Native American Native American LiteratureLiterature

Historical BackgroundsHistorical Backgrounds

Culture andCulture and

LiteratureLiterature

The First AmericansThe First Americans The original native peoples The original native peoples

belonged to more than 200 belonged to more than 200 distinct groups who spoke more distinct groups who spoke more than 500 different languages.than 500 different languages.

Names of these peoples such as Names of these peoples such as Anishinabe and Lakota meant Anishinabe and Lakota meant “the people.” “the people.”

Life was dictated by natural Life was dictated by natural surroundings which varied surroundings which varied greatly.greatly.

Complex religions, Sophisticated Complex religions, Sophisticated political systems, Strong social political systems, Strong social values all reflected their literaturevalues all reflected their literature

Types of LiteratureTypes of Literature

Creation Myths: Explain Creation Myths: Explain the beginning of the worldthe beginning of the world

Trickster Tales: Trickster Tales: Transformed the world into Transformed the world into its present stateits present state

Ritual Songs/Chants: parts Ritual Songs/Chants: parts of religious ceremoniesof religious ceremonies

Pictographs: Picture stories Pictographs: Picture stories (somewhat like cave (somewhat like cave drawings)drawings)

Forms of LiteratureForms of Literature Naturally performed orally in Naturally performed orally in

storytellings or play-like storytellings or play-like performances. performances.

These performances were These performances were collected in the early 1900s and collected in the early 1900s and translated into English by translated into English by anthropologists (culture anthropologists (culture researchers) or by a bilingual researchers) or by a bilingual member of the tribe with the help member of the tribe with the help of white editors.of white editors.

While stories may differ from the While stories may differ from the originals, they still have the originals, they still have the beauty, wisdom, and humor of beauty, wisdom, and humor of Native American oral literature.Native American oral literature.

Themes of Native American Lit.Themes of Native American Lit.

Living in harmony with the natural worldLiving in harmony with the natural world Kinship with animals, plants, the land, Kinship with animals, plants, the land,

heavenly bodies (ancestors), and the elementsheavenly bodies (ancestors), and the elements All of the above are seen as alive and aware as All of the above are seen as alive and aware as

well as seen as a sacred whole well as seen as a sacred whole Humans are seen as a part of nature; they must Humans are seen as a part of nature; they must

maintain a right relationship with the world maintain a right relationship with the world around them.around them.

ArchetypesArchetypes

What is an archetype:What is an archetype: An archetype is the way we describe characters; An archetype is the way we describe characters;

think of them as general categories of characters.think of them as general categories of characters. Which archetypes are seen in Native American Which archetypes are seen in Native American

Literature?Literature? Trickster: a god, goddess, spirit, human, or animal who Trickster: a god, goddess, spirit, human, or animal who

plays pranks or disobeys normal rules and behaviors.plays pranks or disobeys normal rules and behaviors. Earth Mother: the bountiful spirit of the earthEarth Mother: the bountiful spirit of the earth Faithful Companion: supports the hero along the wayFaithful Companion: supports the hero along the way

Native American Literature TodayNative American Literature Today

Some cultures were lost due to Some cultures were lost due to disease and forced religion, disease and forced religion, relocation, and educationrelocation, and education

Many still survive today in Many still survive today in cities, suburbs, and cities, suburbs, and reservationsreservations

Literature is still sung, told, Literature is still sung, told, and written down in Englishand written down in English

Most literature is about Most literature is about harmonizing old and new harmonizing old and new practices and beliefspractices and beliefs