1. Native American Literature

2. Many of us have formed negative stereotypes of Native Americans based on Hollywood depictions
Who owns the land? Native Americans saw themselves as caretakers of the land. Tribes did not understand the European concept of land ownership.
There were more than 300 different Native American cultures in North America and more than 200 languages.
Common Activity – storytelling
Common Theme – reverence to nature
Due to European diseases, some tribes lost as much as 90% of their people

4. The World on Turtle’s Back ~ Onondaga
Myths :
Creation Myths :
The purpose of myths is to seek to explain or rationalize one or more aspects of the world or a society. Myths usually have religious or supernatural elements and have a character that is immortal Origin myth— a myth that explains how something began
Many cultures around the world have stories about creation. Three Native American creations myths:
The World on Turtle’s Back ~ Onondaga
When Grizzlies Walked Upright ~ Modoc
Navajo Origin Legend ~ Navajo

5. Types of Stories
Descriptions of natural processes— water cycles, inter-species relationships, life cycles of plants, earth movements and soil types
Survival accounts—hunting, gathering & farming stories talk about how to collect, prepare & eat foods
Oral maps for travel—describe historic & on-going migrations of tribe for subsistence & holy journeys
Magical tales of transformation— articulate the mystery & complexity of being human
Symbolic—refer to larger bodies of oral literature
Lessons—describe how & why things are the way they are
Instructions from spirit mentors— explain how to conduct ceremonies
Adventures in love, romance & marriage

6. These myths had to come from somewhere
These myths had to come from somewhere. There were Native Americans that wrote these myths many years before the English arrived. Most of these myths are not believed today but many of there moral points still relate to our society.

7. Oral Language :
Oral language The languages of Native American tribes were never written down before the English arrived from Europe. Their stories were passed verbally through the generations.
The tradition of storytelling in Native American culture serves many purposes. In most instances, these stories are meaningless without understanding the story's significance and purpose. Stories have been used to entertain, to teach moral lessons, to pass on personal family stories, and to teach tribal beliefs. Many stories were--and still are--the personal property of families.
Traditionally, myths were spoken or sung. This created an attentive & respectful relationship between the storyteller & the listeners.

8. Language of North America :

10. Forgotten Languages :
The population of the native civilizations of the current territory of the United States fell from about 20 million to the present level of less than 2 million. Beyond the shrinking size of the ethnic populations, the languages have also suffered due to the prevalence of English among those of Native American ancestry. Most Native American languages have ceased to exist, or are spoken only by older speakers, with whom the language will die in the coming decades.

11. Remaining Speakers :
Only 8 indigenous languages of the area of the continental United States currently have a population of speakers in the U.S. and Canada large enough to populate a medium-sized town.
Only Navajo still has a population of greater than 25,000 within the U.S. Remaining Speakers

12. Code Talkers in WW II:
During World War II, bilingual Native Americans, mainly Navajo, transmitted messages through codes for the United States Army.
The codes were never broken by the enemy. The Navajos could encode, transmit, and decode a three– line message in 20 seconds.
Machines used at that time to perform the same operation took 30 minutes.

13. The World on the Turtle’s Back
Onodaga -- Iroquois Creation Myth

14. Onondaga
The Onondaga (Onöñda'gega' or the People of the Hills) are one of the original five constituent nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. Their traditional homeland is in central New York State.
In the American Revolutionary War, the Onondaga were at first officially neutral. After an American attack on their main village on April 20, 1779, the Onondaga made an alliance with theBritish. Thereafter, many Onondaga followed Joseph Brant to Six Nations, Ontario, after the United States was accorded independence.
On November 11, 1794, the Onondaga Nation signed the Treaty of Canandaigua with the United States, in which their right to their homeland was acknowledged by the United States in article II of the treaty.
Those Onondaga remaining in New York are under the government of traditional chiefs nominated by clan mothers, rather than elected.
On March 11, 2005, the Onondaga Nation of, filed a land rights action in federal court, seeking acknowledgment of title to over 3,000 square miles (7,800 km2) of ancestral lands centering in Syracuse, New York. In doing so they hope to obtain increased influence over environmental restoration efforts at Onondaga Lake and other EPA Superfund sites in the claimed area.

15. Time period and literary style :
This story is a legend that was told by the Onondaga Tribe. It displays the emphases they placed on dreams It was most likely written before the Europeans came to America in the late 1400’s. There is no exact time period in which it was written.
This legend was passed down from generation to generation.
Today more than 25 versions of this story exist

16. Author’s purpose :
Origin myth which describe the creation of the earth. Shows that weaker and smaller animals can accomplish things that larger and stronger animals have failed to complete teaches that you have determination nothing will stand in your way.
Sometimes it is good to be curious. If no one was ever curious than we would not have the newer, better things in the world today.

17. Imagery—images formed in reader’s mind relating to story example: tree, water world, turtle
Repetition—repeating something over and over example, when the Muskrat was swimming, the author repeated the idea of swimming deeper to show how much determination the Muskrat had
Twins play a central role in many Native American myths
Transformation of a character to explain a natural phenomena

18. In this myth, the "earth" refers to the land (the North American continent) rather than to the planet.
This myth has been abridged, meaning that it has been shortened & parts of the story left out. The descendants of the ancient chief & his wife will create humans later in a part of the story that is not included in our textbook.
Native American myths often include two-dimensional characters--characters whose names, personalities, and motivations are generic rather than fully defined. For example, the ancient chief has a generic name rather than a specific one, & there is little information given about his thoughts or personality. A three-dimensional character will have doubts, a specific name, & internal conflicts.
Many Native American tribes referred to North America as "Turtle Island” due to a belief in this or a similar creation myth.

19. Questions According to this myth, what existed before the earth?
What part does nature and the natural world play in this creation? (i.e. What natural elements appear in this story, and what do they do?)
Why are the twins in conflict even before their birth?
How do the twins create balance in the world?
Analyze a Creation Myth Complete the chart listing three differences between the right-handed twin and the left- handed twin.
Right-Handed Twin
Left-Handed Twin

20. List three major animal characters in this myth
List three major animal characters in this myth. Beside each animal, write an adjective that would appropriately describe this character's traits. (You should answer this item as a list rather than as a complete sentence.)
From this myth what do we learn about the Iroquois’ (a) attitude toward nature, (b) view of their gods, (c) important food, games and rituals (d) beliefs about good and evil?

21. Retold by Mourning Dove of the Salish People
Coyote and the Buffalo
Retold by Mourning Dove of the Salish People

22. Okanagan Lands were the Pacific Northwest in Washington State
Part of the First Nations in Canada
Lands encroached on as settlers panned for gold and looked for land to farm
Many of the tribe now live on the Colville Indian Reservation

23. Author’s Purpose
Trickster Tale – many times are contradictory as both a creator of order out of chaos and a destroyer of order which represses creative energies
Mythic – explains how something came to be

24. Questions
What are the consequences of Coyote’s disregarding Buffalo Bull’s warning?
Does Coyote get what he deserves at the end of the story? Why or why not?
Trickster tales endure, in part, simply because they are fun to read. But they also often serve to teach a lesson or moral. What does “Coyote and the Buffalo” teach or explain? Support your answer with evidence from the text.
This trickster tale gives clues about a society’s way of life. Name three things that were important in the Okanogan culture.

25. Elements of a Trickster Tale
Examples
Involves Deceit
Includes Violence
Uses Magic
Explains an Aspect of Human Nature
Main Character Displays Contradictory
Qualities

26. When Grizzlies Walked Upright
Modoc

27. Modoc
The Modoc tribe is a group of Native American people who originally lived in the area which is now northeastern California and central Oregon. They are currently divided between Oregon and Oklahoma.
Modoc County, California and Modoc, Indiana are named for this group of people.

28. Time period and literary style :
Time period—Before the Europeans came to American in the late 1400’s by the Modoc tribe Origin myth explaining “The Sky Spirit” creates the earth, and the creation of the Native Americans. Time period and literary style

29. Author’s purpose :
Explains the creation of Mount Shasta and the land and animals nearby. Tells how the daughter of the Sky Spirit marries a bear and their children become the first Native Americans. The Native Americans living around the mountain would never kill a grizzly bear because of this story.
This myth teaches us that when you disobey someone, such as your parents, you can get other people punished for your mistake.

30. The Sky Spirit had cursed the grizzlies by saying, “Get down on your hands and knees. You have wronged me, and from this moment all of you will walk on four feet and never talk again.” The Sky Spirit Chief behaved like a human when he used anger to punish the grizzlies.

31. Questions
According to this myth ("When Grizzlies Walked Upright"), does the Chief of the Sky Spirits discover or create the earth? Explain your answer.
Explain why the original audience might have considered Mount Shasta to be sacred after hearing this story.
What does the Sky Spirit tell his daughter not to do and why does she disobey him?
What did the grizzlies do to be cursed? Was this a justified punishment? Explain your answer.
Why would the audience feel more respect for the grizzlies after hearing this story?

32. The Navajo Origin Legend

33. Time Period:
Navajo woman with her children The time period of the story was when the Native Americans lived before the English people came to America. The Navajo told the myths verbally, passing them from generation to generation.

34. Literary techniques & author purpose :
The author used symbolism in the literature. The corn was placed facing east and west, relating to the passage of the sun The man and woman were created from the corn and the buckskin.
The corn & deer are basic foods which provide life for the Navajo.
The four gods represent the four directions of the wind which gave life to the humans.
The purpose of the story is to examine how the Navajo people believed the human race was created The Navajo people believed these stories were true. It is a origin myth telling how marriage began. Author's purpose

35. Questions
What purpose does the cornmeal serve in this myth ("The Navajo Origin Myth")?
What might be the speaker's purpose in telling this story? Explain your answer.
Why is the wind considered to be sacred and important to the continuation of life?

36. The Iroquois Constitution

37. Iroquois
Six separate tribes – Seneca, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Mohawk, and Tuscarora
Fighting between the tribes put them at risk of attack by the Algonquin tribes
The tribes formed the Iroquois League to negotiate with foreign nations and resolve conflict among the tribes.
The tribes have a shared culture and similar language
Today the tribes fight for environmental protection and increased recognition from the US and other governments

38. "The Iroquois Constitution" was first thought to have been written in the 1500's, but a newer theory believes it to be between 1090 and 1150 A.D. Five Nations that formed the Iroquois Confederation included the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca tribes. Time Period

39. The author uses imagery to help the reader picture what the author is describing. “Tree of the Great Peace” can be picture in your head. The author also uses symbolism. The tree symbolism the Iroquois Confederate The roots of that tree symbolized peace and strength. Imagery & Symbolism

40. The Iroquois Constitution set forth a series of laws, forming a government that any could join if they wished to obey the laws. At the beginning of counsel meetings, the Iroquois gave thanks to the Creator for the natural world. Government

41. Questions
Explain the comparison between the agreement made in this document ("The Iroquois Constitution") and the "Tree of Peace".
This document mentions several agreements made among the people. List the three most important agreements in paragraphs four through seven and explain why they are important.
Explain what characteristics a council Lord must have.
What values does this document advocate (to argue in favor of something)?

42. Review and Assess

43. Respond: The Modoc chose grizzly bears, and the Navajo chose corn to represent the sources of their human existence. What symbol would you choose for twenty-first century America? Why?
(a) Recall: In "The Earth on Turtle's Back," what does the chief's wife do to get life started on Earth? (b) Draw Conclusions: Based on the conclusion of the myth, how do you think the Onondaga view women in their culture?
(a) Recall: According to the Navajo myth, what do the lines on our fingertips reveal? (b) Interpret: In what way does this explanation link the everyday world with the mythological world?
(a) Recall: According to the Iroquois, what is the Great Law? (b) Hypothesize: In what way might the Great Law affect not only the living Iroquois but also their future descendants?

44. Literary Analysis - Origin Myths
List those who share in the process of bringing about human life on Earth in (a) "When Grizzlies Walked Upright," (b) "The Earth on Turtle's Back," and (c) The Navajo Origin Legend.
Each of these origin myths focuses on explaining different aspects of human origins or on varying natural phenomena. What can you conclude about the lives and interests of each culture from the focal points in each myth?

45. Comparing Literary Works
Why do you think literature of an oral tradition might include repeated words or phrases?
Literature of the oral tradition was often performed in dramatic formats at group gatherings. How do the structure, language, and content of the myths lend themselves to dramatic presentation?

46. Reading Strategy -- Recognizing Cultural Details
What cultural details concerning Modoc family structure does the grizzly bear community suggest in "When Grizzlies Walked Upright"?
Use cultural details from The Iroquois Constitution to determine the qualities that the Iroquois believe a lord should possess.

47. What is your heritage?
Interview a classmate about his or her heritage. Ask about:
A family tradition
An important belief or value
A story about his or her family’s roots
How has his or her heritage affected his or her identity