winter
Childhood-Youth-Maturity-Old Age