Native American Native American LiteratureLiterature

Day #1: Historical Background and Day #1: Historical Background and Culture Culture

Then vs. NowThen vs. Now

Then vs. NowThen vs. Now

Then vs. NowThen vs. Now

Then vs. NowThen vs. Now

Then vs. NowThen vs. Now

Fact vs. StereotypeFact vs. Stereotype 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 reservations, cities, and suburbs. reservations, cities, and suburbs.

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

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

"We are Still Here"

Rebel Music: Native America

The Origins of NA LiteratureThe Origins of NA Literature

Let’s talk about the original Native Let’s talk about the original Native Americans and the first literature Americans and the first literature produced in America.produced in America.

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 distinct groups who spoke more than 500 different more than 500 different languages.languages.

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

The First AmericansThe First Americans Life was dictated by natural surroundings Life was dictated by natural surroundings

which varied greatly.which varied greatly. Complex religions, sophisticated political Complex religions, sophisticated political

systems, strong social values all reflected systems, strong social values all reflected their literaturetheir literature

What themes are prevalent in What themes are prevalent in Native American Lit?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 heavenly bodies (ancestors), and the elementselements

All of the above are seen as alive, aware and All of the above are seen as alive, aware and sacred as a whole.sacred as a whole.

Humans are seen as a part of nature; they Humans are seen as a part of nature; they must maintain a right relationship with the must maintain a right relationship with the world around them.world around them.

Forms of LiteratureForms of Literature Performed Performed orally orally in in

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

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

Rabbit’s Wish For SnowRabbit’s Wish For Snow

While you listen to the following story:While you listen to the following story: Summarize the main events.Summarize the main events. Write the moral/lesson of the story.Write the moral/lesson of the story. Give examples of what the speaker did Give examples of what the speaker did

to make the performance memorable.to make the performance memorable.

Rabbit's Wish for Snow

Native American Native American LiteratureLiterature

Culture and LiteratureCulture and Literature

From our last class: From our last class: What themes are prevalent in What themes are prevalent in

Native American Lit?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 heavenly bodies (ancestors), and the elementselements

All of the above are seen as alive and aware All of the above are seen as alive and aware as well as seen as a sacred whole as well as seen as a sacred whole

What themes are prevalent in What themes are prevalent in Native American Lit?Native American Lit?

Humans are seen as a part of nature; they Humans are seen as a part of nature; they must maintain a right relationship with the must maintain a right relationship with the world around them.world around them.

Types of LiteratureTypes of Literature Creation Myths: Creation Myths:

Explain the beginning of Explain the beginning of the worldthe world

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

Didactic Myth: Teaching Didactic Myth: Teaching social normssocial norms

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

Ritual Songs/Chants: Ritual Songs/Chants: Belonging to religious Belonging to religious ceremoniesceremonies

Types of LiteratureTypes of Literature

Didactic Myths: Didactic Myths:

teach social normsteach social norms

““Kivioq”Kivioq”

ArchetypesArchetypes

What is an archetype?What is an archetype? An archetype is the way we describe An archetype is the way we describe

characters; think of them as general characters; think of them as general categories of characters.categories of characters.

ArchetypesArchetypesWhich archetypes are seen in Native Which archetypes are seen in Native

American Literature?American Literature? Trickster: a god, goddess, spirit, human, Trickster: a god, goddess, spirit, human,

or animal who plays pranks or disobeys or animal who plays pranks or disobeys normal rules and behaviors.normal rules and behaviors.

Earth Mother: the bountiful spirit of the Earth Mother: the bountiful spirit of the earthearth

Faithful Companion: supports the hero Faithful Companion: supports the hero along the wayalong the way

Types of LiteratureTypes of Literature Creation Myths: Creation Myths:

Explain the beginning of Explain the beginning of the worldthe world

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

Didactic Myth: Teaching Didactic Myth: Teaching social normssocial norms

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

Ritual Songs/Chants: Ritual Songs/Chants: Belonging to religious Belonging to religious ceremoniesceremonies

Types of LiteratureTypes of Literature

Creation Myth Creation Myth

Archetype: Earth-MotherArchetype: Earth-Mother

““World on the Turtle’s Back”World on the Turtle’s Back”

Read along! Listen and let your imagination Read along! Listen and let your imagination create pictures in your mind! create pictures in your mind!

““World on the Turtle’s Back”World on the Turtle’s Back”1.1. What is a creation myth?What is a creation myth?

2.2. How did the animals help the woman who How did the animals help the woman who fell from the sky?fell from the sky?

3.3. What are the differences between the twins?What are the differences between the twins?

4.4. Why do the Iroquois honor both the left-Why do the Iroquois honor both the left-handed twin and the right-handed twin?handed twin and the right-handed twin?

5.5. Creation Myths have four functions or roles. Creation Myths have four functions or roles. They instill awe, explain the world, support They instill awe, explain the world, support customs, and guide people. Which of these customs, and guide people. Which of these four functions does this Iroquois creation four functions does this Iroquois creation myth best serve and why?myth best serve and why?

Partner ActivityPartner ActivityWith your partner, choose ONE of the following:With your partner, choose ONE of the following:

1.1.Brainstorm together what both of you would include in a Brainstorm together what both of you would include in a letter to your creator. Then write a one-page letter to this letter to your creator. Then write a one-page letter to this creator and describe the things this creator has done well creator and describe the things this creator has done well and ask important questions.and ask important questions.

2.2.Illustrate yours and your partner’s beliefs about the Illustrate yours and your partner’s beliefs about the creation of the world using coloring utensils. Stick to the creation of the world using coloring utensils. Stick to the topic of creation and provide a full paragraph explaining topic of creation and provide a full paragraph explaining the image. Put the paragraph underneath.the image. Put the paragraph underneath.

3.3.Compare and contrast both of your beliefs about the Compare and contrast both of your beliefs about the world’s creation to the one presented in the story. Create a world’s creation to the one presented in the story. Create a detailed Venn Diagram with 3 circles to list details of detailed Venn Diagram with 3 circles to list details of how your views, your partner’s views, and the story’s how your views, your partner’s views, and the story’s views are different.views are different.

Trickster Tales: Group WorkTrickster Tales: Group Work

In groups of 3, complete 1 assignment. In groups of 3, complete 1 assignment.